The Problem of Discipleship Village Church English (auto-generated) English

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if you like sift through the teachings

- If you like sift through the teachings

of some of the most popular religious writers today or you

of some of the most popular religious writers today

or you watch a TED talk or whatever,

ted talk or whatever you'll likely encounter kind of the classic

you'll likely encounter kinda the classic view of Jesus

view of jesus that he was a really good guy great moral teacher a visionary

that he was a really good guy, great moral teacher, a visionary

but let's not believe any of this stuff

but let's not believe any of this stuff

about him being god or you know whatever

about him being God or you know, whatever.

so many people are willing to accept

So many people are willing to accept Jesus

jesus as an inspiring leader or an archetype or religious guru whatever but not as lord

as an inspiring leader or an archetype or religious guru, whatever

meaning as the master of their lives the call to follow him is

but not as Lord, meaning as the master of their lives.

seen as too fanatical too devoted and naive this is the

The call to follow him is seen as too fanatical, too devoted and naive.

problem of discipleship in our media saturated age we're all

This is the problem of discipleship in our media saturated age.

used to getting a good sales pitch

We're all used to getting a good sales pitch.

if advertisers want to us to buy into a

If advertisers want us to buy into a product

product or if a politician wants us to

or if a politician wants us to support them

support them they'll sell us on their vision of the good life for us

they'll sell us on their vision of the good life for us.

a vision of life made easier and better

A vision of life made easier and better

and we cave to these promises all too easily

and we cave to these promises all too easily.

our hearts buy into them again and again

Our hearts buy into them again and again and again

and again and the thing with jesus is he does offer us something but he also

and the thing with Jesus is, he does offer us something

asks something of us

but he also asks something of us, right?

right to the masses of people in the first century looking for

To the masses of people in the first century, looking for vision

vision and inspiration for personal and

and inspiration for personal and political revolution,

political revolution jesus could have given them the prosperity gospel right

Jesus could have given them the prosperity gospel, right?

whoever wants to be my disciple you you you get this out of it and you'll

Whoever wants to be my disciple, you get this out of it

you're you're as one writer has said

and as one writer has said, "Your pigs won't die

your pigs won't die and your women won't

and your women won't have miscarriages

have miscarriages and you can have clothes on your back and you can have bmws for your life just follow me but he

and you can have clothes on your back and you can have BMWs for your life.

doesn't say that he says this

Just follow me." But he doesn't say that he says this,

if anyone wants to be my disciple he

"If anyone wants to be my disciple,

must deny himself take up his cross daily and follow me

he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.

for whoever wants to save his life will

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it

lose it but whoever loses their life for me and the gospel

but whoever loses their life for me and the gospel will save it."

will save it mark chapter 8. now before we can grasp what that means for

Mark chapter eight. Now, before we can grasp what that means for us,

us we have to understand why this is something that we need

we have to understand why this is something that we need.

what appears to be the worst strategy for pursuing our personal fulfillment

What appears to be the worst strategy for pursuing our personal fulfillment

may actually be the best thing for us

may actually be the best thing for us.

notice jesus unlike politicians doesn't

Notice Jesus, unlike politicians, doesn't say,

say hey lowest common denominator here's the bar

"Hey lowest common denominator, here's the bar down here.

down here don't worry about it he puts the bar high and says this is

Don't worry about it." He puts the bar high

going to be hard

and says, "This is gonna be hard."

so what would motivate a person in our

So what would motivate a person in our world

world to take jesus up on this vision of self-denial

to take Jesus up on this vision of self denial?

it almost goes against everything we know about human psychology

It almost goes against everything we know about human psychology.

human beings make the majority of their

Human beings make the majority of their decisions,

decisions you and i really driven by our own pleasure so why

you and I, really driven by our own pleasure.

would people want to embrace what jesus talks about here self-denial

So why would people want to embrace what Jesus talks about here?

following somebody other than themselves i think the answer

Self denial, following somebody other than themselves.

to that is in this weird place it's it's

I think the answer to that is in this weird place.

it's hidden in the in the stories we're told about

It's hidden in the stories we're told about Jesus

jesus in the temptations that he faces in the

in the temptations that he faces in the wilderness

wilderness in matthew chapter four

in Matthew chapter four.

the people lived poor in brutal lives and they're waiting for a savior the

The people lived poor and brutal lives and they're waiting for a savior,

people that jesus is talking to and they longed for a gospel of

the people that Jesus is talking to, and they longed for a gospel

where the nation can prosper and they

of where the nation can prosper and they can prosper

can prosper and so jesus shows up and uh he's being tempted by satan and

and so, Jesus shows up and He's being tempted by Satan

if you are the son of god satan says

and if you are the son of God,

throw yourself down off this rooftop

Satan says, "Throw yourself down off this rooftop

and you know if you bow down to and

and you know, if you bow down and worship me,

worship me i'll give you all of the the nations of the world and

I'll give you all of the nations of the world."

jesus was tempted

And Jesus was tempted to do those things

to do those things so that everyone

so that everyone would believe in him maybe.

would believe in him maybe turn this you know stones into bread why would you

Turn this, you know, stones into bread. Why would you do that?

do that so that you can feed everybody

So that you can feed everybody

and these people who are dying for it

and these people who are dying for it will follow you

will follow you and yet jesus denies all these temptations all

and yet Jesus denies all these temptations.

three of those temptations that the

All three of those temptations that the devil gives him.

devil gives him i remember listening to dr eric mason preach years ago he talked about

I remember listening to Dr. Eric Mason preach years ago

the idea that jesus knew that the devil

and he talked about the idea that Jesus knew

always presents to us on a temporal

that the devil always presents to us on a temporal level,

level something that god has promised on an

something that God has promised on an eternal level

eternal level that when the devil looks at uh jesus

that when the devil looks at Jesus and says,

and says worship me and i'll give you the nations of the earth

"Worship me and I'll give you the nations of the earth." Right?

right what does jesus say at the end of the book of matthew matthew

What does Jesus say at the end of the book of Matthew, Matthew chapter 28?

28 he denies that temptation he gets he

He denies that temptation, he gets it, he dies, he resurrects,

dies he resurrects he's going to ascend

he's gonna ascend, he says, "All authority

he says all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me meaning as mason says the devil wanted

in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Meaning as Mason says,

to give him earthly kingdoms

the devil wanted to give him earthly kingdoms

but god wanted to give him all kingdoms

but God wanted to give him all kingdoms.

that's like you and i in our lives buy

That's like you and I in our lives, buy that dress.

that dress what's one more right the rush you feel now has no bearing on eternity sleep

What's one more, right? The rush you feel now has no bearing on eternity.

