Many People Misunderstand the commandments Jesus taught Love God Love your neighbor

Truth is: The gospel has teeth! Following Jesus means a wholehearted commitment It is not a mamby pamby “Oh I’m in love with God” It is a commitment every bit as wholehearted as extremists More controlled; more loving; more caring, but with a burning love for God. Home I was raised in did not have a family room ; some in living room, some in family room. Lived at home until married Patty Mom loved Patty Day I moved out, had a van, and a motor home to help me move Mom stayed in only room available all day The bathroom; door locked; crying through door

Lk 14:25 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. NIV

Mt 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth Mt 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn a man against his father,      a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ NIV

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. NIV

How much do you love Jesus? Leaving all to follow Jesus The disciple Peter, “Lk 18:28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

How much do you love Jesus? Leaving all to follow Jesus The disciple Peter, “Lk 18:8 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” Paul says “1 Cor 9:5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? (Peter)”

How much do you love Jesus? Leaving all to follow Jesus Somewhere along the way the church made a separation between Jesus as Savior Jesus as Lord The US church has made Jesus something we add to our lives, not someone we follow daily “Give your life to Christ” is the phrase I use LHCC’s Mission Statement uses “submit”

How much do you love Jesus? Leaving all to follow Jesus Leaving your family’s religion to follow Jesus Jesus was a Jew. His followers were not. A few short days after Jesus rose; the church exploded Gentiles were coming to faith in Jesus Decision was made not to require people to become Jewish in order to follow Jesus Unrecorded anger, yelling, disowning, Bringing people to Jesus disrupts family systems Gertie and Marvin Friends in my mom and dad’s Sunday school class Dear friends to this day, 60 yrs later Converted to Jesus from Judaism Parents never spoke to them again

How much do you love Jesus? Leaving all to follow Jesus Leaving a family’s religion to follow Jesus Leaving a family to be a Missionary Unreached people groups in prior centuries God placed a call on people’s lives No phone, skype, letters, plane trips home Gertie and Marvin Friends in my mom and dad’s Sunday school class Dear friends to this day, 60 yrs later Converted to Jesus from Judaism Parents never spoke to them again

Are we really supposed to hate? Jesus taught using exaggeration and hyperbole Jesus taught using a well known Biblical idium Deut 21:15  If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: 16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: KJV

Are we really supposed to hate? Jesus taught using exaggeration and hyperbole Jesus taught using a well known Biblical idium Jesus taught that compared to your love for your parents, loving Him should appear be a stark contrast.

So What? Jesus draws a line in the sand He commands all of your allegiance You are either with him or against him. Lk 11:23 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters. NASB

So What? One cannot be a “hidden disciple.” You MUST tell someone. Mt 10:32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”

So What? Does your love of family keep you from going where God has called you to go? Do not make your family an idol Saying “NO” to your father or mother is not a one time thing, but an ongoing decision. Family gatherings may take on an edge of disapproval from here on- it will hurt

So What? Presenting the gospel to a person may put them in the position of turning their back on their parent’s religion. Presenting the gospel to a person may result in their parent’s disowning them for the rest of their lives. This will be unpopular Still, we must present the gospel. People NEED Jesus.