Cost: The Price for Following Jesus

By Mike Baker and Jason Sniff

Cost is an all church study that encourages Christ followers
to count the cost for following.

In Luke 14:25-33 Jesus turns to the large crowds who were following him and encouraged them to count the cost for following. Discipleship, Jesus teaches, is just like building a tower or going to war; one must consider the price before committing to the task. Perhaps no other disciple understood this better than the apostle and gospel writer, Matthew. In the book that bears his name, this former tax collector talks of treasure, money, value, riches, and giving more than any other gospel writer. And thereby, he gives us a guide for counting the cost. In this five-week study, “Cost” will help you discover the price for following Christ. Each week will guide us as we …

Consider the obstacle money and riches can be when it comes to following Jesus
Study Jesus’ teaching about what we treasure and how that reveals
our hearts
Talk about the value we place on the kingdom and following Jesus
Think about our stewardship and how we invest for the
master’s kingdom
View our resources as our best opportunity to worship our Lord

In the end, we will be challenged as a congregation to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to being a fearless church of Christ followers. Are you ready to consider the cost?

Mike Baker is in his 13th year as the Sr. Pastor of Eastview Christian Church in Bloomington/Normal Illinois. Coming as the youth pastor in 1995, he often says, he and the church have grown up together. He loves his wife of 33 years, Sara, and his grown sons and daughters-in-law. His tattoo artist son Mikey is married to Monica and they have blessed him with four grandkids: Ian, Ella, Eli, and the miracle Israel. His youth pastor/preacher son Caleb is married to Jessica and they have blessed him with a granddaughter named Sophia. Mike loves preaching, running, writing, laughing, and travel.

Jason Sniff currently serves as pastor of small groups at Eastview Christian Church. He is husband to an amazing wife of 18 years, and the father of 6 very crazy but equally awesome kids. Jason lives on the edge of Normal. Jason loves being a part of what God is doing in the church.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781532075230

Mike Baker

We SpeakI AM RevealedRecalculatingFreedom in ChristCounsel Fit for a King

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Copyright © 2019 Eastview Christian Church.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover Design: Anissa Ortiz, Karen Norris

Video Production Team: David Schertz, Shawn Prokes, Jason Sniff

Editing Team: Sandi Knapp, Sue Taulbee, Sharon Naylor

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-7522-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-7523-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019906031

