Count The Cost: The Call To Discipleship

Count The Cost: How To Follow Jesus In 2025

January 5th, 2025/Casey Middle School

Title: How To Follow Jesus In 2025

Big Idea: Following Jesus requires total surrender because He’s worth everything.

Story: Have you ever committed to something that turned out to be way harder than you expected? Like maybe going on a family vacation with toddlers, only to realize halfway through that it’s like watching your children in strange and challenging environments. 🙂 Worth it, but still way harder than expected. Or maybe it’s a relationship you thought would have zero issues, only to realize that building and maintaining healthy relationships IS HARD WORK. Or it could be a job you thought would be easy, but then you had to work extra hours, show up on holidays, or travel more than expected. What you thought was manageable turned out to require more than you imagined. Life is full of moments where we have to count the cost. And when it comes to following Jesus, this principle is central. What does it really cost to follow Him? And are we willing to say yes?

Intro: This tension is exactly what Jesus addresses in Luke 14. A huge crowd followed Him—drawn by His teaching, His miracles, and the hope that maybe He would overthrow Rome. But Jesus wasn’t looking for hype or shallow commitment. He wasn’t interested in crowds; He was after disciples. So, He stopped while walking, turned to them, and brought some intense clarity on what it takes to be a disciple of Christ: following Him would cost everything!

Life has a way of teaching us this principle: if you don’t evaluate the cost before you commit, you’re likely to quit halfway through. That’s true for family vacations, relationships, and jobs. But when it comes to following Jesus, the stakes are even higher. And that’s what we see in Luke 14... Let’s unpack what He said.

Passage: Luke 14:25-35 CSB

25 Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost (“count the cost” NLT) to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

34 “Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? 35 It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”

Pray: Lord, we don’t want to settle for a shallow faith. Open our eyes to see what it means to follow You, and give us the courage to say yes, no matter the cost. Amen.

Background:

Jesus spoke these words as He journeyed toward Jerusalem—toward the cross. The crowd thought they were following a revolutionary leader who would bring power and prosperity. But Jesus wasn’t offering them an earthly kingdom. He was calling them to something far greater but infinitely more costly: discipleship.

Jesus was speaking at a high level of intensity of severity on this subject of discipleship. These are the Words of Jesus Christ on what is called to task of every believer. I love how Campbell Morgan describes this severity of speech, he says “It was necessary that He have those on whom He could depend to complete the building and win the battle.”

Discipleship isn’t casual or convenient. It’s a call to love, sacrifice, and transformation. Jesus outlines three specific costs of being His disciple. Let’s look at the first one.

Main Points:

1. Love Jesus Above All Else

   1. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” - Luke 14:25-26

   2. Ex: Jesus isn’t asking us to literally hate our family. This is what we’ll call a Hebrew Hyperbole. He’s calling us to a love so deep and prioritized for Him that every other relationship pales in comparison. It’s about loyalty, devotion, and putting Him first. All of these other relationships should look like hate COMPARED to the love we have for Christ.

      1. The parallel passage in Matthew 10:37 expounds on this more when Jesus said “The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
      2. The emphasis is on the priority of relationships in comparison with the deep love and commitment to Christ. The point is that Jesus deserves priority over all earthly relationships.
         3. Illust: Imagine someone training for the Olympics. Their focus is so singular that they’re willing to miss family events, cut off distractions, and dedicate every ounce of energy to their goal. Following Jesus is about that kind of devotion—but with eternal stakes.
         4. App: What’s competing with your devotion to Jesus? Are you willing to love Him more than anything or anyone?
         5. Jesus makes it clear that our love for Him must come first, even above our closest relationships. But then He takes it a step further. He says, 'If you want to follow Me, you must take up your cross.' Let’s explore what that means.

2. Carry Your Cross

   1. “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” - Luke 14:27
   2. Ex: In Jesus’ day, carrying a cross wasn’t a metaphor; it was a death sentence. To carry your cross means dying to yourself—your plans, your pride, and your comfort—and embracing God’s will, even when it’s hard.
   3. Illust: Think of a firefighter running into a burning building. They willingly step into danger because saving lives matters more than their own safety. Following Jesus is about stepping into self-sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom.
   4. App: What does carrying your cross look like in your life? What dreams or comforts might God be asking you to surrender?
   5. Carrying your cross is about self-denial and surrender. But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He uses three analogies—a builder, a king, and salt—to show us why counting the cost is essential to being His disciple.

3. Build & Battle

   1. “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” - Luke 14:28-35

   2. Ex: Jesus uses three analogies—a builder, a king, and salt—to drive the point home. Discipleship isn’t a half-hearted endeavor. You don’t start a building project without budgeting. You don’t go to war without a strategy. And you can’t live as a disciple without understanding the cost. Jesus is looking for people who are all in. No illusions, no bargains—just total surrender.

