The Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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READER 1 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus,
READER 2 Multitudes filled the roads following him,
READER 3 Large numbers camped where Jesus stopped
READER 2 Stayed in the towns where he visited
READER 1 Huge crowds
READER 2 Large numbers
READER 3 multitudes
READER 1 Jesus turned to the multitudes and said:
READER 3 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters -- yes, even his own life -- he cannot be my disciple.
READER 1 His father?
READER 2 His mother?
READER 3 His wife and children?
READER 1 His brothers?
READER 2 His sisters?
READER 3 His own life?
READER 1 Why should you have to hate others to follow Jesus?
READER 2 Why so off-the-wall?
READER 3 Why so radical?
READER 1 Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
READER 2 Carry his cross?
READER 3 What does that mean?
READER 1 And follow Jesus...
READER 2 That I understand, or do I.
READER 1 What does it mean in the Twenty-First Century to hate one's family
READER 2 and carry one's cross
READER 3 and follow Jesus?
READER 1 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
READER 2 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying,
READER 3 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.
READER 1 He began the job
READER 2 But couldn't finish it.
READER 3 Poor foresight.
READER 2 Lack of planning.
READER 1 Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king.
READER 2 Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
READER 3 10,000 versus 20,000 isn't very good odds.
READER 1 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.
READER 2 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
READER 1 Give up everything?
READER 3 Give it up to whom?
READER 1 Discipleship sounds pretty serious.
READER 2 Discipleship sounds hard.
READER 1 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
READER 1 It is fit neither for the soil
READER 2 nor for the manure pile;
READER 3 it is thrown out.
READER 1 It looks like salt,
READER 2 But the sodium chloride has leached out.
READER 3 And all that is left is impurity.
READER 1 Salt without a salty tang is worthless.
READER 2 Insipid disciples are worthless, too.
READER 1 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
READER 2 He who has ears,
READER 3 Let him hear.

Other online lessons from Luke | Lessons in book format

Copyright © 2025, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.

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Jesus' Parables for Disciples, by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Discipleship for New Believers


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Old Testament

  1. Abraham, Faith of
  2. Jacob, Life of
  3. Moses the Reluctant Leader
  4. Joshua
  5. Gideon
  6. David, Life of
  7. Elijah
  8. Psalms
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  11. Isaiah
  12. 28 Advent Scriptures (Messianic)
  13. Daniel
  14. Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books

Gospels

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  3. Luke's Gospel
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  5. Seven Last Words of Christ
  6. Parables
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  8. Resurrection and Easter Faith
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Acts

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Pauline Epistles

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  2. 1 Corinthians
  3. 2 Corinthians
  4. Galatians
  5. Ephesians
  6. Philippians
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Revelation

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Topical

  1. Glorious Kingdom, The
  2. Grace: Favor for the Undeserving
  3. Great Prayers of the Bible
  4. Holy Spirit, Disciple's Guide
  5. Humility
  6. JesusWalk: Beginning the Journey
  7. Lamb of God
  8. Listening for God's Voice
  9. Lord's Supper: Disciple's Guide
  10. Names and Titles of God
  11. Names and Titles of Jesus

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