TITLE: Count the cost before entering TEXT: Luke 14:25-35 THEME: The believer should count the cost of discipleship before committing himself to Christ.

Something about having an experience of being ill prepared teaches us avoid repeating it.

Why should a person count the cost before becoming a disciple of Christ?

I. The cost of discipleship is very high and demands much of us

Luke 14:25-27 25 “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

I. The cost of discipleship is very high and demands much of us A. We must be ready and willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of following Jesus.

I. The cost of discipleship is very high and demands much of us A. We must be ready and willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of following Jesus. B. We cannot be Jesus disciple if we are not willing to bear our own cross.

Why should a person count the cost before becoming a disciple of Christ?

II. You may find yourself unprepared and disillusioned. (28-33) A. A man building a tower must weight to cost before building.

Luke 14:28-30 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’”

II. You may find yourself unprepared and disillusioned. (28-33) A. A man building a tower must weight to cost before building. B. A king going into war must be realistic in knowing his adversary and respond accordingly.

Luke 14:31-33 31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

“Don’t start a fight you can’t win” An Old Adage “Don’t start a fight you can’t win”

Schutt Sports NFL Helmet Label WARNING …. NO HELMET SYSTEM CAN PREVENT CONCUSSIONS OR ELIMINATE THE RISK OF SERIOUS HEAD OR NECK INJURIES WHILE PLAYING FOOTBALL.”

Schutt Sports NFL Helmet Label WARNING …. NO HELMET SYSTEM CAN PREVENT CONCUSSIONS OR ELIMINATE THE RISK OF SERIOUS HEAD OR NECK INJURIES WHILE PLAYING FOOTBALL.” "TO AVOID THESE RISKS [OF PLAYING FOOTBALL], DO NOT ENGAGE IN THE SPORT OF FOOTBALL."

Jesus Warning to Prospective Disciples "TO AVOID THE RISKS OF DISCIPLESHIP, DO NOT ENGAGE IN FOLLOWING JESUS."

Why should a person count the cost before becoming a disciple of Christ?

III. It is only by our full commitment that we can fulfill our role on earth (34-35)

Luke 14:34-35 34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

III. It is only by our full commitment that we can fulfill our role on earth (34-35) Analogy- Bad salt cannot preserve or flavor like good salt.

Salt serves two primary purposes. It preserves

Salt serves two primary purposes. It preserves It seasons.

III. It is only by our full commitment that we can fulfill our role on earth (34-35) A. Analogy- Bad salt cannot preserve or flavor like good salt.

III. It is only by our full commitment that we can fulfill our role on earth (34-35) A. Analogy- Bad salt cannot preserve or flavor like good salt. B. It has no value and will be thrown out.

APPLICATION 1. Discipleship is not an invitation to a Sunday School picnic. It is an invitation to spiritual warfare over a long period of time. And the good news is that we’ve got the resources to do the job.

APPLICATION 2. The king being invaded is in a situation where he must do something or face incredible consequences. You must calculate what it might cost you to not follow Him.

APPLICATION 3. We live in a nation suffering from moral decay at an alarming rate. Like salt, we must come in contact with our corrupting culture to slow down the process of decay. As salt, our job is to preserve the goodness that still exists in our culture.

The Old Mans’ Point “Unless you see the prey, the chase is just too difficult. You will lack the passion and determination necessary to keep up the chase."