“BUT FIRST…”
K E Y Q U O T E S
• “Every profession, every pursuit of some serious nature has a cost.”
• “Get busy living or get busy dying.” (From the movie, Shawshank Redemption)
• “In the end, we will be better for placing our hands on the plow and doing the work of the Gospel.”
S C R I P T U R E
• Luke 9:51-62 (click on scripture to read online)
P O I N T S T O R E V I S I T
In Sunday’s sermon, Glenn invited us to contemplate barriers to deepening discipleship, especially the times in our lives when Jesus invites us into deeper discipleship and we are tempted to respond, “I will follow you, Lord, but first…” (Luke 9:61)
• Let me make sure I’m financially stable
• Let me check and see what other people think
• Let me meet my other obligations
• Let me wait for the best time to say “yes”
• Let me figure out how to be a disciple without anything changing in my life
Glenn preached, “This is where our Gospel is challenging us: what we see in the world around us isn’t lining up with what we believe and who we want to be. We put our hands to the plow [to do the work of discipleship, which never ends].”
Lord God, open my heart and mind to understand the true cost of following you. Help me to be honest with myself and others about struggles and hesitations in following Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.
R E F L E C T I O N Q U E S T I O N S
• Glenn invited us to consider this question: how often do we miss the value or the goodness of someone in our presence because of bias against them? Have you ever missed out on something or someone wonderful because of your own bias?
• In what ways does your spending reflect your spiritual commitment?
• What are some 'but first' excuses you've used in your own spiritual journey?
• What work are you called to do right now? What does it mean practically to 'put your hand to the plow and not look back'?
• What kinds of support from others might help you follow Jesus more faithfully? How can we support each other in making difficult choices for our faith?
• Have you ever known someone who made following Jesus their highest priority? How was that demonstrated in their actions?
• We thought a lot this week about the costs of discipleship, which, simply put, is learning to live and love like Jesus. Is there a cost when we don’t accept Jesus’ invitations to deepen discipleship? What might we miss out on?
L I F E A P P L I C A T I O N
This week, identify one 'but first' excuse that's holding you back in your spiritual journey. Make a concrete plan to address it and take one specific step forward in following Jesus more fully. E N D I N G P R
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us the true cost and value of following You. Give us courage to put our hands to the plow and not look back, to choose You above all else, and to respond to Your call without delay. Help us to support one another in this journey of discipleship. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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