BE A TRUE DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST

PREACHER: Revd Seth Kissi

BIBLE READINGS: Deut 30:15-20 / Philemon 4-6 / Lk 14:25-33

DATE: 5th September, 2010             

15th Sunday after Pentecost



God wants us to be disciples of His son Jesus Christ; but He doesn’t compel us to obey Him. He wants us to be willing disciples and always expects us to trust in His counsel. No matter how we feel about or see God’s ways, they are always meant for our good.


A disciple learns from his master and is influenced by him.

Paul was different in his approach to his ministry to the Gentiles compared to the other Apostles. He was a teacher and a friend to them. In explaining the Gospel to them he used his own life experiences and encouraged them to ‘follow him as he followed Christ’.

What are we supposed to do as followers of Christ or to be followers of Christ?

1. Decide to be willing disciples

2. Estimate the cost of following Christ

3. Be prepared to bear the cost and

4. Do not let the cost deter us


1. God doesn’t force us to obey Him, and so we must decide to be willing, obedient disciples

2. Jesus asked in Luke 14 which house builder does not estimate the cost of the building before he sets out to build the house. Likewise we must estimate the cost of following Christ.

The cost involves

• Death or loss of our own lives

• the loss of family and other relationships

• Acceptance, love and forgiveness of difficult people and things as was the case of Philemon who had to take back Onesimus, a runaway slave.

• Injury to our ego

3. A lot of sacrifices need to be given in our desire to be disciples of Christ and we must be prepared to bear that cost

4. The good news is that when we become disciples of Jesus Christ, that relationship takes care of our every need and gives us the Grace to love and forgive, accept other people, do things that ordinarily would have been difficult for us to do. That relationship with Christ promises us above all things, Eternal life; and so the cost does not and must not deter us.