iUniverse rev. date:  06/12/2019

Contents

Weekly video available at eastviewresources.com/cost

Introduction: Mike Baker

Study Guide Introduction: Jason Sniff

Week 1—Obstacle

Day 1—Obstacle

Day 2—Choke

Day 3—On Guard

Day 4—Let Go

Day 5—Satisfied

Day 6—Turn

Day 7—Mine

Cost Study Guide—Week 1

Cost Video: Week 1 Obstacle

Week 2—Treasure

Day 8—Treasure

Day 9—Treasure A Good Name

Day 10—Treasure God’s Word

Day 11—Treasure Truth In Giving

Day 12—Treasure Generosity

Day 13—Treasure Jesus

Day 14—You Are Treasured

Cost Study Guide—Week 2

Cost Video: Week 2 Treasure

Week 3—Value

Day 15—Value

Day 16—Immediate Gratification

Day 17—Count The Cost

Day 18—A Valuable Offering

Day 19—Valued Place In The Kingdom

Day 20—Risk That’s Worth It

Day 21—Trading Places

Cost Study Guide—Week 3

Cost Video: Week 3 Value

Week 4—Invest

Day 22—Invest

Day 23—Foolish Investment

Day 24—Invest In One Another

Day 25—Invest In God’s House

Day 26—Invest Generously

Day 27—Invest Regularly

Day 28—Eternally Invested

Cost Study Guide—Week 4

Cost Video: Week 4 Invest

Week 5—Worship

Day 29—Worship

Day 30—All In Worship

Day 31—Worship By Giving Creatively

Day 32—Worship By Giving Often

Day 33—Worship By Giving Beyond

Day 34—Worship By Giving Excessively

Day 35—Worship The King Of All Riches

Cost Study Guide—Week 5

Cost Video: Week 5 Worship

COST

Introduction

Few likely understood the allure of and temptations associated with money more than this first century Christ follower. For many years, he had handled currency of all kinds as people came to his corner table near the edge of the market to pay their taxes. Begrudgingly, as Roman soldiers looked on, the peasants of Galilee registered under their family name, reported their income, and gave their fair share of silver. Truth be told, it wasn’t fair at all because our friend, like many others of his profession, had learned how to extort these citizens to make a little extra money on the side. Matthew may have been different, but it is likely that he was a thief just like any other Jewish tax collector and therefore paired with sinners in the Bible record.

Then one day, a religious teacher stood before him, called him by name, looked him in the eyes, and invited him into his kingdom with the words, Follow me. In Matthew’s mind this may have been the greatest miracle of all. Why would a religious teacher like Jesus invite me to follow him?, he may have mused. Then questioning further, What does a tax collector and sinner have to do with the kingdom of God? In that moment Matthew’s entire economy changed. Suddenly he found value in something other than money and the things money can buy. He considered the cost and abruptly left his tax collecting booth and everything he once valued and became a disciple of Jesus Christ. He never looked back.

In the book that bears his name, it seems that Matthew saw the irony of the contrast between his former profession and his unlikely calling. He, more than any other gospel writer, records the treasure, money, value, riches and giving teachings of Jesus. Another gospel writer named Luke wrote about the time Jesus had challenged the crowds to count the cost before following him. But it is Matthew who helps us define the cost for being a disciple of Jesus. To follow him, one must value him above all, treasure relationship with him, and see all resources as stewardship for him. This is the context for this book. Cost is a five-week study where together, we will discover the major emphases in the book of Matthew that speak to the cost of being a Christ follower.

First, we will consider the obstacle that money and riches can be when it comes to following Jesus. Then we will study Jesus’ teaching about what we treasure and how that gives us insight into the path our hearts will follow. Next, we will do a spiritual price check and talk about the value we place on following Jesus. At this point, we will move from conviction to action, being challenged to see all that God has given us as a stewardship that we invest in for his kingdom. Finally, we will learn how all of our resources can become one of the highest forms of worship. Are you ready to consider the cost?

Let me encourage you to do three things as we consider the cost of discipleship. First, plan on hearing the sermon each week that corresponds to that week’s teaching. It’s best to do this in person as we all learn together, but you can also access the services live or on demand at www.eastview.church. Second, make sure you read the daily Scriptures and devotions that accompany them. They are designed to take five minutes or less and will enhance and add layers to the week’s main teaching. Finally, you will best experience COST in the company of other believers and this means participation in a small group, sharing the weekly studies in the back of this book. Please don’t skip this important step. Prioritize your time in your current small group. Join a group. Lead a new group. Whatever you do, don’t count the cost alone.

Finally, before we begin our consideration of the cost for following Christ, we must begin by noting that no one paid a higher price for us to come close to God than God himself. In a display of incredible benevolence and investment, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Jesus, God in the flesh, gave his life on a cross so that we could experience relationship with him. Why? There can be only one explanation. God counted the cost, and thought we were worth it. May this book help us value him as much as he values us.

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DAY ONE - OBSTACLE

Matthew 19:22-24

"When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’"

Looking back on it now, I can’t remember where we got all the stuff. A tire here. Some plywood there. A hula-hoop, a rope, some two-by-fours, concrete blocks, and more were all part of the project. Add a yard with a tree, some hedges, and a fence and you were ready. Ready for what? Well, first I have to give a disclaimer to people who don’t know about childhood back in the mid-1900’s. During summer breaks, we didn’t have computers, cable television, the internet, smart phones, video games, or supervised activities. As I recall, by age twelve most of my friends and I were left alone during the day as our parents went to work… and we lived to tell about it!

