The Tower Builder & Warring King
Too long, please open your Bible Luke 14: 28-32
Meaning of the Parables
Jesus Himself cautioned disciples on discipleship. He said these things not to discourage them, but to show the seriousness of discipleship.
Too long, please open your Bible Luke 9: 23-26, 57-62
In the narrative of James and John desiring to reign with Jesus, He challenges their ignorance and asks “Are you able?”
Too long, please open your Bible Matt 20:20-23
It is sad that many even go ahead to promise the direct opposite; a life of comfort and ease as a result of following Jesus.
Christ is presented as the one who paid the price for our sins, but the christian life is a call to follow in Christ’s steps
After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14: 20-21
After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” 1 Peter 2: 18-25
After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.Acts 5: 40-42
Too long, please open your Bible Romans 6: 3-13
Too long, please open your Bible 2 Timothy 2: 11-13
Too long, please open your Bible Hebrews 13: 12-14
The parable goes directly against prevalent methods and articulations of the gospel. The gospel comes to us free, but it is not without cost. We must stop preaching a gospel that only urges people to believe but does not make demands on their lives. The goal is not to fill our churches with unregenerate and unrepentant sinners. For too long, we have compromised our messages for comfort and acceptance; this needs to change.
“ Presupposed and more significant is the fact that discipleship requires intent, choice, determination, and effort. It is not some light-hearted affair, and it does not just happen. The fear we have of focus on human effort must be jettisoned, for no discipleship occurs without human effort or merely because of human effort. Discipleship is not about humans straining on their own; it is the necessary result and consequence of faith in and following after Jesus (Luke 14:26-27). Relation to Christ activates and empowers the whole of life, but if humans do not choose to act and actually act, nothing happens.”Excerpt From Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus Snodgrass, Klyne R.