5th Sunday after the Epiphany!
Introduction:
A. Today, we
will take that same juicy berry which we talked about last week and apply it
two different ways.
1. First, we will say it
represents Christ.
2. Then, we'll
say it represents a goal that we have!
B. In this
message, we will see that it is alright to
count the cost in two different ways!
Prayer
Luke 14:25-35
I. Let's look at our parable about berries.
A. When we are
picking berries, we have to decide whether or not they are worth the cost.
1. Many believe they are and go
out to pick berries whenever they have a chance.
2. Others, you couldn't give them
to them if they
have to go and pick them; they don't consider them to be worth the cost:
a. the heat.
b. the thorns and scratches.
c. the plain old work!
d. If you will
pick them for them, they will take them, but if they have to pick, they are not
worth it.
B. When we are
berry picking and we run across a nice juicy berry, we have to decide if it is
worth the thorns in our hand (cost) to reach back in there and get it.
(remember I am talking about berries like my grandmother had that have a lot of
dead briars in them, a lot of opportunities to get scratched)
1. Perhaps this is one I should
leave for the birds!
2. If we do go for it, we
carefully select the path
we are going to take to get to it!
II. How does this apply to us today?
A. Deciding whether or not to follow Christ is
much like berry picking!
1. There are
great rewards in following Christ, but Christ wants us to "count the
cost." (see scripture)
a. Christ
doesn't want us going at it blindly with in mind quitting if we decide we don't
like it!
b. Christ want's
those who have thought it out and have decided to dedicate their lives to God!
c. Life will not always be a bed of roses, and Christ wants us to know that before we start! Christ also wants us to know that we will not be going it alone because Christ through the Spirit will be there to help us through.
1) It isn’t always popular to be a
Christian! Some
of the first hearers
of this teaching of Christ would be
persecuted for following Christ and not
bowing to Rome!
2) Christ is calling them to count the cost!
3) What Christ taught should be what we
follow. Sometimes other so called
Christians may try to
lead us from
that; sometimes our government
can.
Sometimes it may get us
persecuted,
even today! Look at the life of Christ
and follow that! If we
do that, we are
on the winning side, if
not in this
life, in the life to
come! In this
life, we are able to be
God’s hands and
feet to share the love
of God! It is a
life worth living. Christ calls us to
count the cost!
4) Bad things still happen to Christian
people!
a) We still get
deathly sick.
b) Our loved ones still get deathly sick!
c) Our loved ones may still get hit and killed by a drunk driver!
e) Our loved ones could be killed in a school or drive by shooting!
5) Whatever happens, we have a God to help us through it! We have a God who has
lived among us and knows just what we
need! We have a God in Jesus Christ who
walks alongside us and helps us
through whatever life brings!
6) Again, Christ calls us to count the cost!
2. If we go at it blindly, not counting the cost, we probably won't make it! Life will still not be what we expected it to be!
B. Looking at our goals and plans as a church,
Christ
would have us to count the cost!
1. As a church, we are to
prayerfully count the
cost!
a. A minister should never expect
a
congregation to swallow
anything without
counting the cost! This isn't Biblical!
Christ wants us to count the cost then
decide if we are to do something!
b. I once knew of a minister in
another
tradition who decided what God's will was
for the church building program. When the
church didn't agree with him, they were
wrong and weak in faith for not accepting it!
c. It is not a weak faith to count
the cost so
we will know what we are
getting into. It
is good stewardship!
1) That is the whole purpose behind all
the steps we go through as
Methodists
before we can build.
2) All the checkpoints and approvals are
designed to help us to
count the cost!
d. Like in berry picking, we have
to look at
the different avenues that are available to
us to attain a goal and then decide which is
the best one to take.
e. If we don't
and just dive in without considering the alternatives, we might just get
scratched up real bad and not accomplish what we were trying to do.
III. After we have counted the cost, then what?
A. This is where the faith comes in!
B. Even if we find it possible, if we count the
cost and
have no faith, we wind up like the Hebrew people after they sent the
spies to spy out
C. If it is
concerning whether or not to accept what God has done for us in Christ and
become a Christian, if we have no faith, we wind up lost and out of
relationship with God. This also takes
faith or trust!
D. In making a
decision, after we have counted the cost and God has guided us to an
intelligent decision, if we are willing to step out on faith, God can use this
decision to make a positive difference.
The sky is the limit in our Christian lives and in our Church!
Conclusion:
A. Concerning becoming a Christian, we have to
count the cost!
1. Some will not choose to follow
Christ because of fear of what they will lose!
2. For me, I feel that I have
gained much more than I have lost. I don't regret a day I have spent serving
the Lord!
3. Won't you
accept what God has done for us and begin your journey of Faith?
B. As
individuals and as a church, let's be good stewards of God’s gifts to us! Let's count the cost, but let's also have the
faith to step out when the Lord shows us something to do!
Prayer
of Confession
Service
of Communion
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