This brings me back to the items mentioned above. What would my friends and I do with all of these random objects? Build an obstacle course, of course. Call it boredom or creativity, but I can remember spending hours coming up with a course of impossible obstacles with the idea that after we had constructed it, we would compete to see who could complete it first. Hop on one foot through four rings. Jump over the fence. Swing on the tree branch over the dirt patch underneath it. Walk the wooden board supported by two blocks. Run up the plywood to clear yet another fence. Hurdle the hedges and roll an old tire to where you started. It’s funny, I don’t remember actually running through too many of these courses, but we could sure think up things that would make the race harder.

A story from the life of Jesus reveals that obstacles are not just part of childhood play, but that there are also spiritual obstacles in the Christ-following life. The context of our verses for the day comes from an encounter Jesus had with a religious and ambitious young man. He had heard Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God and, being a man of faith, was compelled to approach the Rabbi. Confidently, he stated his purpose for engaging Jesus, What do I need to do to get eternal life? (Matthew 19:16).

It should be pointed out that this man was spiritual according to the Jewish laws of his upbringing. In fact, when Jesus said that keeping the commandments of God was the way into the kingdom, a smile must have spread across his face. He pressed Jesus further, Which ones, exactly? And as Jesus listed five of the Ten Commandments and the law to love your neighbor as yourself, he must have done an internal inventory: check, check, check. All of these I have kept. What do I still lack?, he continued. This young man of faith must have been expecting Jesus to open his arms and say, Welcome to the kingdom. But he didn’t.

Instead, Jesus noted the one thing this man did lack. He pointed out the obstacle to this man’s desire to follow Jesus. If you really want to follow me Jesus responded, Go sell all you have and give the proceeds to the poor. Wow. Didn’t see that coming. Again, this man was thoroughly religious. In our church we would esteem him as a holy person, a man of God, and likely make him a small group or ministry leader. But Jesus knew there was something that stood in the way of his true pursuit of God. This man’s wealth was, like the tires, plywood, and hedges of my youth, the obstacle in the way of following Jesus and inheriting eternal life. Sadly, he walked away.

Jesus used this encounter to teach all of his disciples about an obstacle in the earthly experience that hinders our Christ following. And before we get too far into this study about counting the cost, we must address it. Together, we have to acknowledge that riches are a significant obstacle to our faith. I think this is a verse that many of us kind of ignore and hope that somehow Jesus doesn’t really mean. But if we pay close attention to this story, we must admit that the man who came to Jesus excited about being a part of his kingdom, walked away when he considered the cost. And we should also pay attention to the fact that Jesus didn’t chase him down and compromise his challenge. The man walked away. And, Jesus let him! At this point, our savior simply turned to the other followers and told them how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of heaven.

How difficult? It’s harder for a rich person to get into the kingdom than it is for a camel going through the eye of a needle. What exactly did Jesus mean by this statement? Well, he may have been using humor to make a point—the visual of a camel trying to squeeze through the eye of an actual sewing needle is pretty funny. Or, he may have been referencing a short gate or door entrance designed for only humans to pass through. Both are possible according to many ancient middle-east scholars. Which is it? I’m not sure. And I’m not sure it matters. Jesus’ point is that a camel is big and slow and awkward in lowering its body to a sitting position. To fit this animal through any kind of small opening is difficult.

It’s a story about us. We who are rich are the camels trying to fit through the eye of a needle. I say we because of my assumption is that most who are reading this book are 21st century Americans, and therefore rich by world standards. It’s true that some are richer than others, and most don’t consider themselves wealthy, but we are. As I have many times, I encourage you to check out where you stand in the world’s economy by going to a website called globalrichlist.com and punching in your numbers. You will be shocked at just how rich you are. If you find out that you truly are not rich, consider it a blessing. This is one less obstacle to hinder your walk with Jesus; which brings us back to Jesus’ statement about the rich in our verses for today.

His closest followers pressed him for an explanation. And here are two quick take-aways from that conversation: 1) Disciples will always give up something up to follow Jesus. We may not be told to sell all of your possessions, but Peter does acknowledge we have left everything… (v. 27) and Jesus has disciples who will have left houses (v. 29). 2) With God all things are possible (v. 26). It’s not impossible for God to get a camel through the eye of a needle and by his grace God will cause rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ point is that we should pay attention to our wealth