Group Guide

February 26th, 2023

This Week's City 7:

1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)

Ice-Breaker:

Do you have anyone in your life that isn't afraid to tell you the truth, no matter how awkward it might be? Like, your breath stinks, you have something in your teeth, you need to get your life together, etc.

Discussion Questions:

Have someone read Luke 14:25-34 aloud.

In this passage, Jesus has no problem letting his followers know up front just how difficult it's going to be to actually follow him. He doesn't mince his words, he's not hiding anything, he pulls no punches. He clearly lays out the cost of following him. There is a real cost to discipleship. The first of cost he mentions is a cost of POPULARITY. Jesus had large crowds following him until his teaching got to be too much for them. They left in droves. Fans of Jesus are excited about Jesus loving them, but they don't want him messing with their lives. Fans seek affirmational love, but followers submit themselves to transformational love. In your own words, what is the difference between the two? Has there been a time in your life that you would've been defined as more of a fan than a follower? Has following Jesus ever cost you YOUR popularity?
Next, following Jesus comes with a cost of PRIORITY. When Jesus says you must "hate" your family, that word in Hebrew is hyperbole to get your attention. He is trying to wake you up. Jesus must be first in your life. Even above your parents, even above your kids, even above your spouse. If we are going to be faithful followers of Christ, this relationship must come before all others. What relationships in your life can tend to take priority over Jesus? What are the signs that your relational priorities are getting out of whack?
There will also be a cost of IDENTITY. Following Jesus isn't about finding yourself, celebrating yourself, knowing yourself, believing in yourself, being true to yourself. It's about DYING to yourself. Jesus says, "Follow me, not your heart." Scripture tells us our hearts are wicked above all else and warns us against leaning on our own understanding. Our identity must be first and foremost in our Savior. Talk a little about how counter cultural this idea is. How easy is it to get sucked into this kind of "love of self" mentality? How do we resist that draw towards making everything about us? What are the dangers of this way of thinking?
Finally, following Jesus could very well cost us our SAFETY. Sometimes we think that "carrying a cross" is just a figure of speech that has something to do with the burdens of our daily life. But Jesus isn't talking about a general participation in suffering or in bearing the anxieties of our daily lives. He is making a clear reference to martyrdom. He's saying, very plainly, unless you are prepared to become a martyr, you can't be his disciple. In fact, when scripture talks about being a "witness" for Jesus, the Hebrew word has its roots in the word "martus", which is where we get "martyr." Do you have the kind of faith that is ready to die for Jesus if it came to that? Is it strong enough to withstand persecution?
While there are many costs to following Jesus, there are also costs to NOT following; and they are far greater. There will be a great cost to yourself because you will only be living for yourself and for things that don't last or have any value. You will live your life unfulfilled. There will be a cost to your marriage because you can't change your spouse (but Jesus can). You won't be capable of loving your spouse the way Jesus loves his church. You won't be someone that loves Jesus more than your spouse. There will be a cost to your kids because you will prioritize sports, school, gymnastics, music or anything else over their relationship with Jesus. And there will be a cost to the world because there would be no one to build orphanages and hospitals, help restore marriages, equip parents, disciple kids, care for refugees, give food and water to those who need it, foster orphans, adopt children, or preach the Gospel to the lost. The bottom line is that fans come and SEE, but followers come and DIE. And, yes, the cost is GREAT, but Jesus is GREATER. What has been the most challenging or convicting part of this message? What in your life might need to be tweaked? Do you think you are truly experiencing all of him, the BEST of him, in your life? If not, why not?

Pray:

That we would be ready and willing to follow Jesus, no matter the cost.
That we would prioritize him over all else.
That we would develop a faith that is ready to be persecuted.
That we would experience lives that are truly fulfilled in Jesus.

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