It's not about the numbers!
Jesus went from thousands of followers down to 1 loyal disciple at the foot of the cross. Jesus taught hard messages and many turned back when Jesus raised the price of following Him.
3 Requirements for following Him:
1. SUPREME DEVOTION (Luke 14:25-26)
- "Hate" defined in Matt. 10:37. There can be no competing allegiances. You cannot be a follower of Jesus if your allegiance to someone else is greater.
- There is a cost to following Christ.
- Renounce you own will when it conflicts with God's will. Whenever the will of man and the will of God collide, one must die. Unsatisfied life = unsurrendered will
2. SELF DENIAL (Luke 14:27)
- A cross is something you choose to pick up and carry. A cross in Jesus day meant that they had come to the end of their life. (Gal. 2:20).
- You cannot live for Christ unless you die to yourself. The Christian life is about others and allowing God to touch the lives of others through you. It is not about YOU!
- Phil 3:10 "... fellowship of His sufferings. Heb. 11 (2nd half) 2 Cor. 5:15
3. A SOBER CALCULATION (Luke 14:28)
Created 11 months ago
