Francis Chan: Following Jesus Can Be Brutal

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message emphasizes the importance of true discipleship, which requires a willingness to surrender one's own life and desires for the sake of following Jesus. It challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and consider whether we are truly committed to serving God above all else.

Key Scripture References

• Luke 14:26-27 - Here, Jesus teaches that true discipleship requires a willingness to hate one's own life and family in comparison to loving and following Him. This is not about literal hatred, but rather about prioritizing our relationship with God above all else.
• Matthew 6:24 - In this passage, Jesus warns against serving two masters, saying that we cannot serve God and money (or other worldly desires) at the same time. This emphasizes the need to prioritize our commitment to God above all else.
• Philippians 2:3-4 - Paul writes that we should consider others more important than ourselves in humility, which is a key aspect of true discipleship. We must be willing to put the needs of others before our own desires and interests.
• Acts 2:42-47 - In this passage, we see an example of a church that prioritizes community and serving one another. This is a model for how we should live out our faith in community with other believers.
• Deuteronomy 33:9 - Moses writes about Levi, who was committed to following God's law above all else. This emphasizes the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God and living according to His Word.
• John 12:25-26 - Jesus says that if we want to save our lives (in a spiritual sense), we must be willing to lose them (by giving up our worldly desires and interests). This is a call to true discipleship, which requires surrendering our own life for the sake of following Jesus.
• Luke 9:23-25 - In this passage, Jesus teaches that true followers must be willing to take up their cross (i.e., suffer and die with Him) in order to follow Him. This is a call to radical commitment and surrender for the sake of our faith.

Main Point

True discipleship requires a willingness to surrender one's own life and desires for the sake of following Jesus. We must be willing to prioritize our relationship with God above all else, putting the needs of others before our own interests and desires.

Implications

This message has significant implications for how we live out our faith in everyday life. It challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and consider whether we are truly committed to serving God above all else. We must be willing to put aside our own desires and interests, even if it means sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Call to Action

The call to action is clear: we must be willing to surrender our lives for the sake of following Jesus. This requires a radical commitment to putting God first in all aspects of our lives. We must prioritize community and serving one another, just as seen in the early church in Acts 2.