Sleep with her just this one time,

just this one time the pleasure you'll experience now is worth the risk

the pleasure you'll experience now is worth the risk

of how god deals with you in other words

of how God deals with you. In other words, we believe the lie

we believe the lie that we can have it all right now

that we can have it all right now in the temporal

in the temporal that we can have the kingdoms of the world

that we can have the kingdoms of the world

and still have authority in heaven

and still have authority in heaven. That's crazy.

that's crazy jesus makes it pretty clear that this is not an option

Jesus makes it pretty clear that this is not an option.

don't you let the devil make you believe

Don't you let the devil make you believe

that god doesn't have better for you

that God doesn't have better for you.

when we look at jesus life we see that he suffered immensely

When we look at Jesus' life we see that he suffered immensely.

he took the hard road but not because he

He took the hard road but not because he loves suffering.

loves suffering suffering in the hard road are not ends in themself

Suffering in the hard road are not ends in themself,

there's something better that makes it bearable and that's the

there's something better that makes it bearable

thing about our lives

and that's the thing about our lives,

the glory and the goodness to come is

the glory and the goodness to come is what allowed Jesus

what allowed jesus to suffer the way he did the book of hebrews tells us that

to suffer the way he did. The book of Hebrews tells us that.

that jesus endured the cross how for the joy that

That Jesus endured the cross, how?

was set before him hebrews 12 says so it's about

For the joy that was set before him, Hebrews 12 says.

pursuing a better good like a greater reward jordan peterson in

So it's about pursuing a better good like a greater reward.

his book 12 rules

Jordan Peterson in his book, 12 Rules for Life says this,

for life says this long ago in the dim mists of time we as human beings began to realize that

"Long ago in the dim mists of time, we as human beings began to realize

reality was structured as if it could be

that reality was structured as if it could be bargained with.

bargained with we learned that behaving properly now in the

We learned that behaving properly now,

present regulating our impulses considering the

in the present, regulating our impulses, considering the plight of others,

plight of others could actually bring rewards in the future

could actually bring rewards in the future in a time

in a time and place that did not yet exist sacrifice now to gain later

and place that did not yet exist." Sacrifice now to gain later

and this is the secret to following

and this is the secret to following Jesus

jesus and understanding how he had victory how he endured suffering in his

and understanding how he had victory. How he endured suffering in his life.

life he had an uh what i would call an apocalyptic

He had an, what I would call an apocalyptic perspective

perspective meaning a future view which enabled him in his present life and in the trials he

meaning a future view which enabled him in his present life

faced he knew what was coming so

and in the trials he faced. He knew what was coming.

sadly this is a perspective largely ignored in our modern world we

So sadly, this is a perspective largely ignored in our modern world.

can embrace personal sacrifice pain

We can embrace personal sacrifice, pain and loss

and loss if we experience them in light of future joy

if we experienced them in light of future joy

but we don't understand that as paul says in romans 8

but we don't understand that. As Paul says in Romans 8, the sufferings

the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing

of this present time are not worth comparing

with the glory that is to be revealed to

with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

us that's the idea and all of that then answers how we in

That's the idea and all of that answers

the long run can follow jesus how we're

how we in the long run can follow Jesus. How we're gonna deny ourselves.

going to deny ourselves how are you going to pick up your cross daily that sounds like a drag

How are you gonna pick up your cross daily? That sounds like a drag.

how can we live a life of sacrifice in

How can we live a life of sacrifice

the 80 odd years we have on this planet

in the 80 odd years we have on this planet? How's that possible?

how's that possible because we know listen to me a better

Because we know, listen to me,

delight is on its way for us for the next 80 million years

a better delight is on its way for us for the next 80 million years.

we have calculated the cost benefit

We've calculated the cost benefit ratio

ratio and have concluded that the cost is worth it so we do this all the time

and have concluded that the cost is worth it.

as human beings you go to med school well when you're in

So we do this all the time as human beings, you go to med school,

med school for eight years it's a pretty tough life you

well, when you're in med school for eight years, it's a pretty tough life.

can't go out with your buddies you're always studying so why do we do

You can't go out with your buddies, you're always studying,

it but we know that once we have that

so why do we do it? But we know that once we have the degree

degree and once we become doctors now we can

and once we become doctors, now we can live a comfortable life.

live a comfortable life our families are taken care of we'll have money we'll

Our families are taken care of, We'll have money, we'll have things.

have things so think about it why not with jesus

So think about it.

we don't really believe that the best is yet to come

Why not with Jesus? We don't really believe that the best is yet to come?

we lack faith that the future jesus promises us is real

We lack faith that the future Jesus promises us is real

and it's better than what we can experience in the here and now

and it's better than what we can experience in the here and now.

and that's why we falter in the face of

and that's why we falter in the face of temptation.

temptation okay here's another angle on this we got to

Okay, here's another angle on this.

understand as we talk about discipleship

We gotta understand as we talk about discipleship

that it's not just like a christian thing discipleship is a human thing

that it's not just like a Christian thing, discipleship is a human thing.

literally the word disciple is the word

Literally the word disciple is the word mathetes.

math a taste it's where we get the word math it means learner

It's where we get the word math. It means learner. Everyone's a learner.

everyone's a learner everyone's a disciple of something in some form or another we are

Everyone's a disciple of something in some form or another.

constantly bombarded by messages that

We're constantly bombarded

teach us how to flourish in life

by messages that teach us how to flourish in life

and pressing upon us this vision of the

and pressing upon us this vision of the future.

future we're surrounded by competing voices that shape the way we view

We're surrounded by competing voices that shaped the way we view politics,

politics sex money family the very reason for our existence

sex, money, family, the very reason for our existence.

much of this discipleship happens unconsciously

Much of this discipleship happens unconsciously.

it's like the water we swim in and

It's like the water we swim in

that's why most modern people don't think of themselves as disciples

and that's why most modern people don't think of themselves as disciples

because they're just no i'm just going

'cause they're just, "No, I'm just going through life."

through life but you are every radio image every image that comes from

But you are every radio image, every image that comes from the internet,

the internet every image that comes from tv everything you read we're all disciples

every image that comes from TV, everything you read, we're all disciples.

we're all being discipled by the world

We're all being discipled by the world,

by ideas by a vision of the good life

by ideas, by a vision of the good life and this is not something

and this is not something we consciously

we consciously choose all the time.

choose all the time it's happening all the time in a

It's happening all the time in a thousand ways

thousand ways and the question then is who or what are you

and the question then is who or what are you following?

following jesus asks for a conscious choice that in following him

Jesus asks for a conscious choice that in following him,

we gotta die to all other forms of discipleship

we gotta die to all other forms of discipleship.

to come into his kingdom we must come out from every other one

To come into his kingdom, we must come out from every other one.

so this point we're like okay i i will

So at this point we're like, "Okay, I will become conscious

become conscious of certain ways of thinking and i'm going to wrestle those

of certain ways of thinking and I'm gonna wrestle those to the ground

to the ground and consider the call of jesus over the call of the world or whatever

and consider the call of Jesus over the call of the world or whatever."

but i believe that's actually far more

But I believe that's actually far more difficult

difficult and an invasive step is actually needed for us to pull it off

and an invasive step is actually needed for us to pull it off.

it's like a step that goes beyond the thinking level to our hearts like we don't need to just change how we

