RADICAL pt. 1 – Someone worth losing everything for

Radical - thoroughgoing or extreme, especially, as regards change from accepted or traditional forms.

1) What are the identifying characteristics of a follower of Jesus Christ? Would you know one if you saw one? Attends church; appearance (no tattoos, men do not wear earrings, wear suit and tie); good morals (no cussing, no drinking, no gambling); says blessing before a meal; does not listen to rock music, rap music, etc.

2) What are the criteria for determining the success/failure of a church? Numbers; Budget; Building size

3) What role does the church play in American society? Does the American church cater to the needs of its members more than it does the rest of society? Is the American church more concerned with what is happening within its four walls than what is happening beyond its four walls? Examples – Radical, p. 4-6. Asian churches – people come together to encourage one another, study the Bible, and pray. Go out at the risk of losing home, job, and life to spread the Gospel and meet needs. What little money they have does not go into a building fund, music fund, Sunday School literature. It goes to spreading the Gospel and meeting needs. Radical, p. 15-16. – Platt read the headlines of a Christian news publication. Two headlines – “First Baptist Church Celebrates $23 million Building” and “Baptist Relief Helps Sudanese Refugees.” The relief totaled $5000.

Focus of chapter 1 of Radical is question 1.

Draw a circle on the middle part of the board and label it “you.” Direct learners to brainstorm all the categories of people with whom they have a relationship (Spouse, children, parents, other family member, friends, co-workers, etc.). Draw other circles surrounding the first and label them separately with each of these categories. Next, lead learners to rank each of these categories according to the importance of the relationship (in practice, not theory) and assign numbers to each of the corresponding circles. Ask: If we really get honest with one another, where does Jesus fit in this ranking? On what do you base that determination?

Read Luke 14:25-33

Who all made up the great crowds and why were they following Jesus? Demographic of crowd: Who - Rich and poor; religious and sinners; men and women; old and young. Why - Intrigued by his words. New; different; radical. Usually attracts a crowd. Doesn’t meet the crowd is devoted to you. Crowds can be fickle. Jesus knew that. Turned to face the crowd and said, “you want to follow me? Here’s what you have to do.”


1. Following Christ means being devoted to Him above anyone else (Luke 14:25–26).

Direct the group’s focus on verse 26. Why would Jesus use such harsh language here? Jesus used this language for a very specific and purposeful reason. The Greek word for “hate” is not an absolute but a relative term. Jesus’ point was that a true disciple’s devotion to Him should make all other relationships appear to be characterized by hate in comparison. (Ex. Missionary couple with young children. Perception by relatives, particularly nonchurched relatives, of their decision to go to a foreign land for several years.) He meant our love for Him takes priority in our lives. Read Luke 9:57-62. What was Jesus telling these three men? “Become homeless. Let someone else bury your dad. Don’t even say good-bye to your family.” (Radical, p.8) “…you abandon everything – your needs, your desires, even your family.”

2. Following Christ means continually sacrificing who we were for who He is (Luke 14:27).

Draw a cross on the board. Ask: What types of things immediately come to mind whenever you see this symbol? Allow for responses. (Jesus, church, Easter, etc.) Lead learners to consider what different types of things might have come to the mind of a first-century person living under Roman rule. Crucifixion was an agonizing form of capital punishment. The condemned man was usually stripped naked, then made to lie on top of the crossbar with his arms outstretched so they could be tied or nailed to the beam. The feet may have been placed into a crossed position and were nailed to the upright beam. Often the arms and legs were pulled out of joint to add to the pain of the victim and to cause him to be unable to pull himself up. A small board was placed in the middle of the upright beam to serve as a type of seat. The slow death came as a result of asphyxiation or lack of blood circulation (perhaps both); often the legs of the victim were broken to hasten the death. Because of its brutality, the Romans generally used this punishment only for those who weren’t Roman citizens; however, Caesar could order the crucifixion of a citizen.

Reread verse 27. Point out that most of us connect the phrase “carry his cross” with Jesus on His way to Golgotha to be crucified. This is precisely the type of picture Jesus was trying to convey because following Him involves dying to ourselves, letting go completely of all we have desired and pursued in life in order to fully embrace all He wants for us.

At this point, what do you suppose is going on in the minds of the people in the great crowds?

3. Following Christ requires a cost that should be considered before we commit (Luke 14:28–32).

Reread verses 28–32. Choosing to follow Christ at any cost is an essential decision we each must make before we even take the first step. Becoming a follower of Jesus is a decision that is not to be made without much thought. Rather, one needs to consider the cost involved. What are some of the costs to be considered? For someone living in China, Iran, or India what are the costs? Ostracism by family and friends, loss of income, homelessness, persecution, death. For someone living in the U.S. what are the costs to be considered? Whatever or whoever matters most to him/her - time, wealth, career, possessions, luxuries, relationships must be surrendered to become a follower of Christ. Examples of considering the cost of following Jesus – Waking up 30 minutes earlier to spend time with God or 30 minutes of sleep; Missions trip to North Dakota or vacation at Busch Gardens; $500 for a new home theater system or helping five youth in our church go on a mission’s trip; rich lawyer and all the luxuries that come with such a career or the next Rich Mullins (Christian musician who wrote some of the most popular Christian songs in the late 80’s and 90’s. Yet, Mullins refused to take more than the average salary in the U.S. for that year and gave the rest to charity and his church.) Read Mark 10:17-22. Story of rich young ruler.

4. Following Christ requires radical abandonment of everything we previously sought in life for the freedom to fully pursue Him (Luke 14:33).

When Jesus says anyone who does not give up everything cannot be His disciple, what does He mean by “everything?” Allow for responses. The process of “giving up” means relinquishing all control. Although we may or may not actually be called to literally abandon all possessions and relationships and die for the sake of Christ, the cost of being a follower of Jesus is our acceptance of His total lordship over everything in our life. Read Romans 10:9-10. A lord is someone who owns you and everything you have. The cost of being a follower of Jesus requires we are willing to literally lose everything even if we do not. Example – the original 11 disciples. What was their life like pre-Jesus? Peter, James, John, Andrew. Successful businessmen (Fishing business). Family men. Peter had a wife and maybe children. James and John worked with their father. They had houses. What was life like for the original disciples post-Jesus? They were not regularly employed. Live off a dramatically reduced income. Rarely spent time with family. A lot of nights spent with rocks for pillows. Constant physical and verbal abuse. 10 of the original 11 disciples were martyred.

What do you think the great crowds’ response was to Jesus’ words? Many probably walked away. See John chapter 6. Read Luke 15:1. Who did not walk away from Jesus? Tax collectors and sinners. They continue to draw near to Jesus, not walk away. Religious people followed for the purpose to tear down Jesus’ ministry. Their motivation was to defend tradition.

Application:

Reread Luke 14:25-33. Ponder about what Jesus is telling the great crowds. Ask yourself the following: Is there anything or anyone in my life that comes before Jesus? Am I willing to follow Christ’s example and put to death my desires/dreams to pursue God’s purpose for my life? What cost do you need to consider paying to follow Christ? What is it in your life that you need to relinquish control to Christ so that you can fulfill God’s purpose for your life? Will your honest answers to these questions turn you away from Christ or draw you nearer to Him?