The Cost of Discipleship

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Rally Day)
Luke 14:25-33

"The Cost of Discipleship"

Welcome back, everyone! Summer is quickly transitioning into fall. This past week, many of us began to settle into a more structured routine with our return to school and work after the Labor Day holiday. The back-to-school shopping is probably over, and we realize that education and learning are not free. There are things like tuition, school supplies, lunch money, PE uniforms, books, clothes and shoes, etc. And beyond the monetary cost are other things like time and energy spent doing homework, studying for tests, working on projects and the like. Whether it's our children that we're sending off to school, or ourselves as adults taking courses, there is a cost involved with learning, and we would do well to understand this from the git-go. Today signals the start-up of Christian education classes for all ages - a day we call "Rally Sunday." Sunday School, adult learning, Confirmation - it all starts up this weekend. And the purpose of Sunday School, adult learning, Confirmation and other Christian education? The purpose is to strengthen us in faith as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus clearly tells us in today's Gospel lesson (Luke 14:25-33) that there is a cost involved in being his disciple, in following him. Life will not necessarily be sweet and easy. In fact, it will involve sacrifice and difficult decisions. Following Jesus will impact our relationships, even within our own family. Our allegiances and loyalties will need to be evaluated. The choices and decisions we make will take on new meaning. Our values and priorities - what we consider to be truly important in life - will be shifted, all because we are following Christ Jesus. Like the cost of learning, this may come at great expense to us, not just in terms of dollars and sense, but our time and energy; our blood, sweat, and tears; in short, our whole life. This is the kind of radical discipleship Jesus is talking about. Are we up for it? Martin Luther once said: "A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing."

My point here is not to scare anyone away from following Jesus, but to understand clearly that there is a cost of discipleship. For the apostle Paul, author of today's second Scripture lesson (Philemon 1-21), it meant imprisonment, and ultimately death. Paul was literally writing that letter to Philemon from his prison cell. Though he suffered much for the sake of the Gospel, Paul was willing to accept ridicule, abuse, and mistreatment because of what Christ Jesus had done for him. We may be thinking, "Well, that was okay for Paul, but I don't think I could do that." Paul didn't ask for the things that came his way, but he did accept them and saw in them how God was working his gracious will and building his kingdom through it all. You see, discipleship - faithfully following Christ through thick and thin - leads to obedience; not a lukewarm, half-hearted sort of obedience, but an obedience that mirrors what we hear in today's first lesson: "loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you..." (Deuteronomy 30:20). When all is said and done, that is what discipleship means: life to you!

So important is this concept of discipleship that we have built it into our new congregational vision and mission. The word "disciple" is one of the four key words in our vision. Disciple here is a verb, not a noun, because it expresses action - the action of following Christ Jesus, of coming together eagerly and regularly to be strengthened and revitalized through worship, Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and service to others. Our discipleship will not be perfect. At times, we will be on fire and aglow with the Spirit's power; at other times, we will feel weak and uninspired. The important thing is not to give up - to continue on, to persevere! When we are feeling weak and uninspired, it's exactly then that we need the strength and power of God's Word and Sacrament more than ever. When we are feeling dry and lifeless in our discipleship, we need fellow believers to be strong for us, encouraging us and lifting us up through prayer and care. This is what our vision for discipleship involves here at St. John's, that we become a disciple-making center of ministry here in the Franconia community.

The cost of our discipleship may be greater or lesser for each one of us as the Lord wills. Whatever cost we may have in following Jesus pales in comparison to the cost he willingly paid for us and for our salvation. Jesus didn't just talk the talk, but walked the walk. He does not ask us to do something which he himself was not willing to do, but "humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). In humble obedience to the Father's will, Jesus came into our world and lived a life of service to others, offering his very life upon the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our disobedience and sin. That is God's free gift to the world, received by faith in Christ Jesus. This is where our discipleship starts: in what God in Christ has done for us.

As this new year of learning and discipleship begins, let us recommit ourselves to the Lord as his disciples. Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you call us to carry the cross, follow you, and be your disciples. Often we find ourselves uncertain and insecure about your call, and our discipleship is feeble and weak. Draw our hearts to you, guide our minds, fill our imaginations, control our wills, so that we may be wholly yours. Transform us into confident and courageous disciples. Use us as you will, always to your glory and the well-being of your people. Amen