It's like a step that goes beyond the thinking level, to our hearts. Like we don't need to just change how we think,

think in order to be a real disciple of jesus you know what he needs to change

in order to be a real disciple of Jesus you know what needs to change?

we need a change of what we love

We need to change of what we love.

of our affections and how does that

Of our affections

happen it happens actually surprisingly not by

and how does that happen? It happens actually surprisingly not

targeting what we think about

by targeting what we think about

but in a sense first by what we do it's

but in a sense first, by what we do.

not just our beliefs it's our actual

It's not just our beliefs, it's our actual habits

habits and i know this seems contrary to much

and I know this seems contrary

of what popular christianity teaches

to much of what popular Christianity teaches, right?

right like hey it's not about what you do just believe this and believe this and get

Like, "Hey, it's not about what you do, just believe this and believe this

this doctrine straight but jesus listen to his words deny

and get this doctrine straight." But Jesus, listen to his words,

yourself pick up your cross follow me what are

"Deny yourself, pick up your cross, follow me? What are those?

those actions behavior habit that's

Actions, behavior, habit.

all rooted in our loves we do what we love right at the end of the

That's all rooted in our loves. We do what we love, right?

day our actions bubble up from our heart

At the end of the day, our actions bubble up from our heart.

in the gospels we read that jesus decided to heal someone

In the gospels we read that Jesus decided to heal someone based

based on the greek word splygidzomy

on the Greek word splagchnizomai, all right?

right it's a funny word but it literally

It's a funny word but it literally means

means to be moved in the inward parts or the bowels

to be moved in the inward parts or the bowels.

all right go read matthew chapter 9

All right, go read Matthew chapter nine, verse 36.

verse 36 that was his motivation for healing the guy i can't tell you the

That was his motivation for healing the guy. I can't tell you the number

number of times i have seen the power of a gut desire win

of times I have seen the power of a gut desire,

out over reason rationale logic how many times have i

win out over reason, rationale, logic.

sat with couples and they're going

How many times have I sat with couples

through marriage counseling pre-marital

and they're going through marriage counseling,

counseling and and and i sit them down and their

premarital counseling and I sit them down

personalities don't connect and their

and their personalities don't connect and their lives don't connect

and their lives don't connect and their families don't connect and i'm like

and their families don't connect and I'm like, "Dude, I don't know

dude i don't know if you guys should get

if you guys should get married,

married to be honest you know this isn't connected with that

to be honest, you know, this isn't connected with that."

and then they look at me and they're

And then they look at me and they're going, "Oh I know all that

going oh i know all that but the thing is she's so hot

but the thing is, she's so hot."

and in those moments beauty becomes more powerful than reason why

And in those moments, beauty becomes more powerful than reason. Why?

because you and i as human beings we aren't primarily

Because you and I as human beings, we aren't primarily rational creatures.

rational creatures we think we are but

We think we are

we actually are driven by what glitters

but we actually are driven by what glitters, what sparkles.

what sparkles that's the thing that that moves us our affections what we love right so

That's the thing that moves us, our affections, what we love, right?

then this question how should we live because believing

So then this question, how should we live?

something different than your neighbor

Because believing something different than your neighbor

about the divinity of christ doesn't cost you much

about the divinity of Christ doesn't cost you much.

if it doesn't filter down to a way of being in the world

If it doesn't filter down to a way of being in the world, right?

right you can ascend to the fact that

You can assent to the fact that Jesus is God

jesus is god he forgave you for sin and he went to the cross but now what

he forgave me for sin and he went to the cross. But now what?

you spend your money and time no

You spend your money and time no different

different than the non-jesus believing world around you

than the non-Jesus believing world around you.

you're just as busy scrolling instagram

You're just as busy scrolling Instagram, watching Netflix

watching netflix and waiting to cart your kids to yet

and waiting to cart your kids to yet another soccer game

another soccer game and jesus addresses us in this moment reminding us

and Jesus addresses us in this moment reminding us,

well there exists a set of beliefs that

while there exists a set of beliefs that Christians hold

christians hold and believe a hundred percent all those beliefs have

and believe a hundred percent,

all those beliefs have a purpose.

they're unto something namely a radical

They're onto something, namely a radical life change.

life change so your life must actually look different

So your life must actually look different.

anything else isn't real christianity

Anything else isn't real Christianity.

this is why this question of discipleship is so hard

This is why this question of discipleship is so hard.

like when i was a kid i attended a

Like when I was a kid, I attended a Christian summer camp.

christian summer camp okay and during one of the summer uh is

Okay and during one of the summers at this camp,

at this camp i met a girl named rebecca and she had given her life to jesus she

I met a girl named Rebecca and she had given her life to Jesus.

had prayed this prayer

She had prayed this prayer

and and one day i noticed she was not

and one day I noticed she was not living her life

living her life like the way someone would live their

like the way someone would live their life for Jesus

life for jesus and i asked her about it

and I asked her about it. I said, why don't you do that?

i said why don't you do that and she said well i don't have to live any different they

And she said, "Well, I don't have to live any different.

told me all i needed to do was say this prayer a

They told me all I needed to do was say this prayer."

couple weeks later i was with a friend

A couple of weeks later, I was with a friend and we were in this car

we were in this car and this car came out of nowhere and almost actually crashed into us i had to pull

and this car came out of nowhere and almost actually crashed into us.

the car off the road just missing

I had to pull the car off the road, just missing literally dying

literally dying

and I looked at my buddy

and i looked at my buddy and i knew that he had claimed to be a christian years

and I knew that he had claimed to be a Christian years ago

ago and i said what would have happened if that car

and I said, "What would have happened if that car would have killed us?

would have killed us would you have gone

Would you have gone to heaven? Do you love?"

to heaven do you love and he said no i would have gone to

And he said, "No, I would've gone to heaven

heaven even though i don't live like it because i prayed the prayer and that's

even though I don't live like it because I prayed the prayer

all they told me i had to do

and that's all they told me I had to do."

see see both of these people had been

See both of these people had been taught

taught either consciously or unconsciously whatever to be a follower of jesus you

either consciously or unconsciously whatever, to be a follower of Jesus,

simply needed to believe something different than those around

you simply needed to believe something different than those around you.

you if you did this you were going to go to heaven in other words check a box do the bare

If you did this, you were gonna go to heaven. In other words, check a box,

minimum step over the lowest bar possible and

do the bare minimum, step over the lowest bar possible

somehow you would be rewarded with great gain

and somehow you would be rewarded with great gain

and then you read the teachings of jesus

and then you read the teachings of Jesus

the call of discipleship which is costly

the call discipleship, which is costly.

it's a reprioritization of everything your relationships your money the way

It's a reprioritization of everything. Your relationships, your money,

you do your job the way you relate to

the way you do your job, the way you relate to your spouse,

your spouse your kids your neighbor you can't compartmentalize

your kids, your neighbor, you can't compartmentalize Jesus

jesus and his demands from the rest of

and his demands from the rest of your life.

