WEDNESDAY- 31^st  WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33: None of you can be my disciples unless he gives up all his possessions.

I Reading: Philippians 2:12-18: Work for your salvation. It is God who puts both the will and the action into you.

The Cost of Discipleship, Lk 14:25-35

The cost of discipleship involves the supreme sacrifice; renunciation (v.26), self-denial (v. 27), thoughtfulness-counting the cost (v.28-32) and forsaking all-giving up everything (v.33-35).

There are three other conditions for discipleship given by Christ elsewhere. 1. Love to others (Jn 13:35;34), 2. Steadfastness (Jn 8:31), 3. Fruitfulness (Jn 15:8).

1. Huge crowds followed Jesus and he challenged them (v.25)

2. A man must put Christ first: Before family and even before himself

3. A man must bear the cross of death: Death to self (v.27)

4. A man must give thought to discipleship: Count the cost and the consequences (v.28-33)

a. Illust. 1: A builder-must count his resources

b. Illust. 2: A king at war must count the consequences

c. The point: A man must pay the ultimate price-give up everything

5. A man must have the salt of discipleship: The Salt of self-denial (v.34-35)

a. A half-hearted choice

          1) is worthless

          2) is to be cast out

b. an invitation: hearing is a choice

Thought: A half-hearted choice worthless and is to be cast out. Salt  that is worthless and useless is always thrown out, for it is good for nothing.

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