What Is Jesus Worth To You Part Two

Opening Question: What is Jesus Worth to you? Has it change over time good or bad? Why?

To a christian in Asia, the middle east or central Africa Jesus is worth their lives, homes, land, property and families! To meet as a body or simply profess Christianity in many parts of the world is to put your life and the lives of your family in great danger. These christian travel hours even days to meet in secret and worship in secret and yet they are filled with joy and they continue to share the gospel of Christ to family, neighbors and co workers despite the threats and dangers of doing so! These Christians faithfully sacrifice all that they have for Christ.

Typically in America Jesus is worth a weekly tithe, Church attendance once maybe twice a week, a daily prayer, a huge church building and possibly more.

What a contrast from a day in the life of a christian in Asia versus a typical day in the life of a Christian in America.

• Why the difference?
• Is it just because we have freedom and they don't?
• Shouldn't our commitment and level of sacrifice be the same?
• Where we not all called to the same calling?
  

In many ways we have settled in our Christianity for just living good lives and being good Christians.

Let's take a look at a few people that wanted to follow Jesus and lets see what he called them to do.

Luke 9:57-62

The Cost of Following Jesus

 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

 59 He said to another man, "Follow me."

   But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."

 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Starting with the first man:

• What do you think Jesus is asking of this man and us?
• Do you feel that this is unnecessary or too demanding of Jesus? Why?
• What does Jesus mean when he says the son of man has no place to lay his head?
• Our security should not come from worldly possessions.
• Even the very roof over our heads should not come between us and a relationship with Jesus.

The second man:

• What do you think Jesus is asking of this man and us?

• Do you feel that this is unnecessary or too demanding of Jesus? Why?

A lot of times we want to clear up something or attend to different things in our lives first. We want to know what we are going to run into or face, so we want to prepare our selves first before we give our heart and time to God.

• What does Jesus want us to do in those situations?

The third man:

• What do you think Jesus is asking of this man and us?

• Do you feel that this is unnecessary or too demanding of Jesus? Why?

Jesus is basicly saying that no one who has not yet shut the door, sealed the hatch, latched the bolt and thrown away the key is fit to serve God!

Jesus wants 100% devotion!

• What changes do you see in your heart that you need to make?
• Are there any areas of your life that you need to re-commit to Jesus?

Matthew 11:28-30

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

What Is Jesus Worth To You?

Opening Question: WHAT IS JESUS WORTH TO YOU?

To a christian in Asia, the middle east or central Africa Jesus is worth their lives, homes, land, property and families! To meet as a body or simply profess Christianity in many parts of the world is to put your life and the lives of your family in great danger. These christian travel hours even days to meet in secret and worship in secret and yet they are filled with joy and they continue to share the gospel of Christ to family, neighbors and co workers despite the threats and dangers of doing so! These Christians faithfully sacrifice all that they have for Christ.

Typically in America Jesus is worth a weekly tithe, Church attendance once maybe twice a week, a daily prayer, a huge church building and possibly more.

• Why the contrast from our counterparts around the world and their level of sacrifice and commitment versus ours?

• Is not our calling the same?

Luke 9:57-62

The Cost of Following Jesus

 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

 59 He said to another man, "Follow me."

   But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."

 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

• When you think of the title (The Cost of Following Jesus) what comes to mind when you think of the word cost?

Vs. 57-58 We find a man willing to follow Jesus, who is coming to Jesus to follow him and Jesus lays a challegne before him and details the cost of following him.

• What do you think Jesus is asking of this man and us?
• Do you feel that this is unnecessary or too demanding of Jesus? Why?

Vs. 59-60 Here we find another example of what Jesus expects from his followers.

• What do you think Jesus is asking of this man and us?
• Do you feel that this is unnecessary or too demanding of Jesus? Why?
• Isn't our responsibility to honor the dead a good enough excuse to delay our calling?

Jesus wants 100% devotion to him and him alone. There is nothing that should come between our relationship with God and doing what God wants us to do with our lives.

Vs. 61-62 Again Jesus challenges the very things that come most dear to us! Jesus even wants to be priority over our family.

• What do you think Jesus is asking of this man and us?
• Do you feel that this is unnecessary or too demanding of Jesus? Why?

No one who has NOT YET shut the door, sealed the hatch, latched the bolt and thrown away the KEY is fit to serve God! God demands complete sacrifice and devotion to him. We must serve him and serve him alone! The amazing thing about making Jesus lord of your life is that, when you do, it produces blessings in our lives. It produces strong families and calls us to take care of our responsibilities. Give your heart to Jesus and the rest will take care of it's self!

The Bible, Church and the Koran

Common question regarding the Bible, Church and the Koran:

1. How do we know who is right and which doctrine is from the one true God? Christians believe that the bible is "God Inspired". Meaning that God spoke to the prophets, and apostles and directed them on what to write.
   
2. Who's to say that the Muslims are wrong because they believed that their God inspired Mohammad to write the Koran? What if it's the same God? Is it? How do you know which "Bible" is correct?
3. When people study the bible they all have different opinions and interpretations on what they are reading. Who decides which one is right if they all follow the word of God but just understand it differently?
4. Is it that important which church I attend since they are all reading from the same bible?
   

Let me just start by addressing the most obvious, Jesus is the son of God, our Savior;  the Koran is not from God because they do not acknowledge/view Him as the Son, the Savior, the Muslims' view of Jesus is that he was a mere prophet, they also condone bigotry against any one who does not believe the same; therefore it does not align with ANYTHING in the Bible... As a Christian I vowed to make Jesus Lord, not Mohammad. There are numerous scriptures in the Bible about Jesus being the son of God, so I wont even attempt to quote them... and it does take faith to believe that the Bible is telling the truth regarding this matter. But if I am a Christian/Disciple/Follower of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, than I should have this fundamental faith.

Regarding interpretation of the Bible, the Bible is not up for interpretation... 2Pet 1:20-21, 2 Tim 3:16-17, etc. While there are things that the Bible leaves up to us/our heart/conscience/does it benefit one spiritually?, 1 Cor 10:23 "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial"; there are, however, solid scriptures, that if read in context, are very specific about salvation.

Regarding going to church/where, it only gives us examples of what the church should look like, all the scriptures we have shared with you regarding this matter, perhaps also take some time to review?... does it matter? Absolutely, to me that is... why? because if I want what is beneficial  for my spiritual walk with God, I choose to be part of a group that has deep convictions about salvation matters that are not up for interpretation, where brothers and sisters are living out Acts 2 (example of first century church), where people know me on a personal basis and can help me with my personal struggles or just know where I am so that they can pray for me/me for them, where there is a divine order being encouraged and lived out (God, husband, children, the lost), etc.  John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." So, than I look at scriptures about love, 1 John 4 which talks about this love and how important it is, 1Cor 13: 4-8 which specifies what love according to God looks like. So, where am I gonna go to church? Does it matter? Yes :) ... if I want to grow spiritually and be where the truth is being taught.