Radical Part 1 Luke 9

Someone worth losing everything for... What kind of person would this be for you?

Was Jesus a Success? Only 120 followers despite being heard by tens of thousands Only 12 hard-core devotees

What did Jesus do when the crowds got big? Talked people out of following Him?

2 Important Questions Am I going to believe Jesus? Am I going to obey Jesus?

Puddles of Tears “A woman on the other side of the room spoke up next. “Some of the members in my church were recently confronted by government officials.” She continued, “They threatened their families, saying that if they did not stop gathering to study the Bible they were going to lose everything they had.” She asked for prayer, saying, “I need to know how to lead my church to follow Christ even when it costs them everything” (4-5).

Puddles of Tears “As I looked around the room, I saw that everyone was now in tears. The struggles expressed by this brother and sister were not isolated. They all looked at one another and said, “We need to pray” (5).

Big Question... In America, what do we sacrifice to follow Christ?

Radical Commitment “Both of the men in the picture with me are church planters in India. The pastor on the right is pastor Pujenata. He has planted 64 churches personally!!! Most Christians don't even witness to that many people in a lifetime. Modern day Paul!”

Radical Commitment Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh of Iran, held in Evin Prison for five months for refusing to turn from Christ

Radical Commitment Christian House of Prayer, Central Asia

Radical Commitment? The American church How we get to church

Radical Commitment? The American church Where we meet

Radical Commitment? The American church What we sit on

Radical Commitment? The American church What we need to have a good experience

Radical Commitment? The American church Our reasons for “following Christ” “We were settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves” – David Platt (7).

Talking People out of Following Christ Luke 9:57-62 Three men came to follow Jesus Guy #1 “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus’ response - Luke 9:58 Expect homelessness

Talking People out of Following Christ Luke 9:57-62 Guy #2 “My Dad died, I need to go bury him first.” Jesus’ response - Luke 9:60 There are more important things to do

Talking People out of Following Christ Luke 9:57-62 Guy #3 “I need to say ‘bye’ to my family first” Jesus’ response - Luke 9:62

What to expect if you follow me Become homeless Let someone else bury your dad Don’t even say good-bye to your family

Talking people out of it? “Contrary to what I may have thought about Luke 9, Jesus was not using a gimmick to get more followers. He was simply and boldly making it clear from the start that if you follow him, you abandon everything—your needs, your desires, even your family” – David Platt (10).

More Radicalism Luke 14:26-33 “Sounds a lot different than “Admit, believe, confess, and pray this prayer after me.”

The Young, the Popular, and the Searching Mark 10:21

Redefining Christianity What Jesus REALLY meant was… = Nice, middle-lass, American Jesus

Dietrich Bonhoeffer “The Cost of Discipleship” “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

What is the cost of Non- Discipleship? ????? What if we do not take Jesus’ words seriously?

Christian News Publication (2004) Main Headline, “First Baptist Church celebrates new $23 Million Building” Smaller Headline, “Baptist Relief Helps Sudanese Refugees” “…..Baptists have raised $5,000 to send to refugees in western Sudan.”

Radical Commitment Are you willing to become a radical follower of Jesus? 1. Commit to believe whatever Jesus says 2. Commit to obey what you have heard