Matthew 10:37–39; 16:21–28; 28:19-20 Mark 8:31–38;  Luke 9:23–27:  2 Timothy 2:2

Recurrent Thought

Following Christ costs everything, but it leads to a true life that blesses many.

Being a Disciple Maker (Disciplers, Mentor) demands that one understands its cost experientially. Unfortunately, the explanation on the cost of discipleship is never emphasized and an increasingly fewer number of believer’s desire to be disciple maker. Many people want the benefits of following Christ, but not everyone is prepared to accept the cost. In our days, discipleship is often presented as something easy, comfortable, and convenient. However, when Jesus spoke about following Him, He never hid the price.

Across the Synoptic (Math. Mark & Luke) Gospels, Jesus repeatedly teaches that discipleship involves loss before gain, death before life, and sacrifice before glory. As disciple makers we also ought to transfer the same values and principles to our disciples.

Background

• This text is embedded in one of the most critical time of Christ’s revelation.
• While at Caesarea Philippi Jesus asked the apostles of what people thought of his identity. Being moved by the Spirit, Peter stated who Jesus was.
• Immediately Jesus revealed what would happen to him in Jerusalem.  After his engagement with Peter, Jesus proceeds to give contrary wisdom on the cost of following Him

In the ensuing text, Jesus demands of the apostles to follow him totally. He reminds them that soon, he would be carrying a cross and that if they, truly were his followers, they too needed to carry their own crosses.

In essence Jesus declares that true discipleship requires total surrender to Yahweh God, expressed through supreme love, self-denial, and a willingness to lose one’s life for His sake.

 Here are three areas a disciple must be willing to pay a cost in following the Lord

1.The Cost of Supreme Love for Christ (Matthew 10:37–39)

  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me …” (v.37)

• Discipleship demands that Christ be loved and pursued above every relationship and affection.
• Jesus does not command believers to hate their families, but He establishes priority. Love for Christ must be greater than love for parents, children, or even one’s own life.
• He demands that our devotion for God should be far superior such that in comparison our love for relatives should look as if we hate them
• The phrase “not worthy of me” shows that divided loyalty disqualifies true discipleship.
• Luke 14:26 reinforces this teaching, using strong Semitic language to emphasize comparison, not emotion. Christ must occupy first place.   
•   Luke 14:26  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 
• The Evangelistic tract the Heart of Man showed that Christ will not share the throne of your heart.
• Question: Does any of your relationships compete with Christ for obedience?

2.The Cost of Self-Denial and the Cross (Luke 9:23; Mark 8:34)

       Luke 9:23  And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 

• Ordinarily, a disciple practices some form of self-denial but alas most times it is incomplete.
• Self-denial is when a disciple renounces, foregoes, and postpones all pleasures, profits, relations, interests, and whatever one enjoys, which may be in competition with Christ, from love to Him, and to be given up at His command.
• Following Christ requires daily death to self and willing acceptance of the cross.
• To “deny himself” means to refuse self-rule. The cross was an instrument of death, shame, and surrender.
• Now it is demanded that we apply the cross all the time in our walk with Christ. “Daily” shows this is not a one-time decision, but a continual lifestyle.
• Romans 12:1 calls believers to be living sacrifices. Discipleship is not about self-fulfillment but Christ-exaltation.
• The truth is that You cannot follow Christ while holding on to self.
• A man carrying a cross has no other plans.
• Question: What desires, habits, or ambitions must die for Christ to reign?

3.The Cost of Losing Life to Gain It

•  “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:25)
• The paradox of discipleship is that life is only found when it is surrendered to Christ.
• Jesus contrasts temporary gain with eternal loss. To “gain the whole world” is meaningless if the soul is lost.
• He also warns of being ashamed of Him before men.
• Philippians 3:7–8 shows Paul counting all things loss for Christ. Eternal value outweighs earthly reward.
• Beloved What you surrender to Christ is never truly lost.
• Jesus declared and demonstrated that a seed must die to bear fruit (John 12:24).
•       John 12:24  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 
• As a discipler, you will lose a lot but you will gain a lot through your discipling of others.
• Question:  Are you living for this world, or for eternity?

Application of Discipling Principles 

How do you pass on the values, principles and life to the People you are discipling? How do you unpack Matthew 28:19 demands?

As a Disciple Maker you have to teach and demonstrate to the disciples that paying the cost is not a total loss but a glorious service to our Lord. Communicate how to practice obedience to the Lord

Suggestions

• Travail in Prayer for your Disciples (Gal. 4:19)
• Model Life before them (2 Tim. 2:2)
• Schedule deliberate meetings to teach, and train others