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Luke 14:25-33

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25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:

26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.

27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

29For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you,

30saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

33In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

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1)       According to verse 26 what must one do before one can become Jesus’ disciple, given that hating family and one’s own life means placing a supremely higher priority on Jesus?

o   One must place a supremely higher priority on Jesus.

o   Before

o   One can become Jesus’ disciple.

 

2)       Can one who is trying but struggling to place a supremely higher priority on Jesus be Jesus’ disciple, given that placing a supremely higher priority on Jesus is a lifelong struggle?

o   Yes, as long as one is being honest with one’s struggle.

 

3)       What does it mean that if one does not carry one’s cross and follow Jesus, one cannot be Jesus' disciple, given that the cross is a symbol of suffering and death?

o   It means that one cannot be Jesus' disciple.

o   If

o   One is not willing

§  To suffer.

§  Even to the point of death if necessary.

 

4)       Can one who is trying but struggling to carry one’s cross be Jesus’ disciple, given that carrying one’s cross is a lifelong struggle?

o   Yes, as long as one is being honest with one’s struggle.

 

5)       According to verse 28 what are the two components in the builder’s assessment for building the tower?

o   The builder

§  First estimates the cost of building the tower.

§  Then checks to see if he/she has enough money to complete it.

 

6)       What does the foundation in verse 29 symbolize, given 1 Corinthians 3:11?

o   It symbolizes Jesus.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud 1 Corinthians 3:11 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

7)       What does the builder laying the foundation symbolize, given that before laying the foundation that is Jesus, the builder is a non-disciple?

o   It symbolizes a non-disciple becoming a disciple.

 

8)       What does the tower on the foundation symbolize, given that discipleship is built on Jesus as the foundation?

o   It symbolizes discipleship built on Jesus as the foundation.

 

9)       What does building the tower symbolize, given that the tower symbolizes discipleship?

o   It symbolizes the pursuit of discipleship.

 

10)   What does the cost of building the tower represent?

o   It represents the cost of discipleship.

 

11)   What does the builder sitting down and estimating the cost of building the tower symbolize, given that the builder at this stage is a non-disciple?

o   It symbolizes a non-disciple carefully counting the cost of discipleship.

 

12)   What does the builder deliberating to see if he/she has enough money to complete the tower symbolize?

o   It symbolizes a non-disciple deliberating to see if he/she can bear the cost of discipleship.

 

13)   What does the builder deciding to build the tower symbolize?

o   It symbolizes a non-disciple deciding to

§  Bear the cost of discipleship.

§  And become a disciple.

 

14)   What does the builder deciding not to build the tower symbolize?

o   It symbolizes a non-disciple deciding

§  Not to bear the cost of discipleship.

§  And not to become a disciple.

 

15)   What embarrassment does a non-disciple manage to avoid in the future by deciding not to become a disciple because he/she is not willing to bear the cost of discipleship?

o   The non-disciple manages to avoid the embarrassment of eventually falling away.

 

16)   In accordance with verse 31 what situation is the assessment done by the king on the defensive intended to avoid?

o   It is intended to avoid the situation.

o   Where

o   The king on the defensive goes to war without the certainty of winning it.

 

17)   What does the king on the offensive coming against the king on the defensive with more troops symbolize, given that Jesus will come at the end of the age to judge everyone?

o   It symbolizes Jesus coming at the end of the age to judge everyone. 

 

18)   What does the king on the offensive being still a long way off symbolize?

o   It symbolizes Jesus taking a long time to come.

 

19)   What does the king on the defensive sitting down to consider whether he is able to oppose the king on the offensive symbolize, given that the king on the defensive symbolizes a non-disciple?

o   It symbolizes a non-disciple carefully weighing whether he/she will be able to oppose Jesus.

o   When

o   Jesus comes.

 

20)   What does the king on the defensive sending a delegation to ask for terms of peace symbolize, given that terms of peace stands for terms of discipleship?

o   It symbolizes a non-disciple accepting whatever terms of discipleship.

o   That

o   Jesus imposes on him/her.

 

21)   Given that the phrase ‘in the same way’ in verse 33 appropriates what has just been said as the context, what is the appropriated context for verse 33?

o   The appropriated context for verse 33 is a non-disciple accepting whatever terms of discipleship.

o   That

o   Jesus imposes on him/her.

 

22)   Given the appropriated context for verse 33, what did Jesus mean when he said that those who do not give up everything they have cannot be his disciple?

o   Jesus meant that those who do not accept the terms of discipleship cannot be his disciple.

 

23)   How does a disciple give in accordance with the terms of discipleship, given 2 Corinthians 9:7?

o   A disciple gives in accordance with the terms of discipleship.

o   When

o   The disciple gives cheerfully what he/she has decided to give,

§  Not reluctantly.

§  Or under compulsion.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud 2 Corinthians 9:7 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

24)   Can a person who is trying but struggling to fulfill the terms of discipleship be Jesus’ disciple, given that fulfilling the terms of discipleship is a lifelong struggle?

o   Yes, as long as one is being honest with one’s struggle.

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Luke 14:25-33

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