Pastor Chris challenged us to look at the cost of following Christ, even though God's grace is free and can never be earned.
MY STORY
What's the most expensive decision you've ever made?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles ... Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake.... “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household?
Why do you think Jesus was never unclear to his disciples about what they should expect when it comes to following him?
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell....
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
According to this passage, what's the highest cost you can pay for identifying with Christ? Why would everything else seem small in comparison?
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. (Verses taken from Matthew 10:1-40)
How have you experienced tension in your family because of your faith in Christ?
What does God want us to hear? Based on the passages above, what are the factual “takeaways” that are meaningful to you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
How is what you believe actually manifesting itself in your everyday life?
What has that cost you? What have you gained because of that?
What does God want us to do? Flowing out of our reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit’s leading, nudging us toward?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
Rate yourself on a spectrum, with the left side representing bitter resentment, and the right side representing humble resignation — in regard to what your faith in Christ has cost you.
Examine your presumptions and assumptions this week in regard to your expectations about the cost of following Jesus ... and, if needed, adjust them to bring them into closer alignment with what Jesus made clear to all of those who would choose to follow him.
What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step that the Holy Spirit is calling you toward?
Message Notes
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