Counting the Cost

Luke 14:25-33

The Cost of Being a Disciple
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

We easily accept some of Jesus' teachings. Even those who seldom attend church know the story of the Good Samaritan, and readily accept its principles. We all easily ascribe to practicing love for one another, and offering forgiveness. However, some of Jesus' words don't go down quite as easily. They stick in our throats and make us wonder about what He really may have meant. This is one such passage. Did He literally mean for us to "hate" our families? Are we to literally carry a cross? What does it mean to count the cost?

In short, no, He doesn't want you to hate your family. To believe that is to not understand the colorful nature of the language of His day. What Christ is indeed driving at is the ever relevant issue of priorities. Christ had many followers, or spectators, but He was interested in disciples. He was interested in those that wouldn't just listen, but would put His words into action. He wasn't and isn't interested in being a priority in a long list of priorities. He wants to be, and deserves to be, the priority. This is not a suggestion, but a command.

Yes, we are to carry a cross, in the meaning that phrase had in Jesus' day. To carry your cross was to walk to your death, to be a marked man (or woman). Jesus expects us to live each day as if it might be our last on earth. He expects us to not waste time with that which should not be priority, but to be focused disciples of His, to be effectual. The amazing part of this is that we all carry a cross already. We all have worries, doubts, problems, which hamstring us from becoming who God intended us to be. Jesus offers His cross of service, and acheiving divine potential, instead of our own of self-interest, and personal failure. The truly fantastic part of His cross, is that we don't have to carry it alone. He indeed bears the cross with us, as do our Christian brothers and sisters.

Finally, what does it mean to count the cost? Simply put, think about it. Don't blindly say that you are a Christian, consider that statement first. It literally means to profess or follow Christ, and His statements of faith. This is not a light thing to lay claim on. How often do we profess our faith? How closely do we follow Jesus' footsteps? In this passage He invites us to follow Him, and throughout the Gospel promises that He is with us in the task.

Christmas in July

John 1
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[b]

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.


This year our church is having what I'm pretty sure is our first Christmas in July celebration. Christmas in July obviously is not a real holiday, but it's one that's become quite special to me. Every year it appears that Christmas becomes a bit more commercial, and a bit more hectic. Christmas in July is an attempt to celebrate Christ's birth minus the maxed-out credit cards, wintery weather, full calendar, and maddening rush that occurs between Thanksgiving and December 25th. It is simply to be the "Word become flesh" celebrated at a different time, in addition to the traditional time. I am excited about it, for a few reasons.

1) Christ incarnate is exciting any time of the year, not just in winter
2) I'm happy to celebrate Christmas without a shopping list in my hand (maybe you can do that in December, but I can't - Lord, help me, I'm not "There" yet.).
3) I can use the hope and joy that is Christmas at any time, in any season.

So, I'd encourage you, don't wait to celebrate. If you are struck with the awesomeness of the idea of God becoming flesh, celebrate it where you stand. If the glory and grace of Easter strikes your heart in November, by all means, paint some eggs. God will not be offended. Celebrate as often as you can, whenever you can.

All Access Granted

Luke 7:36-8:3 (New International Version)

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.

41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."


We often look at this passage and praise the actions of the woman without realizing something; this is really off-the-wall stuff that she is doing. Her actions are way out of line, and probably seemed in very poor taste. She had no respect for the boundaries of the day, which were 1) the common moral code (remember, "sinful woman") 2) she let her down (kind of close to a woman running around topless today) 3) she's touching a man to whom she is not married (kind of like kissing a random stranger on the lips in today's cultural rulebook). So, why is this woman praised by Jesus, forgiven, and accepted by her? Because, He is now, was then, and will always be, more concerned with your heart than your actions. Her heart was in the right place, even if her actions were a bit bonkers. Also, Jesus wasn't then, isn't now, and I don't think ever will be concerned with cultural boundaries. He washed feet. He at one point spit in mud, and rubbed it in someone's eye(Mark 8:23 check it out!). He touched lepers. Our Jesus is very up close and personal, and not at all about personal boundaries. What a great thing for us - we the imperfect, are allowed to touch the perfect. Flawed can be with flawless. Why? In one word, grace. He has forgiven us, done deal. We are now given VIP full access.

Questions to Consider

1) Have you ever been more concerned about someone's actions than their heart? Why?

2) How have you experienced Jesus' touch in your life? Have you attempted to get close to Him?

3) How have you extended His welcome to all? Have you excluded anyone?

Check Your Source

Galatians 1:11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.

At my old office, whenever I was trying to healthy, I would always hit up our Coke machine for a bottle of water. My senior pastor at that time (I was a youth director) would tell me that I was better off drinking the well water from the fountain. I thought that he was just being a curmudgeon, telling me that I was wasting money. After all, this was bottled water - the safest of the safe - healthiest of the healthy. What could be better for a parched palate, right? I blew him off, and went to the machine, plunked down my dollar, and self-righteously drank my pure Dasani water - knowing that I was right. Sad to say, I was dead-wrong, and Pastor Smith, you were right. Dasani is bottled from Philadelphia tap water. I think well water from Palmyra, PA was probably a bit more on the pure side, or at least closer to the spring water image that I had in my mind.