your life you can't say jesus is

You can't say Jesus is you know,

you know good for salvation as your

good for salvation as your ticket to heaven

ticket to heaven and everything else is

and everything else is in another drawer.

in another drawer yet this way of living is super popular

Yet, this way of living is super popular

in the modern western world among

in the modern Western world among Christians.

christians people can be a christianized version of what they already

People can be a Christianized version of what they already are

are and what they are determined to remain

and what they are determined to remain

without change without cost without transformation

without change, without cost, without transformation.

this is literally the opposite of biblical christianity this is this is

This is literally the opposite of biblical Christianity.

precisely why christianity wasn't for everybody right jesus met a rich young

This is precisely why Christianity wasn't for everybody, right?

ruler who couldn't walk away from his wealth

Jesus met a rich young ruler who couldn't walk away from his wealth.

so he walked away from jesus

So he walked away from Jesus.

he didn't be like well i'm gonna do both he had to choose

He didn't be like, "Well, I'm gonna do both." He had to choose.

the crowds walked away when jesus told

The crowds walked away when Jesus told them

them to eat his flesh and drink his blood people rejected him

to eat his flesh and drink his blood. People rejected him.

the default setting of the human heart is a rejection of jesus authority

The default setting of the human heart is a rejection of Jesus' authority over our lives.

over our lives whether people realize that that's what he wants or not

Whether people realize that that's what he wants or not

and his proposed remedy to this rejection it's crazy deny yourself pick up your

and his proposed remedy to this rejection, it's crazy, deny yourself.

cross follow me never have there been three more radical

Pick up your cross, follow me. Never have there been three more radical,

yet life-giving invitations set before humankind set before you so so let's look at all

yet life giving invitation set before humankind, set before you.

all three of them first is deny yourself

So let's look at all three of'em. First is deny yourself.

here's why this is so crazy and

Here's why this is so crazy and scandalous and radical.

scandalous and radical our culture tells us not to deny ourselves but to find ourselves

Our culture tells us not to deny ourself but to find ourselves, right?

right our culture's message is you're the greatest good

Our culture's message is you're the greatest good and if that's true,

and if that's true it makes sense to spare no expense pampering yourself

it makes sense to spare no expense pampering yourself,

loving yourself

loving yourself, worshiping yourself,

worshiping yourself setting up yourself for a perfect pain-free life if the naturalist story of the atheistic

setting up yourself for a perfect pain-free life. It's a naturalist story,

story is true and there's no next life the logical

if the atheistic story is true and there's no next life,

thing to do is compile

the logical thing to do is compile pleasure

pleasure and wealth for yourself even if those come at the expense of others

and wealth for yourself even if those come at the expense of others.

this is the one life you will ever have and there isn't

This is the one life you will ever have. and there isn't anything more

anything more so you should make the most of it compile as much money power

so you should make the most of it. Compile as much money,

status pleasure as possible even if you

power, status, pleasure as possible

have to step on other people's throats

even if you have to step on other people's throats

to get there or cheat or lie or steal or

to get there or cheat or lie or steal or whatever.

whatever jesus call is to deny that impulse

Jesus' call is to deny that impulse.

he knows that if we look for what we want in a spouse or our kids or our work or making money we'll never be satisfied

He knows that if we look for what we want in a spouse or our kids or our work or making money, we'll never be satisfied

if the ultimate meaning and purpose of our

if the ultimate meaning and purpose

life is is trying to be derived from

of our life is trying to be derived from there.

there he knows because he made us that way

He knows because he made us that way, right?

right like notice the most glamorous rich and powerful people in the world

Like notice the most glamorous, rich and powerful people in the world,

are on their third or fourth marriages

are on their third or fourth marriages.

they can't stay faithful to their spouse

They can't stay faithful to their spouse,

they're addicted to drugs or alcohol or obsessed with plastic surgeries why is

they're addicted to drugs or alcohol, are obsessed with plastic surgeries,

that they have all the square footage the

why is that? They have all the square footage, the nice cars,

nice cars all the bling all the botox in

all the bling, all the Botox in the world

the world and they still can't function healthily

and they still can't function healthily.

this is what jesus is trying to do he's going for many of us

This is what Jesus is trying to do is go on. For many of us,

our best working solution is to put

our best working solution is to put ourselves

ourselves at the center of the universe

at the center of the universe.

we make ourselves the sun in our own

We make ourselves the sun in our own universe

universe and jesus says this is the fatal error

and Jesus says, "This is the fatal error." If the foundation

if the foundation of our lives has no transcendent component to it and i'm

of our lives has no transcendent component to it,

speaking to the skeptics here

and I'm speaking to the skeptics here,

if this world and its offerings are all

if this world and its offerings are all you have,

you have then you're going to hit a ceiling and you're going to keep wandering

then you're gonna hit a ceiling and you're gonna keep wandering.

the human hearts goes how do i find

The human heart goes,

meaning and joy in my life

"How do I find meaning and joy in my life?"

and what are what are our answers if i

And what are our answers? If I just did a better job,

just had a better job if i had a better spouse if i had better kids

if I had a better spouse, if I had better kids,

if i had more money then i'd be happy i'd be complete in life

If I had more money then I'd be happy, I'd be complete in life.

looking to all those things jesus says

Looking to all those things Jesus says,

doesn't work because they're part of the

"doesn't work because they're part of the problem."

problem keeping us from the actual doctor to keep focusing on them

Keeping us from the actual doctor to keep focusing on them

or ourselves keeps us from the one thing that can actually heal us welcoming ourselves is the very thing that becomes our

or ourselves keeps us from the one thing that can actually heal us. Welcoming ourselves is the very thing that becomes our undoing

because having the world revolve around us is unbearable in the end that's why

because having the world revolve around us, is unbearable in the end.

jesus says don't welcome yourself deny yourself we're not the hero of the

That's why Jesus says, "Don't welcome yourself. Deny yourself."

story we're not the true saviors true saviors

We're not the hero of the story. We're not the true saviors.

come from the outside not the inside

True saviors come from the outside not the inside

and that's why he says in mark 8 whoever

and that's why he says, in Mark 8,

would save his own life will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake in the gospels will save it

whoever would save his own life will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

and so tim keller says this about this

And so Tim Keller says this about this text,

text he says the deliberately chosen greek word for

he says, "The deliberately chosen Greek word

the word life here is psyche from which we get our word

for the word life here is psyche, from which we get our word psychology.

psychology it denotes your identity your personality and your selfhood jesus

It denotes your identity, your personality and your selfhood."

appeal is not to lose ourselves in order to

Jesus' appeal is not to lose ourselves

lose ourselves like eastern philosophy teaches but to

in order to lose ourselves like Eastern philosophy teaches

base your life on me and the gospel in other words my

but to base your life on me and the gospel.

life death and resurrection not yours jesus

In other words, my life, death and resurrection not yours.

says it's not enough just to know me as

Jesus says "It's not enough just to know me as a teacher

a teacher or a principal for life i went to the cross lost my

or a principal for life. I went to the cross,

identity so you can have one base your life on that not yourself

lost my identity so you can have one." Base your life on that not yourself.

