1. The Cost of Being A Sinner Luke 14:25-35

2. Introduction Cost of discipleship –Counting the cost necessary –Price to pay (Matthew 7:21; Luke 9:23) –Moses (Hebrews 11:24) Cost of being a sinner? –Not often considered –Great cost

3. Life’s Work Everyone devoted to something –Many unhappy people –Life of misery –Suicide, alcoholism, drug addiction

4. Life’s Work Solomon’s experience (Ecclesiastes) –Wisdom? No! (1:13, 18) –Pleasure? No! (2:1-3) –Riches? No! (2:4-11) –Work? No! (2:18-23) –Conclusion: Fear God (12:13)

5. Peace of Mind Desire for a clear conscience –N–Not an infallible guide (Acts 23:1; 26:9) –Y–Yet, necessary to be at peace with self

6. Other choices –Troubled (Acts 26:14) –Temporarily calmed (Acts 24:25; 26:28) –Seared (1 Timothy 4:1-3) Peace of mind through Christ –He invites (Matthew 11:28-30) –Beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7)

7. God’s Presence Value of God’s presence –Adam and Eve hid (Genesis 3:8) –Suffered a great loss –Model for church discipline

8. God’s Presence What is lost? –God as a companion (Isaiah 59:1, 2) –Access to His throne (Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 3:12) –Eternal separation (Romans 6:23)

9. God’s Presence Are you willing to die without God? –Robert Ingersoll: “God, if there be a god, save my soul, if I have a soul.” –Could add: “… from hell, if there is a hell.” –Will you be like him?

10. Soul Relative value of objects –Possessions –Life itself worth more –Human life more than animal life

11. Soul Valuable –Immortal (Matthew 10:28-30; Luke 16:19-31) –No price comparison (Matthew 16:26) –Can be tormented (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)

12. Conclusion Have you counted the cost of sin? Must obey now