Recently in my church, I've been convicted of the gospel that I preach. In the past six months I've been getting to know my neighbors in town (I live in a parsonage right next door to my church). I was sure that I was a good neighbor, and that these neighbors of mine, most of whom attend no church, would feel welcome at my church.What I've come to realize is that very few of my neighbors come to my church, fewer still are interested in coming. I wondered why that was. Most people find the personage of Jesus compelling in every way. Most people think that we in the church do some good things. I figured that there should be a mild interest in visiting a church literally a few blocks from their door. As it turns out, from my informal polling, it has nothing to do with my doctrine, service style, or programming. Most of my neighbors don't feel that they dress well enough for my Sunday service, some of them don't feel welcome (don't think that they're good enough for church), others still don't care for all of the rules that they assumed will be placed on them. I was deeply saddened. That's not the gospel that I want to preach. I want to preach that Jesus loves them all, regardless of clothes, or lifestyle. I want them to know that they are all welcome, as Jesus died for all of us. I pray that they will feel this. Any other gospel I preach does not come from Jesus, it comes from a different source. I pray that as Jesus taught us to love our neighbor, we will be good neighbors.

Questions to Consider?

1.Have you ever added anything to the gospel?

2.Where did you get your version of the gospel?

3.Who have you recently shared the gospel with?

Saturated

Acts 2 (New International Version)

Acts 2
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.


The Miracle at Pentecost

When I'm out in the community, and I'm wearing my clergy shirt with the white collar I love being approached by people with their questions. I regularly hear "are you a pastor?", or "could you pray for me?", or "I have this question about God," and I love all of those questions. There's only one question that consistently rubs me the wrong way, which is, "what religion (or kind of Christian) are you?" This question tells me that we The Church (universal, not just the folks who gather in the building I preach at on Sunday mornings), have not done a very good job of looking like The Church as it did here in the book of Acts. They all stood together, united, praying to receive the Holy Spirit. That same Holy Spirit united them in a miracle of speach so that people from all points of the world that they knew heard the Message in terms that they could understand. 3000 people joined The Church on that day. The point is, when people who don't have faith in Jesus see people who do have faith in Jesus standing united, saying the same thing, they listen. I pray for that again.

Questions to Consider
1)How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your life?

2)What can you do, in your world, to promote unity in The Church?

3)How have you portrayed the Gospel in your world?

Peace, Grace, & Understanding

John 14:23-27

23. Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25. "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

We live in a world that seems consumed with fear, and strife. Today, I will be speaking at Perry County PA's courthouse for our National Day of Prayer. Some of you might know that I'm a self-avowed NPR (national public radio) addict; I love all of the news and topical reports. Recently, I heard a report about a challenge to "constitutionality" of a National Day of Prayer. It seemed that there were atheists who felt "offended and belittled" by the idea of a time of corporate prayer for our nation (even though NDP has no sectarian allegiance, and prayer of all sorts from everyone). I wondered why anyone would be threatened or offended by prayer, and then I thought harder. I realized that their not threatened by prayer itself, as much as what they think that we will be praying for. Jesus' words in this passage convicted me greatly, because 1) If I love Jesus, I'll obey Him (most of His commands were about love and service, not judgment). If I love Him, God's spirit resides in me, and I'll act accordingly 2) Jesus tells me that I have His peace; it's His gift to me. When God gives us a gift, it's never ours to keep for ourselves, it's ours to share with everyone. 3) His peace is the antithesis of worldly peace. Worldly (read secular) peace is fought for, protested for, gained. Our nation fought for it's independence and peace, and gained it at a bargaining table. Christ's peace is simply given, free, no struggle involved. It extends to all, everywhere. It is not the absence of trial or trouble, but the grace that will be a balm to the trouble. It does not oppose, it embraces. So...regardless of what is decided, I will pray. I will pray that God shows me how to be that agent of his peace in the world, that I will extend that peace that comes through knowing Him as father to all, and that no matter what others might do to me, I will act according to the love of Christ that dwells in me.

Questions to Consider

1) How have you honored Christ's teachings on love, and obeyed His commands this week?

2) In times of trial, how well do you remember that the Holy Spirit of God resides always with you, that His peace has already been given to you? How well have you relied on His grace and peace this week?

3) This week find someone to extend the peace of Christ to - the harder the better.

God's Peace, Grace, and Love to you all,

Pastor Trevor

Hearing God's Voice - Mystical or Practical?

John 10:22-30 (New International Version)

22. Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23. and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25. Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26. but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30. I and the Father are one."

Here, we see Jesus strolling and talking at a place in the temple where people frequently met for conversations of faith all during the celebration of Hannukah. You can almost hear the frustration in the voices of the people talking to Jesus, "JUST TELL US, ALREADY!" They wanted to know, plainly if he was indeed the messiah they had been waiting for. It's the same frustration that I still hear at times from people, "If He is God, why doesn't He just show Himself to us, and make it easy to follow Him." The short answer is this; 1) He already has, numerous times - oftentimes we simply don't pay attention, 2) Hearing His voice is about faith and trust, and finally 3) The faith and trust required to hear His voice are worth developing, because they are things that no one, and no thing can ever take from you.

Questions to Consider

1) Has God made Himself evident to you? Have you been looking? What could you do to look, or listen?

2) What is the condition of your faith, now? How are you actively trusting Him in your life, today?

3) What impact has faith had on your life? What impact would you like it to have?