Children to -: 

  • know that there are requirements for one to be a disciple.
  • Children will be aware disciples.
  • Children will be ready to give up all for Christ.

Bible Story Reference:

Luke 14: 25-35

Memory Verse: 

Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up the cross and follow me’

Bible

Follow along with me as I read Luke 14:25-35
➢ ‘And turning to them, He said, 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 disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’

➢ In discipleship, we must be ready to accept the effects of what or who we follow. It might entail us giving up on everything we own or even laying
them down just for the sake of us accepting to follow Jesus.
➢ The accounting for these effects is the act of counting the cost of discipleship.
➢ In this story a large crowd was traveling with Jesus. Thereafter, Jesus used different illustrations to explain to them what they will have to let go of for the sake of accepting to be the disciples of Jesus Christ.
➢ The different illustrations demonstrate the essence of true discipleship. One must let go of physical possessions and regard other relationships inferior to the sole purpose of pursuing Christ.
➢ Take an illustration in Luke 14: 26 where Jesus says that anyone who comes to him and does not hate his father or mother, wife and children, brothers or sisters- yes even their own life -such a person cannot be his disciple. In this instance, he does not literally mean that we have to hate our family but he is using this to explain the high cost we must count for the sake of knowing him.
➢ Someone then can ask why we should accept to follow Jesus if discipleship is costly and we have to count its cost. This can simply be answered by a verse from Matthew 11: 28- 30
“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
➢ This is an encouragement that following Christ and letting go of everything to hold on to Him is easier, beneficial and less troublesome than refusing to follow Him. He gives us the invitation to allow him to walk with us through all challenges of life

Questions

1. What does counting the cost mean? Accounting for the effects of discipleship
2. What are the different illustrations Jesus used to explain the effects of discipleship? Luke 14:26, 14:28-32.
3. What are the different things you can let go for the sake of Christ? Let the children answer

Prayer

Thank you Lord Jesus for reminding us that we need to count the cost of being a disciple, may we trust you that you will lead us through all, Amen

Application

What do you find difficult to do as a Christian? Write five things.
Pray over them and ask God to help you overcome them as you follow Jesus.
Ask an adult you know what challenges they have in following Jesus and what they do to follow Jesus each day.
Songs