BUILD - WEEK 8

Read Luke 14:25-35

The Cost of Being a Disciple

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.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. 34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Discuss:

1. What does Jesus mean when He says to “hate” father, mother, wife, children, and even one’s own life (v. 26)? How does this fit with His teachings about love and honoring family?

2. What do the parables of the builder (v. 28–30) and the king (v. 31–32) teach about making a deliberate and thoughtful commitment to follow Christ?

3. Why does Jesus emphasize counting the cost of following Him (v. 28)?

4. Can you think of a time when following Jesus cost you something significant? How did you respond, and what did you learn?

5. How does the imagery of carrying the cross shape your understanding of discipleship today?

6. How is living in a wholy commited way tied to us being salt and light in the world?

Application Questions:

7. What sacrifices do you think God might be calling you to make to follow Him more faithfully?

8. How can we encourage one another in the church to stay committed to the costly but rewarding life of discipleship?

Pray