that's what he's trying to say

That's what he's trying to say, deny yourself.

deny yourself he who loses his life will find it self-emptiness reads us for fullness

He who loses his life will find it. Self emptiness readies us for fullness.

our culture goes well self-denial that's a loss

Our culture goes, "Well, self denial. That's a loss."

no christianity says that's the greatest gain that's the winning move jonathan

No, Christianity says that's the greatest gain. That's the winning move.

edwards who lived in the 1700s uh his first sermon

Jonathan Edwards, who lived in the 1700s,

when he was like 19 was a sermon called

his first sermon when he was like 19,

christian happiness and he had this kind of thesis that

was a sermon called Christian Happiness and he had this kind of thesis

christians should be happy when they embrace three truths so

that Christians should be happy when they embrace three truths.

anything in life comes up against you

So anything in life comes up against you,

any suffering any pain any difficulty

any suffering, any pain, any difficulty,

there's three truths where if you hold

there's three truths where if you hold onto them,

on to them it will define your happiness

it will define your happiness.

the first is our bad things will turn out for good

The first is, our bad things will turn out for good.

that's what we know from the bible our

That's what we know from the Bible. Our second thing is,

second thing is our good things can never be taken away from us

our good things can never be taken away from us.

that's what discipleship tells us and

That's what discipleship tells us

three the best things are yet to come

and three, the best things are yet to come.

you hold on to those three things you can get through anything

You hold onto those three things, you can get through anything.

so long before self-help philosophy

So long before self-help philosophy made happiness,

made happiness joy about our own selfish

joy about our own selfish pursuits,

pursuits it was the christian concept that

it was the Christian concept that happiness comes

happiness comes through earnestly seeking the one who created us

through earnestly seeking the one who created us.

second then jesus says pick up your cross it's a fascinating image because

Second then Jesus says, "Pick up your cross." It's a fascinating image

in the first century crosses were

because in the first century,

actually used by the roman empire to execute people revolutionaries

crosses were actually used by the Roman empire to execute people.

challenging the state which of course

Revolutionaries challenging the state

jesus goes on to get crucified but at

which of course Jesus goes on to get crucified

this point they don't know that the roman empire the crucified six

but at this point they don't know that. The Roman empire,

thousand people on a single

they crucified 6,000 people on a single day

day across a hundred mile stretch of

across a hundred mile stretch of road

road sends a message through crucifixion to

sends a message through crucifixion to the world

the world and it's that caesar is lord

and it's that Caesar is Lord.

jesus was saying i'm lord

Jesus was saying, "I'm Lord.

you need to follow me in all things you need to pick up your cross

You need to follow me in all things. You need to pick up your cross."

notice jesus doesn't say pick up my cross

Notice Jesus doesn't say, pick up my cross, right?

right our discipleship is not just a

Our discipleship is not just a matter

matter of accepting jesus pain and sacrifice

of accepting Jesus' pain and sacrifice for us

for us though a big part of it is that no

though a big part of it is that.

listen jesus instructs his potential

No, listen, Jesus instructs his potential disciples

disciples to take up our own crosses our discipleship

to take up our own crosses.

while being centered on jesus christ and

Our discipleship while being centered on Jesus' cross

what it did for us is also here's a crazy thing about our

and what it did for us, is also, here's the crazy thing,

lives about our own cross to bear

about our lives, about our own cross to bear, right?

right there's this cost to following

There's this cost to following Jesus.

jesus if we're to view our life our desires

It afforded you our life, our desires,

our agendas our beliefs as dead and gone right like i've been

our agendas, our beliefs as dead and gone, right?

crucified with christ the apostle paul

Like I've been crucified with Christ.

says it's no longer i who live but

The apostle Paul says, "It's no longer I who live

christ who lives in me if that's kind of how we live our life

but Christ who lives in me." If that's kind of how we live our life,

what's going to change everything

what's gonna change?

why do we have to die for jesus because

Everything. Why do we have to die for Jesus?

a seed can't produce a flower or fruit

Because the seed can't produce a flower

or tree or anything of value until it

or fruit or tree or anything of value

goes into the ground and dies first and once that happens the way you

until it goes into the ground and dies first and once that happens,

relate to everything changes because now you're truly alive when

the way you relate to everything changes because now you're truly alive.

jesus puts the image of a cross in front

When Jesus puts the image

of his disciples he's saying

of a cross in front of his disciples he's saying,

this must be the shape of your life if

"This must be the shape of your life

you want to follow me you're already dead the only way you're ever

if you wanna follow me, you're already dead."

going to be able to get enough

The only way you're ever going to be able

courage in your life to sacrifice to go

to get enough courage in your life to sacrifice,

over and above what you want to do is to

to go over and above what you wanna do is to embrace your own death.

embrace your own death death to your own desires to your emotional wants to your needs

Death to your own desires, to your emotional wants, to your needs,

even for some of you your very lives

even for some of you, your very lives.

a while ago i read this story about a

A while ago, I read this story about a group of missionaries

group of missionaries and they were

and they were sailing to Africa

sailing to africa and the captain of their boat laughed at

and the captain of their boat laughed at them

them and said you're going to die over

and said, "You're gonna die over there."

there and one of the missionaries responded

And one of the missionaries responded,

captain we died before we started

"Captain, we died before we started."

meaning those who are already dead have

Meaning those who are already dead have emptied themself

emptied themselves of selfish ambition and that's what jesus

of selfish ambition and that's what Jesus is saying.

is saying we must decrease he must increase your reputation dies

We must decrease, he must increase. Your reputation dies,

the building of your own empires die if

the building of your own empires die if you wanna follow me.

you want to follow him so he's not trying as many do today to fool people into the kingdom by setting a low

So he's not trying as many do today to fool people into the kingdom

comfortable bar he's front loading the scandal and he's

by setting a low comfortable bar, he's front-loading the scandal

saying like like when i train church planters i

and he's saying, like when I train church planters,

lead them usually by saying what you win people with is what you win

I lead them usually by saying, "What you win people

them to and the reason i talk about that is

with is what you win them to." And the reason I talk about that is because

because for many aspiring pastors the temptation is to grow their church and the way that

for many aspiring pastors, the temptation is to grow their church

they're going to grow the church is by

and the way that they're gonna grow the church is

making christianity as easy as possible

by making Christianity as easy as possible

and then this leads to flimsy theology

and then this leads to flimsy theology and a flimsy life

and a flimsy life but they set the bar

but they set the bar of faith low,

of faith low say a quick prayer raise a hand follow a

say a quick prayer, raise a hand, follow a set

set of 10 snappy steps to live a good life all starting with the letter s

of 10 snappy steps to live a good life, all starting with the letter S

and boom my church is going to grow the

and boom, my church is gonna grow.

problem is is that this type of evangelism

The problem is that this type of evangelism doesn't lead

doesn't lead to a faith of substance it's it's not a resilient faith a faith that

to a faith of substance. It's not a resilient faith,

lasts when light falls apart a faith where you

a faith that lasts when life falls apart,

have steel in your spine that the true gospel gives you the

a faith where you have steel in your spine that the true gospel gives you.

