First Evangelical Free Church Sioux City, Iowa

Matthew 8:18-27 The True Cost of Discipleship

Pastor Miller preaches the next section o fthe Gospel of Matthew. Please click here to listen to the sermon.

1. "Would be" disciples... there will be a great cost!
   1. Matthew 8:18-20 After Jesus' very busy time of healing, He decides to withdraw from the crowds. As He and some of His closest followers are preparing to leave, they are approached by a _______________ who professes his discipleship.
      1. Jesus' reply is puzzling from a worldly standpoint - what does He mean? The point is that Jesus has no rest in this life; "this world is not my home" comes to mind. Neither will those who follow Him.
      2. The call is clear: count the cost before you commit - then commit whole-heartedly! "When Christ calls a man, He bids him to come and die."
   2. Matthew 8:21-22 A second person approaches Jesus and says that he will follow as a disciple, but only after he attends to an important family matter. Again, Jesus' response seems confusing, but the truth of the matter is that Jesus knows the man's heart - does devotion to God come first and foremost in life or not?
2. The Trials of Being a Disciple
   1. Matthew 8:23-25 Finally the party sets off in a boat and Jesus falls __________. Without warning a fierce storm comes up which threatens the boat. In great fear, the disciples wake Jesus up with a desperate plea: "save us!"
   2. Matthew 8:26 Jesus' reply is - again - unexpected: He speaks about a lack of faith and only then calms the storm. The deeper question is this: why do you fear? Do you trust the Lord? Will you live in light of that trust?
   3. Matthew 8:27 So often this story is portrayed as one about our own "storms" in life, but look carefully: Matthew's point is about Jesus' authority over nature. He has now shown us that Jesus is Lord over all things - we should trust Him.
3. Our Response?
   1. Count the cost, then commit entirely and with faithful trust.