Discipleship; Cost Of

 

Students will consider what being a disciple of Christ truly costs.

 

What’s It Cost? – Have available samples of everyday grocery items. Students will be split into two teams; each team will guess the actual price of the grocery items. Closest to the price (without going over) gets a point. Team with the most points wins.

 

Discuss:

• Why is knowing how much things cost a good idea?

• What happens if you don’t have enough money?

• How do you decide what to buy?

• What if the price of something requires something more than money? Are there things you’re willing to do that money can’t buy? Are there things, maybe people, you’re willing to go above and beyond for?

 

Brandon Heath considers the cost of following Jesus in his song “No Turning Back.” Play the song.

 

Ask, “Are there things you give up daily? What are they? Maybe something you’re willing to sacrifice for someone one you love, or a cause you believe in?”

 

Read Matthew 4:18-22. Discuss:

• What was happening in this passage?

• Three words changed four lives forever – what were they?

• What do you think these men were giving up?

• Would you have dropped everything to follow a guy you didn’t know?

• What about now – are there things you give up to follow Jesus today?

• What did it cost to be a disciple of Jesus then?

• What do you think it costs now?

 

Read 2 Corinthians 5:20. Discuss:

• What does an ambassador do?

• Is being an ambassador the same as being a disciple?

• How are they related?

 

Jesus called to Simon and Andrew as they’re taking care of business with their fishing gear. With three simple words, the lives of two men were changed forever. Jesus said, “Come, follow me.” And they did! They dropped their nets, they stopped what they were doing, and they went with Jesus. They gave up their jobs. They gave up their livelihood to follow a man who, at best, they’d only heard rumors about. They didn’t know who this guy was. Yet, there had to be something— maybe a tone, or a look to this guy that called to them.

 

Think about what made you decide to follow Jesus. Was it a friend, your family? Maybe it was something indecipherable, a feeling you had inside that made you follow Jesus. Are there things you’re giving up to follow Jesus?

 

Maybe you don’t have to quit your job to follow Jesus today. Maybe it doesn’t seem like you’re giving up anything at all– but the very idea of being a disciple is, in fact, a sacrifice. As we make the decision to follow Jesus, we give Him our minds, our hearts, our livelihoods. All of a sudden, everything we do is done with Christ in mind. By becoming Christ’s disciples we become His ambassadors. We give everything else up to make Him known. Are you living to make Jesus known?