Discerning the Depth of a Disciple

A chicken and a pig were walking past a church building one day when they noticed the Sunday morning sermon posted on the outside bulletin board, "Helping the Poor." They walked away when the chicken suddenly came across with a suggestion. "Brother pig, why don’t we give all the poor people a nice breakfast of ham and eggs?" The pig thought a moment and replied, "That’s all right for you to say because for you it is only a contribution, but for me, it’s total commitment!"

We continue our sermon series : Fan or Follower.  Last week we examined the DTR - Defining the Relationship; specifically our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Today's message falls on Super Bowl Sunday and many will sit on their couches and armchairs and enjoy these two teams battling for supremacy on the field.  Some may even expend their resources on attending the game in person, painting their face in support of their team; but at best these folks are still just fans.  Enthusiastic fans, but fans none the less.  They are involved but not committed.  They don't actually get on the field and play the game.  Fans watch, followers commit.  Fans fill the stadiums, followers get on the field.  The difference is the level of involvement/commitment.  

Jesus had a lot of fans, but when they were confronted with the truth, when they were forced to make a decision to really follow Christ; well, John 6:66 says it all, “From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.

The teachings of Jesus had called those who had been hanging around reaping the benefits of being near the Messiah, but now He called them to make a commitment.  Other passages make similar distinctions:

Luke 9:57-62 – “

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

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

 He said to another man, 'Follow me.' 

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

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

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

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

Luke 14:26-27 – “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. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Matthew 16:24-25 – “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

A followers of Jesus Christ is not someone looking to receive the benefits of being near to Him.  

Followers sacrifice everything for the sake of being disciples.

For the full message shared on 02-03-13 at First Church of God, Racine, WI; go to:

Discerning the Depth of a Disciple