Counting the Cost
"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.’" (Luke 14:27-30)
When we truly stop and consider what Jesus went through for us and the full extent of His love, we cannot carry on with life as we once knew it to be. The cost of discipleship ought to lead to a response that reflects that we understand to some degree what it cost Jesus to give us the gift of salvation that was accomplished by His gracious work when He shed His blood on our behalf.
We all know those amazing words, "For God so loved the world," but we must never take for granted how easily this can become so familiar to us that we it loses its full impact in our lives.
We should stop and meditate on each part of this glorious truth and ask these questions:
…Who is GOD?
…What is exactly is LOVE?
…What is meant by the WORLD?
The same God who created us and stretched out the heavens and formed man and breathed life into our existence was willing to enter into the world He created in order to demonstrate His own love toward us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). This sacrificial love was actively expressed by a surrendered will and a life of full obedience that culminated in the greatest suffering that any man has ever had to endure...and it was all for undeserving sinners like you and me.
Jesus knew what kind of suffering and sorrow awaited Him...yet He still pressed on and went forward -- denying His will, taking up His cross, and following His Father's will and instruction.
Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death...even the death of the cross.
The Lord Jesus clearly said: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…(John 3:16)...And yet the Apostle John taught us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
How do these two teachings work together? Is this a contradiction? ...Should we not love what God loves? How can God so love the world and yet teach us NOT to love the world?
The answer lies in understanding the difference between our love and God's love and what is actually meant by the world. Language requires context and sometimes there are different ways of using the same word. When reading the Bible and learning the Lord's ways, we must practice TWO KEY PRINCIPLES:
1. Live between the TENSIONS.
2. Learn the author’s INTENTIONS.
When the Bible speaks of God's love for the world, we are speaking of His love for the souls of mankind from every tribe, tongue, and nation. When John addresses the world, he is not referring to souls but rather to the sins and systems that make up this world. We are not to love the sinful passions and selfish priorities of the world. For the ways of the world is contrary to the true love that is of God and from God and that leads us to truly loving other people.
True love is the fruit of His Spirit (Gal. 5:22), whereas the love of the world comes from the lust of our flesh since this fallen world is "under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19).
It is only when we read the Bible in its context and pay close attention to the details and let Scripture interpret that we will properly understand some of the harder teachings of Scripture.
For example, Matthew 10:34-37 says, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to “set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and “a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother MORE THAN ME is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter MORE THAN ME is not worthy of Me."
In other words, our love for God must far exceed our love for anything else...or those things will become idols in our lives.
When we live with the right divine order and love God the way He deserves to be loved, we can love with His love that is poured into our hearts from God and love even our enemies because we love God over and above our closest family and friends. This is how love and hate can both oppose each other and also order our relationships vertically and horizontally.
The contrast between the Lord's love for people verses the world's lust for itself is clearly seen when the people of generations ago united together to build the Tower of Babel just to make a name for themselves. They confronted God and He answered them with division and confusion.
Today, we find our true faith and unity when we call upon the Name of the Lord. For "the Name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and they are safe" (Prov. 18:10). When we are living for the Lord, the world may hate us and persecute us and oppose us in some way.
Counting the Cost means that we abandon self and treasure Christ over and above all else.
COUNTING THE COST
This is what Paul the Apostle learned when he met the risen Lord and later said, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:7-8).
How about you? Have you truly counted the cost and learned what it truly means to follow Christ? Now is the time to give Christ your all and to make Him your all in all! He is worthy of the surrender of self, the departure of sin, and the obedience of your will. He is worthy of it ALL!
We will only learn to count the cost...when we first recount the cross!
Discussion Questions for Home Groups:
1. How has recounting the cross helped you to count the cost in following Jesus?
2. How has God been teaching you to love the people of this world without getting caught up in loving the passions and priorities of this world system? Share your thoughts and reflections.
3. What are ways that God has called you to count the cost at various points throughout your Christian life? What lessons has God taught you when you have or have not put Christ above all other things?
4. What are any final thoughts or insights you have learned throughout this series and how will you become more engaged in the Great Commission?
