Luke 14:25-33 Peter Sharp

Home Group Questions:  1. Jesus deliberately makes discipleship sound difficult when crowds are following him. How does this approach contrast with modern evangelistic methods, and what does it reveal about Jesus' priorities? 2. What does it mean that following Jesus is "free but costs everything"? 3. Do you agree that discipleship is connected with persecution (John 15:18-20, 2 Timothy 3:12)? How essential is suffering to authentic Christian discipleship? 4. How does the "salt" metaphor at the end of the passage relate to the cost of discipleship? What does it mean for Christians to "lose their saltiness”? 5. Jesus says we cannot be his disciples if we don't "hate" (love less) family members. What would this look like practically in your current family relationships and responsibilities? 6. What specific areas of your life do you find most difficult to submit to Jesus' lordship? 7. For Christians today, what a some examples of things that might be evidence of wholehearted discipleship? What equivalent sacrificial choices might God be calling you to make? 8. Some people who at one point claimed to be Christians have gradually walked away from their faith. What factors in your life might gradually erode your commitment to Christ? How can you guard against them? 9. Do you agree that recognising our "utter impotence" is the first step toward faith? Why or why not? 10. What would it look like in your current circumstances to live with an "eternal perspective" as suggested in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31? 11. The sermon connects all sin to "loving something else more than Jesus." What specific idols in your life compete with your love for Christ? How can you practically "hate" these competing loyalties? 12. When we realise following Jesus is too hard for us to do on our own, what should we do?