STEWARDSHIP OF THE TOWER (2 OF 5)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Luke 14:27-33
This content is part of a series.
Stewardship of the Tower (2 of 5)
Series: Stewardship of His Gifts
Jeff Strite
Luke 14:27-33
OPEN: A man had heart bypass surgery. As he was recovering, his doctor prescribed an exercise program and it was emphasized that the patient had to do this program ''religiously.''
A few days later, the man returned to his doctor, and the doctor asked if he have been exercising. The patient replied, ''Yes. Religiously.''
''How is it going?'' he asked.
The patient said, ''Well, at 1st it was kind of tiring doing all those exercises once a week ...''
''Once a week!? I wanted you to do them every day!'' the doctor exclaimed.
''But, you said to do them 'religiously.' So, just like church, I did them every seven days.''
APPLY: Now, there's something not quite right about that.
This man's recovery depended him taking his exercises seriously.
And it also depended upon him doing them more than once a week.
When the doctor said ''Religiously'' - he meant EVERY DAY - as if his life depended upon it.And it did.
Here in Luke 14, Jesus is telling us the same thing about being a Christian.
He says: We need to take our faith seriously.
We need to exercise it religiously.
We need to work at every day.
Because our very lives in Christ depend upon it.
Jesus said it again and again.
''If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'' Mark 8:34
''… anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.'' Matthew 10:38
And here in Luke 14, Jesus declared:
''… anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.'' Luke 14:27
AND ''…any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Lu 14:33
Following Jesus is serious business.
Following Jesus requires us to exercise our faith regularly.
It requires us to work at our Christianity every day.
ILLUS: One minister was once asked if a certain man named John, belonged to the Church.
The preacher's reply was, ''N ...
Series: Stewardship of His Gifts
Jeff Strite
Luke 14:27-33
OPEN: A man had heart bypass surgery. As he was recovering, his doctor prescribed an exercise program and it was emphasized that the patient had to do this program ''religiously.''
A few days later, the man returned to his doctor, and the doctor asked if he have been exercising. The patient replied, ''Yes. Religiously.''
''How is it going?'' he asked.
The patient said, ''Well, at 1st it was kind of tiring doing all those exercises once a week ...''
''Once a week!? I wanted you to do them every day!'' the doctor exclaimed.
''But, you said to do them 'religiously.' So, just like church, I did them every seven days.''
APPLY: Now, there's something not quite right about that.
This man's recovery depended him taking his exercises seriously.
And it also depended upon him doing them more than once a week.
When the doctor said ''Religiously'' - he meant EVERY DAY - as if his life depended upon it.And it did.
Here in Luke 14, Jesus is telling us the same thing about being a Christian.
He says: We need to take our faith seriously.
We need to exercise it religiously.
We need to work at every day.
Because our very lives in Christ depend upon it.
Jesus said it again and again.
''If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'' Mark 8:34
''… anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.'' Matthew 10:38
And here in Luke 14, Jesus declared:
''… anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.'' Luke 14:27
AND ''…any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Lu 14:33
Following Jesus is serious business.
Following Jesus requires us to exercise our faith regularly.
It requires us to work at our Christianity every day.
ILLUS: One minister was once asked if a certain man named John, belonged to the Church.
The preacher's reply was, ''N ...
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