When we truly stop and consider what Jesus went through for us and the full extent of His love, we cannot carry on with life as we once knew it to be. The cost of discipleship ought to lead to a response that reflects that we understand to some degree what it cost Jesus to give us the gift of salvation that was accomplished by His gracious work when He shed His blood on our behalf.
We all know those amazing words, "For God so loved the world," but we must never take for granted how easily this can become so familiar to us that we it loses its full impact in our lives.
We should stop and meditate on each part of this glorious truth and ask these questions:
…Who is GOD?
…What is exactly is LOVE?
…What is meant by the WORLD?
The same God who created us and stretched out the heavens and formed man and breathed life into our existence was willing to enter into the world He created in order to demonstrate His own love toward us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). This sacrificial love was actively expressed by a surrendered will and a life of full obedience that culminated in the greatest suffering that any man has ever had to endure...and it was all for undeserving sinners like you and me.
Jesus knew what kind of suffering and sorrow awaited Him...yet He still pressed on and went forward -- denying His will, taking up His cross, and following His Father's will and instruction.
Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death...even the death of the cross.
The Lord Jesus clearly said: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…(John 3:16)...And yet the Apostle John taught us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
How do these two teachings work together? Is this a contradiction? ...Should we not love what God loves? How can God so love the world and yet teach us NOT to love the world?
The answer lies in understanding the difference between our love and God's love and what is actually meant by the world. Language requires context and sometimes there are different ways of using the same word. When reading the Bible and learning the Lord's ways, we must practice TWO KEY PRINCIPLES:
1. Live between the TENSIONS.
2. Learn the author’s INTENTIONS.
When the Bible speaks of God's love for the world, we are speaking of His love for the souls of mankind from every tribe, tongue, and nation. When John addresses the world, he is not referring to souls but rather to the sins and systems that make up this world. We are not to love the sinful passions and selfish priorities of the world. For the ways of the world is contrary to the true love that is of God and from God and that leads us to truly loving other people.
True love is the fruit of His Spirit (Gal. 5:22), whereas the love of the world comes from the lust of our flesh since this fallen world is "under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19).
It is only when we read the Bible in its context and pay close attention to the details and let Scripture interpret that we will properly understand some of the harder teachings of Scripture.
For example, Matthew 10:34-37 says, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to “set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and “a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother MORE THAN ME is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter MORE THAN ME is not worthy of Me."
In other words, our love for God must far exceed our love for anything else...or those things will become idols in our lives.
When we live with the right divine order and love God the way He deserves to be loved, we can love with His love that is poured into our hearts from God and love even our enemies because we love God over and above our closest family and friends. This is how love and hate can both oppose each other and also order our relationships vertically and horizontally.
The contrast between the Lord's love for people verses the world's lust for itself is clearly seen when the people of generations ago united together to build the Tower of Babel just to make a name for themselves. They confronted God and He answered them with division and confusion.
Today, we find our true faith and unity when we call upon the Name of the Lord. For "the Name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and they are safe" (Prov. 18:10). When we are living for the Lord, the world may hate us and persecute us and oppose us in some way.
Counting the Cost means that we abandon self and treasure Christ over and above all else.
COUNTING THE COST
- To understand the terms of discipleship
- To recognize the high call of God
- To consider the commitment required
- To make any sacrifice that is necessary
- To lay down one’s life to the very end
This is what Paul the Apostle learned when he met the risen Lord and later said, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:7-8).
How about you? Have you truly counted the cost and learned what it truly means to follow Christ? Now is the time to give Christ your all and to make Him your all in all! He is worthy of the surrender of self, the departure of sin, and the obedience of your will. He is worthy of it ALL!
We will only learn to count the cost...when we first recount the cross!
Discussion Questions for Home Groups:
1. How has recounting the cross helped you to count the cost in following Jesus?
2. How has God been teaching you to love the people of this world without getting caught up in loving the passions and priorities of this world system? Share your thoughts and reflections.
3. What are ways that God has called you to count the cost at various points throughout your Christian life? What lessons has God taught you when you have or have not put Christ above all other things?
4. What are any final thoughts or insights you have learned throughout this series and how will you become more engaged in the Great Commission?
Recent
Archive
2026
February
March
2025
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
September
November
2024
January
February
April
May
Categories
no categories
No Comments