christian life is often not about victory

The Christian life is often not about victory

as we talk about it all the time it's

as we talk about it all the time,

about obedience obedience

it's about obedience,

in the face of anything trial suffering

obedience in the face of anything trial,

even death and that's not always fun

suffering, even death and that's not always fun.

and this is what i want church planters

and this is what I want Church planters

to kind of understand straight out of

to kind of understand straight out of the gate.

the gate bonhoeffer uh said it this way when

Bonhoeffer said it this way,

christ calls a man he bids him come and die

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."

so jesus is making this clear to his

So Jesus is making this clear to his audience right up front.

audience right up front everyone dies at some point most disciples throughout history

Everyone dies at some point most disciples throughout history,

the dying occurs in a figurative way like crime up on the cross and die and most

the dying occurs in a figurative way, like climb upon the cross and die

people throughout history they do that

and most people throughout history they do that.

we die to our own plans our egos our

We die to our own plans, our egos, our selfish desires.

selfish desires however there's actually an undercurrent of

However, there's actually an undercurrent

literalism in what jesus is saying as well right

of literalism in what Jesus is saying as well, right?

luke tells us that john the baptist

Luke tells us that John the Baptist,

the kind of example of discipleship in the gospels was beheaded by herod he

the kind of example of discipleship in the gospels, was beheaded by Herod.

actually died for this this was the fate of

He actually died for this.

how many of his disciples his early

This was the fate of how many of his disciples?

disciples many of them all of the original apostles and i say

His early disciples, many of them, all of the original apostles

this because modern christianity the way

and I say this because modern Christianity,

that it's marketed in bookstores and

the way that it's marketed in bookstores and movies

movies and music is as something safe for the whole

and music is as something safe for the whole family, right?

family right that's how we think about it's like it's safe for the whole family

That's how we think about it. It's like it's safe for the whole family.

it isn't meant to be though there's absolutely nothing

It isn't meant to be though.

safe about christianity

There's absolutely nothing safe about Christianity.

christianity is a way of life that so pushes against the way of the world

Christianity is a way of life that so pushes against the way of the world

that the inevitable clash results in

that the inevitable clash results in pain

pain and sometimes tragedy for the christian instead of worldly success right so

and sometimes tragedy for the Christian instead of worldly success, right?

in contrast to like modern christianity

So in contrast to like modern Christianity,

the so-called like celebrity pastor of the western church you may have seen

the so-called like celebrity pastor of the Western church.

the popular instagram account called preachers and sneakers

You may have seen the popular Instagram account called PreachersNSneakers

and it features pictures of pastors alongside the retail value of the

and it features pictures of pastors alongside the retail value

clothes they're wearing right so you'll see a preacher up there

of the clothes they're wearing, right? So you'll see a preacher up there,

he's preaching the gospel and you'll

he's preaching the gospel and you'll find it

find it you know a three thousand dollar jacket fifteen hundred dollar sneakers five hundred dollar designer t-shirts

that you know, a $3,000 jacket, $1,500 sneakers, $500 designer t-shirts.

this picture of earthly success is so

This picture of earthly success is so far

far from the paradigm for discipleship that jesus lays out for us

from the paradigm for discipleship that Jesus lays out for us.

so the new testament paradigm is is more

So the new Testament paradigm is more like death

like death and suffering that jesus describes as taking up a cross it's a

and suffering that Jesus describes as taking up a cross.

way of life where those under the altar as

It's a way of life where those under the altar

revelation talks about where where they've died for their faith

as revelation talks about where they've died

are actually the heroes

for their faith are actually the heroes

of the christian faith not those on stage

of the Christian faith, not those onstage.

you know the oxford christian world encyclopedia

You know the Oxford Christian World Encyclopedia estimates

estimates that throughout history there have been 75 million christian martyrs like people

that throughout history there have been 75 million Christian martyrs

who died because of their faith 45 million

like people who died because of their faith. 45 million of which,

of which you know when they were killed in the 20th century so this isn't some

you know when they were killed? In the 20th century.

So this isn't some past thing.

a few years ago i went on a mission trip

Few years ago, I went on a mission trip to Turkey

to turkey and um just before we got there there'd been a

and just before we got there,

guy who who was befriending a bunch of

there'd been a guy who was befriending a bunch of people

people in turkey trying to lead them to

in Turkey trying to lead them to Jesus

jesus and one day he brought them into

and one day he brought them into his Bible study

his bible study and they tied him up to a chair and they

and they tied him up to a chair and they tortured him and killed him

tortured him and killed him and then we arrived like two weeks later and the

and then we arrived like two weeks later

whole country was kind of rocked by this and i remember

and the whole country was kind of rocked by this

doing evangelism on the streets of

and I remember doing evangelism on the streets of Turkey

turkey and talking to people about jesus

and talking to people about Jesus

and they were like what about that guy

and they were like, "Well, what about that guy who got tortured?"

who got tortured and i said yeah that's the nature of the call of god in

And I said, "Yeah, that's the nature of the call of God in our lives."

our lives and they were like man and and god actually used that because

And they were like, "Man." And God actually used that

the spouse went on tv and said you know

because the spouse went on TV and said, "You know what?

what this is what jesus calls us to and here's the thing

This is what Jesus calls us to." And here's the thing,

god used the death of that man i want

God used the death of that man, I want you to hear this,

you to hear this to force a cultural conversation and bring these young men to himself

to force a cultural conversation and bring these young men to Himself.

tons of evangelism was done we were

Tons of evangelism was done when we were there.

there people were coming to know jesus

People were coming to know Jesus

and a terrible thought struck me in that moment you know it was

and a terrible thought struck me in that moment. You know what it was?

that it's more important to god that the gospel advances in the world than for my life to continue on another day think about

That it's more important to God that the gospel advances in the world than for my life to continue on another day.

that you want a bible verse for that luke 9

Think about that. You want a Bible verse for that?

whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it

Luke 9, whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels, will save it.

yes god uses our joys to glorify himself and reach people but he also

Yes, God uses our joys to glorify Himself and reach people

but He also uses our pain.

what's the third part of the invitation

What's the third part of the invitation then?

then he says deny yourself pick up your

He says, "Deny yourself, pick up your cross."

cross which is good image of pain and lastly follow me

Which is image of pain and lastly, "Follow me."

john david hedega who is this writer he

Leon David Higdon who is this writer, he says these words,

says these words the ultimate issue in the universe is

the ultimate issue in the universe is leadership.

leadership who you follow and what directs your

Who you follow and what directs your life,

life is the single most important thing about you right so

is the single most important thing about you, right?

here's what we've got to understand uh

So here's what we gotta understand.

christianity is about jesus as leader not just savior think about that

Christianity is about Jesus as leader, not just savior.

the word disciple occurs 269 times in the new testament

Think about that. The word disciple occurs 269 times in the New Testament

you know how often the word christian is

You know how often the word Christian is found in the New Testament?

