· Pastor Steve · Sermons · 2 min read
The Cost of Discipleship: Choosing the Needs of Christ Over the Wants of the World
Leadership in the Kingdom of God looks different than the corporate world. It’s not about immediate gratification or wants; it's about identifying the deepest needs of the soul and the community. This week's sermon review explores the Harder Right and the true cost of discipleship.
In This Sermon
- The Illusion of Immediate Gratification: An exploration of how modern slogans like “Have it your way” fuel a culture of “wants” over spiritual “needs.” [01:44]
- The Covenant of Obedience: A reflection on Deuteronomy and the “contract” between God and His people, highlighting the choice between life-giving obedience and the death of idolatry. [05:46]
- Philemon and the Freedom of Love: An analysis of Paul’s letter to Philemon, urging a master to see his runaway slave not as property but as a brother in Christ. [08:38]
- Counting the Cost: A sobering look at Jesus’ call to discipleship in Luke 14, where He demands that we prioritize Him above even our own families and lives. [13:13]
- Eternal Perspective vs. Worldly Comfort: A concluding call to find true rest in God, echoing St. Augustine’s prayer that our hearts are restless until they find rest in Him. [18:39]
Theological Citations:
- Matthew 16:24-25: “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
- Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
- The Augsburg Confession, Article IV: Regarding Justification by Faith—teaching that we cannot be justified before God by our own strength, merits, or works.
