The Cost of Discipleship

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleship

At Jesus’ FeetAt Jesus’ Feet

DiscipleshipDiscipleship

First Century BackgroundFirst Century Background• Greek = mathetesGreek = mathetes• Definition: learner & follower Definition: learner & follower


First Century BackgroundFirst Century Background• Rabbi Rabbi • Desire & SubmissionDesire & Submission• Emulation & ImitationEmulation & Imitation• CommunityCommunity• TransparencyTransparency


First Century BackgroundFirst Century Background• A disciple was one who followed A disciple was one who followed

and learned from his rabbi and and learned from his rabbi and his ways of seeing and doing his ways of seeing and doing things.things.


First Century BackgroundFirst Century Background• Disciples of…Disciples of…• John the Baptist (Mark 2:18)John the Baptist (Mark 2:18)• Pharisees (Mark 2:18)Pharisees (Mark 2:18)• Moses (John 9:28)Moses (John 9:28)• Jesus (>200 times)Jesus (>200 times)


First Century BackgroundFirst Century BackgroundJohn's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” (Mark 2:18)

The Great CommissionThe Great Commission

Make Disciples!Make Disciples!Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)


Make Disciples!Make Disciples!Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)


Make Disciples!Make Disciples!

How?How?• Going Going • BaptizingBaptizing• Teaching to observe ALLTeaching to observe ALL

Note: it’s a processNote: it’s a process


Make Disciples!Make Disciples!• Thus, a disciple of Jesus is one Thus, a disciple of Jesus is one

who is following and learning from who is following and learning from Jesus, as revealed in Jesus, as revealed in Scripture, about Scripture, about God’s ways of God’s ways of seeing and doing things.seeing and doing things.

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipDiscipleship is a processDiscipleship is a process

Discipleship has a costDiscipleship has a cost• Theological Theological misunderstandingmisunderstanding• Justification Justification •SanctificationSanctification

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipJustification Justification • Declared “righteous” before Declared “righteous” before

GodGod• Delivered from the penalty of Delivered from the penalty of

sinsin• Result of faith in ChristResult of faith in Christ

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipJustification Justification

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works… (Romans 3:28)

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipSanctification Sanctification • Process of spiritual growthProcess of spiritual growth• On-going deliverance from On-going deliverance from

the power of sin in the the power of sin in the life of a believer life of a believer• Result of a believer’s Result of a believer’s

diligent commitment diligent commitment in following the Lord. in following the Lord.

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipSanctification Sanctification

…so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. (Romans 6:19)

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipThe Tension…The Tension…• The normal Christian life begins The normal Christian life begins

with faith in Christ and with faith in Christ and should continue in an ever-should continue in an ever-growing commitment to the growing commitment to the Lord.Lord.• Tragically, sometimes Tragically, sometimes

believers do not grow. believers do not grow.

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipThe Tension PredictedThe Tension Predicted• The Four Soils (Luke 8:5-15)The Four Soils (Luke 8:5-15)• Seed taken – no beliefSeed taken – no belief• Seed received – poor rootSeed received – poor root• Seed received – chokedSeed received – choked• Seed received - fruitSeed received - fruit• held fastheld fast• perseverepersevere

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipThe Tension…The Tension…• The normal Christian life begins The normal Christian life begins

with faith in Christ and with faith in Christ and should continue in an ever-should continue in an ever-growing commitment to the growing commitment to the Lord.Lord.• Tragically, sometimes Tragically, sometimes

believers do not grow. believers do not grow.

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleship The normal Christian life The normal Christian life begins with faith in begins with faith in Christ Christ and should and should continue in an ever-continue in an ever-growing commitment to growing commitment to the Lord.the Lord.

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipThe normal Christian life The normal Christian life begins with faith in begins with faith in Christ.Christ.For God so loved the world…

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but has everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipThe normal Christian life The normal Christian life begins with faith in begins with faith in Christ.Christ.…he who hears My word, and

believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24)

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleshipThe normal Christian life The normal Christian life

begins with faith in Christ.begins with faith in Christ.

…these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:35)

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleship The normal Christian life The normal Christian life begins with faith in begins with faith in Christ Christ and should and should continue in an ever-continue in an ever-growing commitment to growing commitment to the Lordthe Lord..


Priority of SustenancePriority of Sustenance““Abide”Abide”

If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and prove (lit. = become) to be My disciples. (John 15:7-8)


Priority of RelationshipPriority of Relationship““Hate father & mother”Hate father & mother”

If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26)


Priority of PurposePriority of Purpose““Carry cross…follow Me”Carry cross…follow Me”

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:27)


Priority of Resources Priority of Resources ““Count the cost”Count the cost”

For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? (Luke 14:28)


Priority of SustenancePriority of Sustenance

Priority of RelationshipPriority of Relationship

Priority of PurposePriority of Purpose

Priority of ResourcesPriority of Resources

The Cost of The Cost of DiscipleshipDiscipleship The normal Christian life The normal Christian life begins with faith in begins with faith in Christ and should Christ and should continue in an ever-continue in an ever-growing commitment to growing commitment to the Lord.the Lord.

Final Thoughts & Final Thoughts & ApplicationApplication•Discipleship is serious Discipleship is serious business.business.• Jesus must be first of all.Jesus must be first of all.•There is a cost to become There is a cost to become a disciple of Jesus.a disciple of Jesus.•What is preventing What is preventing me from fully me from fully following Jesus? following Jesus?

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My

yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and

My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

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The Cost of Discipleship