04-13-08 #Disciple Bible Study titled: "The Road To Commitment"

[Disciple]

‘On The Road With Jesus’
‘The Road To Commitment’
Luke 9:57-62
Intro.
The events recorded by Luke here take place as Jesus and the disciples are walking on the road toward Jerusalem. The reason Jesus is going toward Jerusalem is because the time of his death is approaching.
Luke 9:51
The word ‘steadfastly’ is interesting. It gives us the picture of ‘strengthening or firmly establishing his face’ to go to Jerusalem. There might have been a clear determination that could be seen and known by the expression on his face. I think clearly, Luke is talking about a commitment that Jesus had to go to Jerusalem and suffer and die to do the Father’s will. Tonight we are talking about commitment.
And I say ‘AMEN!’ #Disciple needs those who are committed to real discipleship with and for Jesus Christ. We have a lot of people who are interested in being a ‘Disciple’ but you see, being a disciple of Jesus Christ has a high price tag attached to it.
It is obvious that we are coming up on the short end of commitment in the church today. We suffer from a lack of commitment to regular attendance, to faithful tithing, to witnessing to others for Jesus Christ, daily Bible reading and prayer time. Let’s talk about commitment and what we can do to get back on the road to commitment with Jesus.
I. The Lack Of Commitment
In Jesus’ ministry he is always talking about people ‘following him’. Think about some examples of Jesus calling others to follow him.
John 1:43
Matthew 9:9
Mark 1:16-18
In the passage we’re looking at from Luke 9, we see three men who have said they want to follow Jesus. But very interestingly Jesus speaks words to them that at least on the surface seem to be unrealistic and even harsh and unkind. From each of these would-be disciples Jesus is calling for a commitment. Note what he says to each of them.
‘You better think if over, you may not have a place to sleep at night’, ‘let the dead take care of burying the dead’, following me is more important than your family and other obligations’. Why would Jesus say these things to these men? Let’s not forget that Jesus knew the hearts and minds of these men. Already Jesus had said that if anyone wanted to follow him he had to deny himself and take up his cross daily.
Later Jesus would challenge all who would follow him to count the cost involved. Perhaps Jesus is asking these men, ‘How badly do you want to follow me? Are you willing to pay what it truly costs?’ Each of these men are would-be disciples, very much like us today. We also want to follow Jesus but are we offering excuses for not doing what we need to be doing?
Jesus is showing these men and us that some tings get in the way of our keeping our promises and commitments made to the Lord. Are there some things in your life that you are allowing to keep you from the faithfulness and commitment that you originally made to the Lord?
Can you see that failure to keep our commitment is destroying us spiritually speaking? We must battle against the lack of commitment in our lives.
II. The Price Of Commitment
Commitment always carries a high price tag. It’s not only true for the Christian who wants to follow Jesus, it is true in any and every endeavor. If you are one who is into physical conditioning and exercise you have to pay the high price of commitment to your training regimen.
If you are one trying to lose weight by dieting you have to pay the high price of commitment to eating less and enjoying more. There has always been a high price involved with commitment. It is sad to say but the truth is, that is this high cost of commitment is what makes the difference between those who are ‘church members’ and those who are really disciples of Jesus, following him regardless the cost.
Sadly many are not interested in nor willing to pay the high price to be a truly committed follower of Jesus Christ. Let’s get to the heart of the matter, in the ‘Foster Letter’ dated 06-15-05, Gary Foster wrote, ‘Only 1 out of 3 church leaders models Christian discipleship to their church family.’
Foster is saying that in order for the church to live out true discipleship with Jesus Christ, they have to see it modeled in those who are in leadership positions within the church. Discipleship is not easy to do and because it’s not easy, many are not interested in paying the high price. Let’s just take a look at ourselves.
Where do you see yourself making some kind of sacrifice to follow Jesus? Isn’t sacrifice what Jesus was calling for from these three men in our Scripture? ‘you may not have a place to sleep’, let those who are spiritually dead bury the physical dead’, put me before your family and other obligations’.
Jesus called for sacrifice to be his disciple and follow him, where in your life are you making any kind of sacrifice to follow Jesus and put him first? Are you sacrificing your time? Are you sacrificing your finances? How many of us are giving 1/10 of our time to following Jesus? How many of us are giving 1/10 of our income for the working of the church?
What I am saying is this, if we are truly committed to being a disciple of Jesus Christ, shouldn’t it be showing up somewhere in our living? Shouldn’t there be some kind of sacrifice and self-denial in our lives?

III. The Urgency Of Being Committed
We can see the urgency that Jesus expresses in his words to the second man.
Luke 9:59-60
On the surface those words might seem unreasonable and even unkind. We can look at Jesus’ words two ways. Some believe that the man’s father was not actually dead yet. If this is the case, then the man is saying, ‘Wait until my father dies, then I’ll follow you’. But Jesus is calling him to follow him now without delay. The kingdom works must take priority and precedence. On the other hand, if the man’s father is dead, then you can see the urgency even more.
Jesus is saying, ‘let those who are spiritually dead take care of the details of the burial.’ Jesus is showing the man that if his father actually is dead that there now is nothing to hold him back in following Jesus. It is even more urgent that he follow Jesus now. Time is of essence, it is urgent to follow and become Jesus’ disciple now because right now is the only opportunity you have.
That is a good picture of the issue with time and opportunities for us. God gives us opportunities to serve him and so quickly those opportunities are gone.
2 Cor. 6:2
It is urgent that you be committed to following Jesus and being his disciple now, today.
Conc.
How do you measure success for the Christian life? It is to be able to say with the apostle Paul, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’ And you will never be able to say that until you are totally committed to Jesus Christ!
Will you be committed to Christ today? Will you accept him as Lord and Savior in your life? Will you become his faithful disciple today? Will you surrender all you are and all you have to him and his glorious purpose now?
It is most urgent that you are committed to Jesus Christ now!