Discipleship Costs: Are You willing to Pay the Price? Presented by Pastor Gration Perera

A TOP PRIORITY EVANGELISM Emotionally High Reactions Fear – Courage Guilt – Passion Discouragement - Excitement

A TOP PRIORITY EVANGELISM Whether we are emotionally high or low, the church has been and forever will be undeniably linked to personally communicating the hope found only in Jesus Christ!

A TOP PRIORITY EVANGELISM Evangelism seen in a negative light? Evangelism involves bringing the good news. The word “evangelism” comes from a combination of two Greek words: “good” and “messenger.”

A TOP PRIORITY EVANGELISM “When Christians witness, they tell how Jesus Christ has changed their own lives. The change in their own lives gives them the desire to share the Good News with others....

A TOP PRIORITY EVANGELISM... But the Good News isn’t about themselves. It is about the Lord who changes them.” Kent Hunter. Foundations for Church Growth: Biblical Basis for the Local Church, p. 100

A TOP PRIORITY EVANGELISM Any religion that does not consider itself valuable enough to share with nonbelievers is fated to crumble from within.” Yosef Abramowist. Moment, December 1999, If the Seventh-day Adventists shrink from the task of sharing the gospel, it might send a signal that our Christ isn’t worth sharing with others!

A TOP PRIORITY EVANGELISM September 11, 2001 Sacrificial terrorists died for an evil cause. How can we who call ourselves followers of Christ not live with equal passion and sacrifice for a just and eternally life-giving cause?

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS Who is a Disciple? The first word for Christians was not "Christians" but "disciples." Newcomers to the faith saw themselves in relationship to the risen Lord Jesus in some way similar to the relationship of the first disciples to the earthly rabbi Jesus. 1

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS Who is a Disciple? A disciple learns by hearing his Master and doing like his Master. This is explicitly commanded by Jesus in John 13: "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you." 2

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS Who is a Disciple? The disciples are chosen by Jesus. He says, "You did not choose me, But I chose you to go and bear fruit" (John 15:16).John 15:16 3

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS Who is a Disciple? Life as a disciple is "death and resurrection" with Christ, inaugurated in Christian baptism. Baptism is initiation into discipleship, giving admittance to the "school" of Jesus and starting a new life in obedience to him and his commands. 4

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS Who is a Disciple? To be a disciple is to be called to make new disciples. Throughout the New Testament, the term "disciple" is a dynamic concept. It implies multiplication. All nations have been invited to this mission. "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).1 John 2:2 5

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS The Cost: As we should expect, whenever the New Testament explains discipleship, it immediately warns us of the cost. Being a follower of Jesus splits up your family, threatens your life, and calls you to radical sacrifice of your job, finances, desires, hopes, and reputation.

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS The Cost: The cost comes after a promise. When Jesus tells his disciples to "sell your possessions, and give to the needy" (Luke 12:32), he does so after a very important assurance: "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." In Jesus' day, they didn't have banks, savings, or CDs. Their net-worth was found in their possessions. Jesus is saying, if you are my disciple, you should be able to radically give, even if it means dipping into your savings.Luke 12:32

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS The Cost: Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,... Matthew 10:16, 17

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS The Cost: Here in this text Jesus isn't saying that they will be suddenly attacked by wolves; he's sending them out into them. This is deliberate. They will be mocked, shamed, and possibly even killed. He knows this will happen to them, because that's what the wolves will do to him. No servant is greater than his Master. Only when disciples are filled with God's grace can they go into the wolves hoping to see some turn into lambs.

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS The Cost: Notice the order. Jesus doesn't say, "Sell everything, give to the poor, and God will give you his kingdom." It's the exact opposite. Disciples can be radical in their giving because they've already been given the kingdom. Christ became poor, so his disciples might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9), and out of infinite riches, disciples become generous.2 Cor. 8:9

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS Discipleship is as dynamic and costly as the gospel. Disciples can give up anything, go anywhere, and risk everything because the gospel has filled us with good things that can never be taken away.

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS

Are You Willing To Pay the Price? DISCIPLESHIP COSTS SDAH # 309