"Cost of Discipleship" Sermon September 4, 2022

"The Cost of Discipleship" Luke 14:25-35 Preacher: Rev. Mike Vieregge Jesus' words through the Gospel of Luke are strong, hard words. There is no way to soften them. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." This is the cost of being a disciple? I'm not so sure that is a message that I want to hear, and I know it is not a message that will bring many people back to our church the following week. Why does Jesus offer this message to the great crowds that were following Him? And what does He want us to hear in these words today? Let us open our hearts and our minds to the hearing of these words and listen to what our Lord and Savior has to say to us. Even in the strong words of God's law, we can see his Gospel light shine on us and nurture us. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."