Count the Cost of Following Christ

As followers of Jesus Christ we need to count the cost of discipleship. Each one of us need to ask ourselves theses questions:

1. Is it worth following Christ?

2. How far will I go in following Christ?

The answer to the second question is this- if you are not willing to die for Christ; you are not willing to live for him.

In the 1660s Hugh Mackail was tortured and eventually murdered for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As a disciple that had weighed the cost of discipleship, Mackill was ready to die for the Lord Jesus. He last words were:

"Now I leave off to speak any more to creatures, and turn my speech to thee, O Lord. Now I begin my intercourse with God, which shall never be broken off. Farewell, father and mother, friends and relations! Farewell, the world and all delights! Farewell meat and drink! Farewell, sun, moon, and stars!

Welcome God and Father! Welcome sweet Lord Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant! Welcome, blessed Spirit of grace, God of all consolation! Welcome, glory! Welcome, eternal life!

Welcome death!"

Friend, Have you counted the cost of following Christ? Is He worth it?

What Stands At the Center of A Healthy Church?

What affect does the preaching of the Word have on a congregation? Preaching is God's primary means for converting sinners and bringing them into the knowledge of the truth (Rom. 10). Preaching is also the main vehicle for discipleship in the life of a congregation. But preaching is not the only spiritual food that is in the life of a congregation- although it is the main course. Preaching that is nutritious as well as delicious, will cause the congregation to go out and feed others, spread the Gospel, have Bible studies, prayer meetings, and other good spiritual things. A Spirit Filled congregation is the result of sitting under the Word of God in joyful submission. God's people will go out! Joel Beeke says it like this,

Preaching is the hub of all the means of grace. It's the center of it all. And where there's good preaching, you know what you'll discover? You'll discover that your church will get active and your church will start this means of grace and that means of grace, bible studies will spring up, literature distribution will happen, Sunday school, discipleship, pastoral visitation will be multiplied. Where there is good preaching, where the hub of the wheel is there, then spokes will begin to go out, and the means will be used, and the people will want to know what they can do to spread the Gospel.

Tim Keller on the Problem of Fanatics

We all know them. Many of us, in our immaturity, have been them. But, why, when Christians are being fanatical, do they choose judgment over charity? It is rare to hear that someone is too gracious or too loving or too Christlike. Often we are too sinful to see it.

Lord, let the world see a Church that reflects you instead of the flesh.

Think of the people you consider fanatical. They're overbearing, self-righteous, opinionated, insensitive, and harsh. Why? It's not because they are too Christian but because they are not Christian enough. They are fanatically zealous and courageous, but they are not fanatically humble, sensitive, loving, empathetic, forgiving, or understanding- as Christ was... They emulate the Jesus of the whips in the temple, but not the Jesus who said, 'Let him who is without sin cast the first stone'. What strikes us as overly fanatical is actually a failure to be fully committed to Christ and the Gospel. -Tim Keller

Sabbath a'Brakel: Tale of Two Kingdoms

Civil government does not have the authority to use the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Those keys have not been given to it, but rather to the church. The civil government punishes those who disturb the peaceful coexistence of its subjects, doing so by way of corporal punishment. The church, however, punishes those who act contrary to truth and godliness, doing so with spiritual discipline. They both have different objectives and there is thus a different manner of punishment. He who is disciplined by the church may nevertheless be a good subject of the government (II: 168).