ENCOUNTERS on THE WAY TO THE CROSS        Pastor Bob Chroninger
 Trinity C.U.  3-8-98 p.m.         Luke 14:25-35  		A:\LUK14-25 
    THE CURIOUS, THE CONVINCED, THE COMMITTED.  How would you describe
    your walk with Jesus?  Are you only Curious?  Are you Convinced?  Or
    are you truly Committed? Many followed Jesus... out of curiosity.  Some
    were convinced He was all He claimed... but only the few were willing 
    to make the committment required. When Jesus gave the rules for 
    committed followers... many just turned away. (John 6:61-66) Salvation..
    is the free gift of grace but discipleship costs... 

I. THE CONCEPTS of DISCIPLESHIP 
  A. The "Popular" View... 
    1. Some Just Think of being "saved" and going to heaven... 
    2. Some Just Think of the "loaves and the fishes"  Jn.6:14, 15, 26 
    3. Some Just Think of the "convenience".. 
    4. "It is not convenient.. have me excused..."  Lu.14:18-20 
    5. Some Just Think of the miracles and excitement.. Lu.10:17-20 
  B. The "Jesus" View...  He Made It Clear... 
    1. Discipleship involves submission to His authority without any 
       reservations whatsoever! 
  C. What Is Your View?  Are you really acknowledging the authority of 
     Jesus Christ over every area of your life? 
    1. Like the way you study, or work, or help at home... etc. 
    2. Like the way you use money.. that God has entrusted to you.. 
    3. Like the choice of boy friend.. girl friend..   dating... husband,
       wife .. college... vocation...
    4. Like your worship... service.. 

II.  THE COSTS of DISCIPLESHIP.. 
  A. You Must Submit ONLY To The Authority of Christ in order to Follow.. 
	"Hate".. not used as an emotion.. but your "will" 
    1. That which you surrender to is said to be what you "love" 
    2. That which would gain mastery over you.. & you resist.. You "hate" 
 ** But don't take this as an excuse, kids, for resisting your parents' 
    guidance.  To be a  disciple is to be submissive to others who are in
    authority over us. 
  B. You Must Bear Your Cross, Daily, in order to Follow Him  27 
    1. A willingness to identify with Christ in His suffering, death, and
       resurrection.  
	- Remember....He was despised and rejected... Is.53 
	- Paul... "that I may know Him...." Phil.3:7-10
    2. A willingness to submit every area of our daily life to the scrutiny
       of the cross.. 
    3. A willingness to yield to His Word & Will.. rather than our own 
       selfish, carnal feelings. 
  C. You Must Count the Cost and Stick with it... in order to follow.. 28 
  D. You Must Forsake All Else To Follow Him... 33 
 ** It costs you (in the eyes of the world) to set aside your own will and 
    "rights" and acknowledge that 	Jesus Christ has the right to be obeyed..
     Unless you are willing... cannot be a Disciple.. 26,27 

III.  THE CALL to DISCIPLESHIP... 26.. "if any man come to me...." 
  A. Take my yoke upon you.. Mt.11:28-30 
  B.  Deny "Self"
  C. Take up his cross.. follow me  Luke 9:23,24; 14:27... etc. 
  D. The Warning... 34, 35.. "salt that loses its saltiness..." 
    I understand that when Cortez landed at Vera Cruz in 1519 to begin his 
    conquest of Mexico with his handful of 700 men... he deliberately set 
    fire to his fleet of 11 ships.  With their only means of retreat at the
    bottome of the Gulf of Mexico... there was Only One Way To Go...

   How true of Christ's Disciples... ONLY ONE WAY TO GO!! 
 WILL YOU TODAY... MOVE FROM CURIOUS OR CONVINCED TO COMMITTED???