In order to grow as a Christian, you have to become a disciple Luke 6:39-40.

Becoming a Christian is easy: You have to receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life God offers through Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Becoming a disciples cost you everything.

Crowds Accompany Jesus: convenient, it is exciting: witness miracles, eat bread, etc. those who were looking for Jesus- real motive: they ate bread. Being associated with Christ's name: we prophesied in your name, etc on the last day Christ will say: depart from me …

Disciple: Matetes – an individual seeking to learn from a rabbi and duplicate his life. As disciples of Christ we likewise seek to follow him – his life and teaching.

4 marks:

• Christian (vs. Relationship, no resource – Power of the Spirit).
• Growing relationship with Christ (knowing more his Word, more obedient).
• Obey Christ in every area of your life (end result of following Christ).
• Live your life as Jesus would live if he were you, make new disciples.

2 demands:

• Unconditional allegiance (Luke 14:26): Hate – not emotional (Romans 9:13) choose over, choose whom to please;
• A willingness to die (Luke 14:27) bear your cross - voluntarily die to own dreams, desires, etc. Christ said: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34). “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). He may let you keep you your dream, goals, possessions… but it is under his control.

2 descriptions:

• Builder (Luke 14v28-29)– without determination, you will make a fool of Christ (2 Peter 1:5-9); Give up your possessions, not give away (one day we will give everything away – the day we die), surrender your right to everything important to you. Rich man who gave his business to the Lord and it burned up that night as he was sound asleep; not makeover but takeover of Jesus. Another example: Paul in Philippians 3:7-8

• SALT - In Jesus day, salt was very expensive. Salt was a preservative: used not to prevent decay but to delay decay of meat or other items, keep it in good state for longer – the world is decaying but keep it longer before it collapses. – Roman soldiers were paid in salt – The word salary comes from that. Often people in those days could not afford pure salt. They would buy mixed salt; salt mixed with sand but once salt has broken down, it would become useless. Salt creates thirst: The life of a disciple prompt others to desire Christ. A half-committed Christian has lost his edge– worthless in the sight of God; no one can know God through such believers. They are double minded (Revelation 3:14-16): God hates lukewarm Christianity. We need a definite commitment to follow Jesus our Lord with all our hearts. Luke 9:62 “But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Bible Verses

Luke 14:25-33 ²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Luke 6:39-40 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 9: 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

2 Peter 1:5-9 ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductivein your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Revelation 3:14-17 ¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.