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Bible Reading: Luke 14:25-35, Mark 8:34-37
Understanding: [NB The section in italics is intended to 'set the scene' for the person leading a group study. You don't need to read it out the group, unless you think it would be helpful.]
Jesus here speaks about the cost of being a disciple. He doesn’t pull any punches. He leaves no room for competing loyalties or idols. To follow Jesus is to destroy all backup plans.
• A disciple of Jesus is a Follower of Jesus
• Being a disciple of Jesus means putting Jesus First in every area of Life!
1. We need to put Jesus First ahead of all other relationships ... friends and family
2. We need to put Jesus First ahead of our own lives ... our ambitions, hopes and dreams
3. We need to put Jesus First ahead of our possessions ... and our desired standard of living
Jesus teaching style here was typical of a Jewish Rabbi ie start with the 'disqualifications'
Application: These 'hard' words of Jesus would not have been taken completely literally by his hearers. Jesus was not contradicting the commandments to honour your parents or to love your neighbours.
So, what did he mean by what he said?
INTRO Questions
• Does Jesus require us to literally hate our own family in order to follow him?
• What cross might we expected to bear as followers of Jesus?
• Why is it important to count the cost of being a disciple?
• What does it mean to lose your saltiness?
CORE Questions
• Do you put other people in your life before following Jesus? Who, Why and How?
• Do you pursue your own agenda ahead of following Jesus? What does that mean in practice?
• How do you determine your standard of living? If Jesus said he wanted it to be different, could you hear him?
PRAYER
• Are there any areas where the holy Spirit is bringing conviction, and where you need to reassess what you are doing ... and repent?
• Pray for clarity, for godly conviction and for a developing understanding of the Kingship of Jesus.
• Pray for a growing passion and joy in being disciples of the only king worthy of our worship
Further Personal Study
Please consider which book would be most appropriate for you to read this term.
1. Seeker - John Ortberg, “The Me I want to be ”
2. Scholar - Dietrich Bonheoffer, ”Discipleship”
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