found in the new testament three times see disciple is actually the paradigm

Three times. See disciple is actually the paradigm structure

structure of christianity jesus challenges us to pick up our crosses daily

of Christianity. Jesus challenges us to pick up our crosses daily.

it's not about you know ideas it's not about just beliefs it's about a

It's not about, you know, ideas. It's not about just beliefs.

living breathing movement that has a daily

It's about a living, breathing, movement that has a daily impact

impact on what you do in the everyday unlike islam or judaism or hinduism christianity

on what you do in the everyday. Unlike Islam or Judaism or Hinduism,

isn't just interested in ancient teachings recorded in a book

Christianity isn't just interested in ancient teachings recorded in a book.

we worship a savior who is alive still today and he

We worship a savior who is alive still today

says i'm still your teacher i'm still your actual lord i'm your leader

and he says, "I'm still your teacher. I'm still your actual Lord.

this is the fulfillment of all the kind

I'm your leader." This is the fulfillment of all the kind

of epic tales that we tell ourselves right we're

of Epic tales that we tell ourself, right?

constantly you think of the movies and the stories

We're constantly, think of the movies and the stories.

donald miller wrote a book called story brand where he talks about the idea

Donald Miller wrote a book called StoryBrand where he talks about the idea

of all the great heroic stories that we

of all the great heroic stories that we tell

tell whether it's you know

whether it's, you know, Star Wars

star wars or lord of the rings or hunger

or Lord of the Rings or Hunger Games or whatever.

games or whatever there's always kind of the same basic

There's always kind of the same basic structure

structure a character has a problem they meet a

that a character has a problem,

guide that guide gives them a plan calls them

they meet a guide, that guide gives them a plan calls them to action

to action and it results in either a

and it results in either a comedy or a tragedy, right?

comedy or a tragedy right so luke skywalker meets obi-wan kenobi and yoda you know

So Luke Skywalker meets Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda,

frodo meets gandalf katniss meets haymitch you know all of

you know, Frodo meets Gandalf, Katniss meets Haymitch,

the and we have this this guide to tell us what to do all of

you know, all of and we have this guide to tell us what to do.

these are imitations of the true and better

All of these are imitations of the true

story where jesus

and better story where Jesus invites us

invites us into this story where he says i'm the hero but i'm also the guide like i'm the everyday

into this story where he says, "I'm the hero but I'm also the guide."

teacher this is what's awesome about

Like I'm the everyday teacher. This is what's awesome about Christianity.

christianity you don't just get a set of beliefs you get you get a teacher you have you get the mentor he becomes the daily

You don't just get a set of beliefs, you get a teacher, you get the mentor. He becomes the daily friend guiding us

friend guiding us in every aspect of our lives not just our beliefs so when

in every aspect of our lives, not just our beliefs.

we allow him to assume that role then he promises freedom he go we're

So when we allow him to assume that role then he promises freedom.

gonna find the meaning we were always

We're gonna find the meaning we were always looking for,

looking for find the joy find the fulfillment but we

find the joy, find the fulfillment

couldn't find it on our own

but we couldn't find it on our own.

so then how do we do this well meaning follow me okay i'm gonna follow jesus

- So then how do we do this well? Meaning, follow me, okay?

how do i do that well

I'm gonna follow Jesus. How do I do that well?

well it takes time it takes energy it takes focus on our end

Well, it takes time. It takes energy. It takes focus on our end, right?

right jesus called 12 normal people just guys who were fishermen away from

Jesus called 12 normal people. Just guys who were fishermen away

their normal lives as bankers and husbands and fathers and

from their normal lives as bankers and husbands and fathers

he said drop all of that and come follow me and they

and he said "Drop all of that and come follow me."

did just that for three years until he

And they did just that for three years until he was killed.

was killed so what think about this question why did it take three years

Think about this question. Why did it take three years?

jesus could have just as easily written a systematic theology book

Jesus could have just as easily written a systematic theology book,

called them all together in a retreat

called them all together in a retreat, spent the weekend and said,

spent the weekend and said here's what i want you to believe

"Here's what I want you to believe and how I want you to live,

and how i want you to live now go and tell everybody to do it why didn't he do

now go and tell everybody to do it." Why didn't he do that?

that it's kind of how we do stuff like in the modern church sometimes

It's kind of how we do stuff like in the modern church sometimes

but instead he befriends them

but instead he befriends them.

he does life alongside of them in the

He does life alongside of them in the Hills of Galilee.

hills of galilee he eats with them

He eats with them and sleeps with them

and sleeps with them and breathes every moment with them together for three

and breeze every moment with them together for three years

years and that's the point if you read

and that's the point.

uh malcolm gladwell's book outliers he

If you read Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers.

talks about the idea that like the beatles and mozart and all these

He talks about the idea that like The Beatles and Mozart

people all throughout history

and all these people all throughout history,

how did they become great at anything so here's what gladwell says

how did they become great at anything? So here's what Gladwell says,

this number ten thousand hours comes up

this number 10,000 hours comes up over and over again.

over and over again 10 000 hours is equivalent to roughly

10,000 hours is equivalent to roughly three hours a day

three hours a day or 20 hours a week of practice over 10 years no one has yet

or 20 hours a week of practice over 10 years. No one has yet found a case

found a case in which true world class expertise was accomplished in less time it seems

in which true world-class expertise was accomplished in less time.

that it takes the brain this long to

It seems that it takes the brain this long

assimilate all that it needs to know to achieve true mastery if we want to be great

to assimilate all that it needs to know to achieve true mastery.

become a master at something 10 000

If we wanna be great, become a master at something, 10,000 hours.

hours so now this might be a little too cute

So, now this might be a little too cute

but after i talked about this in a sermon one time

but after I talked about this in a sermon one time,

uh this woman walked up to me and she

this woman walked up to me and she said,

said you know if you calculate the time that the disciples spent with jesus

"You know, if you calculate the time that the disciples spent with Jesus,

assuming they took a sabbath but

assuming they took a Sabbath,

otherwise spent day and night with him

but otherwise spent day and night with him for three years,

for three years it actually equals just over ten

it actually equals just over 10,000 hours."

thousand hours it's basically having a full-time job for three and a half years

It's basically like having a full-time job for three and a half years.

see this is why jesus didn't simply write a a systematic book and give it to them he

See, this is why Jesus didn't simply write a systematic book

wanted his disciples to master a way of life and being in the world he

and give it to them. He wanted his disciples to master a way of life

wanted them to become

and being in the world. He wanted them to become experts.

experts mozart's the beatles in discipleship and he knew time was the only way to get there notice in

Mozart's, The Beatles, in discipleship and he knew time was the only way to get there.