      1. “Erecting a stately building is costly and waging war is dangerous, illustrating the costliness and danger that disciples of Jesus must be willing to face.” - Spirit Filled Bible

         3. Question: Who is the one budgeting? Who is the one analyzing the soldiers for battle? This passage is often read with us as the center of the story. “Have I counted the cost?” And to some degree, that’s understandable to read it that way, but is that what Jesus is saying to the crowd?

      2. Jesus Builds the Church

         1. “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” - Matthew 16:18
         2. Jesus is not just calling followers for their salvation; He is gathering co-laborers for the work of building His church. His emphasis on counting the cost reflects the seriousness of this task—He’s looking for those who are dependable and committed to the construction of His Kingdom.

      3. Jesus Is the King in the Battle

         1. “Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head... And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” - Revelation 19:11-16
         2. Jesus is not only a builder but a warrior King leading the ultimate battle against sin, death, and evil. His call for discipleship is a call to enlist in His army, where dependability and total allegiance are non-negotiable.
         3. “33 Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.” The Message
         4. Inclusion of Salt Analogy (Luke 14:34-35): "Salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty?" In Jesus’ time, salt was valuable—it preserved, purified, and added flavor. But if it lost its essence, it was worthless. As disciples, we’re called to be salt in the world—bringing preservation, purity, and thirst for God. But when we lose our commitment or compromise, we lose our impact.
         5. Illust: Think of someone who starts a fitness journey but quits after a few weeks because it’s too hard. Discipleship isn’t a temporary phase; it’s a lifelong journey of faith and faithfulness.

      4. John Maxwell says “The best leaders vote with their lives.” Jesus demonstrated this wholly. He set a standard that He would fulfill perfectly to the very end. This was the ultimate screening process… to those seeking fame, glory, or prosperity, this would be the end of the road for them, but for those seeking to submit to Jesus and go ALL IN, they would be true disciples.

      5. “He wants to use us as stones for building His church, soldiers for battling His enemies, and salt for bettering His world; and He is looking for quality.” - Warren Wiersbe
         7. App: Jesus wasn’t interested in fans or half-hearted followers. He was looking for people who were all in, people who understood the cost and still said yes. And while that cost is high, the reward is infinitely greater. So let’s be honest: is Jesus worth it to you?

Closing: Following Jesus isn’t easy. It’s not comfortable. It’s costly. But it’s also worth it. When we love Him above all, carry our cross, and commit fully, we find that what we gain in Christ far outweighs what we leave behind. So, the question today isn’t just, “Are you willing to count the cost?” It’s, “Is Jesus worth it to you?”

“He who called us to the steep road will walk with us every step of the way and be there at the end to meet us.” - William Barclay

Walking Points:

1. Unbeliever
   1. Become a true disciple today. If you were standing in that crowd when Jesus said these words, what would you choose? Would you surrender everything you have to follow Him? Would you cast off all worldly possessions? Would you say goodbye to family and friends? Would you give your all to follow Him then? Would you follow Him today?
2. Lukewarm believer
   1. “I want to be discipled” Word of encouragement, start applying what you are learning on Sundays from the Word of God. Second, start being obedient to what you are studying in your quiet time with the Lord. And finally, start applying what you are learning in your Crews. If you aren’t willing to grow in your spiritual life in those three areas, what are you really saying when you say “I want to be discipled”?
3. Spirit filled believer
   1. Become a disciple maker. Look for people that are willing to pay the cost and build and those willing to go to battle. Don’t invest in people that aren’t willing to also submit to leadership and humble themselves to become learners.

Invitation:

For some of you, today is the moment to decide. Will you follow Jesus fully, no matter the cost? If you’ve never made that decision, I want to give you the opportunity to do so right now. It’s not the prayer that saves you, but your faith and surrender to Jesus.

Let’s pray:

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free

Conclusion:

If you prayed that prayer for the first time, let me share something Jesus said in Matthew 10:32: “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” So, I’m going to ask: if you prayed that prayer for the first time, would you lift your hand and let us know? This is a moment to celebrate, not just here, but in heaven.

Here’s what’s happening right now:

1. God Welcomes You as His Child
   • The Bible says in John 1:12: "But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name."
   • When you accept Jesus, you are no longer separated from God. He adopts you into His family and calls you His own. Today, God isn’t just proud of you—He’s welcoming you with open arms as His beloved child.
2. The Angels Are Rejoicing
   • Imagine this: all of heaven is celebrating your decision to follow Jesus. Luke 15:10 says, "There is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents." Right now, the angels are rejoicing because you’ve turned to Christ. Heaven is throwing a party for you!
3. The Church Is Here for You.
   • We believe God has a purpose for your life, and part of that purpose is to grow in your faith and share His love with others. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do." We’re here to help you take your next steps, to encourage you, and to walk this journey with you.

Would you let us know about your decision? Come talk to us after the service or fill out a connect card so we can celebrate with you and help you with your next steps. You’re part of a family now, and we want to help you grow in this incredible new life you’ve found in Jes