Sept.9, 2007. Jackie Bolen: We all Want the Glamour. Luke 14:25-35

We all want the Glamour: Luke 14:25-35

Introduction: Firefighters, Flying and falling on rocks. Following Jesus is the same. We pray the “prayer” and think we’re done but it’s a long, slow walk of things not so glamorous.

Luke 14: 25
Who were these crowds? 12 apostles, Jesus’ family, true believers, others interested in the miracles, people being raised from the dead, free food, the skeptics, the Pharisees. What follows is Jesus’ challenge as to why they are following: are they truly willing to count the cost of being a disciple? Challenge for us today as well.

Luke 14: 26a
What does this mean? It can’t possibly mean to actually hate your family. What about loving others, laying down our lives for our friends and honoring our mother and father? It’s probably not so literal as it about where our priorities are

North America: the family is often elevated to a kind of idol status. Families should seek Jesus together. Teach your kids how to pray, how to read the Bible, who Jesus is and how to be a part of a community of people seeking Jesus together.

We do a disservice to kids when we teach them that education, family, money, etc are more important than following Jesus. It’s your responsibility to teach your kids how to pray and to read the Bible and to do this together so they can learn from you.

Luke 14:26b
Hating life: does this mean being sad and depressed all the time? Also about priorities. Where your treasure is (or your priorities are), there your heart will be also. So many things to seek: education, entertainment, (Amusing Ourselves to Death) money, career, glory for self . Need to think about life and not live so unconsciously. What can I give to this world instead of what can the world give to me. Following Jesus will consume everything (Matthew 6:24).

What is a disciple? A learner/pupil/student. Someone who imitates. Someone who follows and is humble. Willful, deliberate choice. Example of teaching.

Luke 14: 27: A cross is a painful, humiliating way to die. To carry the cross implies some effort on our part. Jesus loves everyone but to follow Jesus requires some effort. It requires a conscious choice to follow Jesus, we don’t do it by default because we are too sinful. We also don’t follow Jesus simply by being born into a certain family or culture.

No middle ground or easy way. Examples: Rev. 3:14-18. Pick up cross and follow.

Luke 14:28-30. What was this person thinking? Following Jesus will be hard sometimes….count the cost. Will be a light to a dying world…they will hate you. I would go as far as to say that most true disciples of Jesus undergo persecution in some way.

Luke 14:31-33. Giving up everything. Count the cost. Requires nothing short of total surrender.

Luke 14:34-35. Salt has various uses, even more so in ancient times. Before refrigeration: preservative. Before modern medicine: disinfectant. Also: seasoning/wage/fertilizer.

Fertilizer makes the most sense in this context. Disciples are to be helping others in their growth in the Kingdom of God, helping them to become more like Jesus. Implication: different than world. Compromise with world: lose flavor and are useless to God’s Kingdom

What does a disciple look like today?
1. Someone who prays and knows the Bible. Have to know the one you imitate. Looks like Jesus in increasing quantities. Participating in the long, slow walk.
2. Loves people
3. Not consumeristic. Simplicity…seeking God’s Kingdom first.
4. Humble, dying to self. Reliant on God’s Spirit. Not so concerned about the glamour.
5. Someone who has surrendered everything to the one who created them and will do whatever it takes to follow Jesus in a radical kind of way, picking up and carrying their cross. It’s a life of imitating the one who went before us and died for our sins.