the great commission the last thing jesus says in the gospel

Notice in the great commission the last thing Jesus says

of matthew matthew 28

in the gospel of Matthew, Matthew 28,

he doesn't look at his disciples and and

he doesn't look at his disciples and say, "Here's your mission,

say here's your mission i want you to teach everybody all i commanded

I want you to teach everybody all I commanded

and lo i will be with you to the end of the age that's not what he says

and lo, I will be with you to the end of the age." That's not what he says

because as one writer has pointed out

because as one writer has pointed out,

even a parrot could just repeat everything jesus

even a parrot could just repeat everything Jesus commanded.

commanded no he says i want you to teach them to obey all i commanded

No, he says, "I want you to teach them to obey all I commanded."

that's a whole different game the fact

That's a whole different game.

that we need to get people to obey him

The fact that we need to get people to obey him.

it's one thing to say love your enemy

It's one thing to say, "Love your enemy."

but a very different thing to actually do it

But a very different thing to actually do it

and this is where we start to enter the

and this is where we start to enter the question

question of what kind of christianity are we believing in following

of what kind of Christianity are we believing in following?

because anything other than this massive cost of discipleship vision

'Cause anything other than this massive cost of discipleship vision,

may not be christianity at all dallas

may not be Christianity at all.

willard years ago called it vampire christianity where

Dallas Willard years ago called it vampire Christianity.

where people take or receive jesus at his cost

Where people take or receive Jesus at his cost

but not theirs so so willard

but not there's.

talks about the idea he says that a

So Willard talks about the idea, he says that a dichotomy,

dichotomy uh an idea that you can just take certain

an idea that you can just take certain beliefs

beliefs but not the life of jesus is a heresy and he calls it vampire

but not the life of Jesus is a heresy and he calls it vampire Christianity

christianity and he says it means that you don't find jesus all that interesting

and he says, "It means that you don't find Jesus all that interesting."

he isn't as compelling as as you know

He isn't as compelling as you know,

instagram or twitter or amazon or

Instagram or Twitter or Amazon or whatever.

whatever he isn't interesting enough to spend quality time with

He isn't interesting enough to spend quality time with

or to read about or to learn from you can't even bother to

or to read about or to learn from, you can't even bother to listen

listen to him as your teacher as your lord you know forge a relationship because

to him as your teacher, as your Lord, you don't forge a relationship

it's all hard work what you do

because it's all hard work.

is you say give me some of your blood please

What you do is you say, "Give me some of your blood please

and that's all i want

and that's all I want."

you know in john 6 john says disciples turned back

You know in John 6, John says,

and no longer walked with him why

disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. Why?

because this can be hard right the call

Because this can be hard, right?

to be faithful to jesus

The call to be faithful to Jesus is a profound call.

is a profound call maybe the most profound in the entire bible

Maybe the most profound in the entire Bible.

think about marriage if any can get married

Think about marriage. Any moron can get married, right?

right any anybody can dress up in a

Anybody can dress up in a tux

toxin marry a girl in front of a group

and marry a girl in front of a group of people

of people and go oh that was a great

and go, "Ooh, that was a great."

see the thing about marriage as one

See the thing about marriage as one writer has said,

writer has said the most important day of your marriage is not the first day

the most important day of your marriage is not the first day,

it's the last day it's when you've

it's the last day.

lived out that 50 60 years together

It's when you've lived out that 50, 60 years together

and you've been faithful that's the important it's it's the obedience in

and you've been faithful. That's the important, it's the obedience

the midst of it so because the question becomes who is

in the midst of it. So, because the question becomes

found faithful on the last day who is found faithful

who is found faithful on the last day?

on the last day to jesus who among us

Who is found faithful on the last day to Jesus? Who among us?

until jesus returns or takes us in death

Until Jesus returns or takes us in death,

has woken up each morning and said i choose to follow you again today and here's what i've

has woken up each morning and said, "I choose to follow you again today."

realized the only way to hear the voice

And here's what I've realized, the only way to hear the voice

of jesus as master in those moments is if you're listening daily right over time it becomes

of Jesus as master in those moments, is if you're listening daily, right?

habitual and normal and part of your everyday life but only

Over time it becomes habitual and normal and part of your everyday life.

when you commit to the habit hearing the

But only when you commit to the habit. Hearing the voice of Jesus

voice of jesus which is what he says his

which is what he says his sheep can do,

sheep can do becomes second nature to his actual disciples so here's the challenge

becomes second nature to his actual disciples.

So here's the challenge of all this,

it is said that approximately 1 billion

It is said that approximately 1 billion people

people on planet earth claim to be christians

on planet earth claim to be Christians

but i would push back and say there's an

but I would push back and say,

important question to ask all of us right now we're watching this

there's an important question to ask all of us right now who are watching this,

in mark chapter 10 jesus asks two brothers

in Mark chapter 10, Jesus asks two brothers, James and John,

james and john what do you want me to do for you and in response they both say we want to

"What do you want me to do for you?" And in response, they both say,

sit at your right and your left in your

"We wanna sit at your right and your left in your glory."

glory and jesus rejects that right basically

And Jesus rejects that, right?

says you want power and prestige in the

Basically says you want power and prestige in the kingdom

kingdom that's not mine to give jesus says no and there's a profound question when i

that's not mine to give Jesus says no and there's a profound question

was reading that text one day that hit

when I was reading that text one day that hit me

me and it's lurking under the surface of

and it's lurking under the surface of all of us

all of us like an unseen predator in our life the question is this it's not just if we're choosing to follow jesus

like an unseen predator in our life. The question is this, it's not just if we're choosing to follow Jesus,

there's a follow-up question why

there's a follow up question.

have you chosen to follow him james and

Why have you chosen to follow him?

john they were doing it to be successful

James and John, they were doing it to be successful.

give us power give us prestige let us

Give us power, give us prestige.

sit on your left and you're right in

Let us sit at your left and your right in your kingdom.

your kingdom you ever asked your own heart the question why you're following him not just if

You ever asked your own heart the question, why you're following him?

like we usually applaud any gesture of intimacy toward jesus

Not just if, like we usually applaud any gesture of intimacy toward Jesus.

people are interested in jesus awesome

We're like, people are interested in Jesus, awesome, woo-hoo, let's go.

let's go but jesus pushes back

But Jesus pushes back with a deeper question,

with a deeper question why are you interested in me i know people who

why are you interested in me? I know people who become Christians

become christians for all kinds of

for all kinds of reasons, right?

reasons right to get more friends to get business relationships to marry that

To get more friends, to get business relationships, to marry that girl,

girl to absolve some guilt over something they did this is good stuff but the challenge is

to absolve some guilt over something they did. This is good stuff

as real as the invitation we have to think

but the challenge is as real as the invitation.

through not only if we love and follow jesus but why

We have to think through not only if we love and follow Jesus but why.

is it real is it motivated by the fact that i get god not just that i get

Is it real? Is it motivated by the fact that I get God?

certain things for myself have you ever

Not just that I get certain things for myself.

asked that question

Have you ever asked that question?

and would you be willing to ask it of yourself today

And would you be willing to ask it of yourself today?

deny yourself pick up your cross

Deny yourself, pick up your cross

and follow me such is the adventure of christianity [Music] you

and follow me such is the adventure of Christianity.

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