Hardest Topic to Preach

One of the Hardest Topics to Preach is…

Bill Hybels, pastor of a mega church in Ill. was asked this question: Of all the topics you've preached on, which has been the hardest to get across? What topic do you think it was? Was it the topic of money or sex or hell or conflict or abortion?

Here was his answer: “I didn't even have to think about it. "Becoming totally devoted to Christ." My greatest teaching challenge is to convey what Paul was driving at in Acts 20:24: "I no longer count my life as dear unto myself; I have abandoned my personal aspirations & ambitions; I have offered myself as a living sacrifice to Christ." When I teach that to people, they think I'm from Mars. The thought of living according to someone else's agenda is ludicrous.”

To many people, becoming a faithful follower of Jesus is extreme, unreasonable & unattainable. Many think that becoming a faithful follower of Jesus is just too difficult, too demanding, too unrealistic!

If it's so hard to persuade people to commit themselves to faithfully follow Jesus, why bother? Why not settle for church attendance, or membership, or occasional involvement?

Why bother? Because I believe that Jesus asks us to be faithful followers! If being a faithful follower doesn't mean simply showing up for services, putting in a check, & going home, then what does it mean?

Luke 9:51-56: “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James & John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned & rebuked them, & they went to another village. As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus, in this passage shares what it takes to be a faithful follower.

I. Faithful followers follow Anywhere. Luke 9:51-56

The road to Jerusalem was through Samaria. The problem was that the Samaritans were a different denomination from the Jews. You see, denominations are not a modern invention. They are part of every religion from the Sunni Muslims to the Shiite Muslims, from the Orthodox, Conservative & Reform Jews to the Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Baptists, & Episcopalians.

In those days the big denominational difference was between Jews & Samaritans. It was actually ethnic as well as religious because the Jews claimed that they were pure descendants of Abraham while the Samaritans were "half breeds" resulting from the intermarriage of Jews with the people of neighboring nations.

There were numerous disagreements & differences between the Jews & the Samaritans but the really big difference was over the right place to worship God. The Jews insisted that they worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. The Samaritans insisted that worship take place on Mount Gerizim in Samaria.

As a result, most Jews from the north took the safe route that went around Samaria when they traveled south to Jerusalem. They knew they weren’t welcome in Samaria. In fact, in AD 52 the Samaritans massacred a group of Jewish pilgrims.

Jesus decided to travel through Samaria. He came to rescue everyone, including the Samaritans. When the Samaritans found out where Jesus was headed, "the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem" (9:53).

The “not welcomed” did not set to well with James & John. They wanted to call fire down from heaven & burn them all to a crisp.

I can identify. It is always tempting to want to fry those who disagree with us. It can be hard to hold different beliefs without becoming hostile toward the other people.

What James & John suggested others have actually done. Whether during the Crusades, the Roman Catholic Inquisition, the Protestant Reformation or current conflicts in Europe, burning people with different religious beliefs is not all that unusual.

Jesus said “NO”, that’s not a good idea. Does this mean that both Jews & Samaritans were equally right? Is it saying that Jesus doesn’t really care about doctrine or what a person believes? Of course not! But, Jesus taught tolerance toward others of different beliefs, even if they are wrong.

In the midst of this hot controversy, Jesus was teaching them & us that following him means going anywhere he leads. Even to hostile places. Two weeks Dori & I attended our denominations by-annual convention. Dr Richard Swenson talked about two woman who went anywhere to share the love of Jesus.

Sid was 49 & had been in Afghanistan for 6 years helping Afghan woman develop income-producing projects. On Jan 26, of 2008 Sid, while going to work was surrounded by 6 armed men & kidnapped & has not been heard from since & is presumed dead.

Gal Williams 34, worked among the poor & disabled for 3 years in Afghanistan. On Oct 20 of 2008 while walking to work was shot & killed by two men on a motorcycle. Faithful followers follow Jesus anywhere!

II. Faithful followers – Follow At Any cost. Lk 9:57-58

"As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’"Jesus said, “That’s great but remember the cost:

v58: "Foxes have holes & birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." In other words, following Jesus will cost you.

Jesus point: There is a cost to follow Jesus! For millions of Christians, living right now, the cost of faithfully following Jesus is very high. To many faithfully following Jesus means persecution, lost jobs, rape, slavery, imprisonment, losing children, beatings, disease & death. There are hundreds of thousands of people around the world but especially in Africa & Asia today who are paying a cost for following Jesus.

I know this message is uncomfortable for many of us. Many spend more time reading the paper or emails than reading their Bible. Many only pray when they’re in trouble. Too many give little of their time, talents or money to advance God’s kingdom.

Dr. Jose Martnez, shared his story at General Council two weeks ago. “I had finished medical school & had purchased the house of our dreams. We were faithfully practicing medicine & helping plant church on weekends. We were faithfully following Jesus. But then my wife & I believed God was leading us into full time ministry. We prayed about it for some time, sought council from others, & became convinced God was leading us into a new challenge. We sold our house, went to seminary & began full time ministry. The result of that decision was my salary was cut more than 65%. Not to long after that we were in a car accident & we lost our beautiful car & then my son had a series medical condition. Our decision to faithfully follow Christ was being tested. Do we have any questions? Lots! Do we have any regrets? NO!”

Let’s be clear, Jesus asks us to follow him at any cost. To be a faithful follower of Jesus means that Jesus is more important than my home, my job, my money, my health, my safety, or my comfort. Faithful followers follow Jesus anywhere & at any cost.

III. Faithful followers – Follow Any time. Lk 9:59-60

v59 “Jesus said to another man, "Follow me!" The man said: “Lord, first let me go & bury my father."

The man new what Jesus was asking, but He told Jesus the timing is not right. I will follow you later after I take care of my family. You know Jesus, family is important. Under O.T. law, caring for one’s family was one of the highest responsibilities of every son. It was a very important obligation. Burial of one’s father was a way of obeying the commandment to "honor your father & your mother."

Jesus sounds harsh & uncaring when he says, “Let the dead bury the dead, but go & proclaim the kingdom of God.” (v60). But he is not. The man’s father was not dead but was probably elderly. He wanted to wait one or five or ten years until his father died & then he would get around to following Jesus.

v61 "Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back & say good-by to my family.’"(v61). It seemed like a fair request, but it was counted as another excuse for NOT following Jesus. A few weeks ago we looked at Matthew 6:33 where Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom & his righteousness…” The point is this: faithful followers put Jesus first.

Now, let me ask you, have you made the decision to faithfully follow Jesus, anywhere, at any cost & at anytime? This may be one of the hardest topics to preach on, but it is one of the most important. The greatest likelihood of turning an important decision into action is when you first decide. If you decide to accept Jesus Christ as Savior, to be baptized, to serve others, to give money, to take a stand for what is right - - - but then delay, it will be easier to say "no" the next time. The more excuses & the longer the delay, the less likely it will ever get done.” Jesus knew this. That’s why he insists that a faithful follower doesn’t wait.

You've heard truth from Scripture today. Please don't be hearers only, but doers. As for me I’ve renewed my commitment to be a faithful follower of Jesus. You, too, have a decision to make. I hope you listen to the Holy Spirit as you make your decision.