CANDIDATES FOR DISCIPLESHIP

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Luke 9:57-62
   B. These events in the life of Christ are often overlooked by     
      many, but they should not be.  They can furnish important      
      lessons for us.
   C. We will label these three candidates for discipleship as:
      1. The impulsive candidate.
      2. The procrastinating candidate.
      3. The wavering candidate.
   D. Let's examine these and see if we can gain some profitable
      lessons.

I. THE IMPULSIVE CANDIDATE.  Luke 9:57-58
   A. This one was enthusiastic about following Christ.  He said,    
      "Lord, I will follow you wherever you go."
      1. Many people are like this.  They have good intentions,
         become very enthusiastic, but for various reasons, soon have
         a burn-out and quit.
         a. Their enthusiasm is very short-lived.  They fail to have
            long-term commitment in doing God's will.
         b. They are like the seed which fell on stony ground.  Mark
            4:16-17
   B. Look at Jesus' answer.  "Foxes have holes and birds of the air
      have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
      1. Jesus is showing the man that following Him will be         
         difficult, because He doesn't have as much as a place to    
         sleep at nights.
         a. Jesus is emphasizing the cost involved in being a
            Christian.  He wanted him to be aware of the sacrifices
            and hardships.
      2. Luke 14:26-33
         a. Jesus prepared His disciples for hard times ahead.  Matt.
            10:21-22; John 16:1-4
         b. Many people see the reward but not the struggle. There
            can be no crown without the cross.
         c. Jesus also would have his disciples avoid criticism. 
            Luke 14:28-30
            (1) The person who starts to follow Christ but turns
                back into the world is criticized by both the world
                and the people of God.
            (2) Even the world does not like a weak person.  Both
                Christians and the world admire the bold and the
                strong.
         d. Christ pleads for all to accept his call, but He wants
            them to first count the cost.  He does not want weak or
            lukewarm disciples.  Rev. 3:15-16

II. The second man: THE PROCRASTINATOR.  Luke 9:59-60
   A. This man unlike the first, did not volunteer to follow Jesus   
      but was urged by Jesus.
      1. Jesus said, "Follow me." He urges all to follow Him.  Matt.
         11:28-30; Rev. 3:20; 22:17; Matt. 22:1-5; Luke 14:16-24
         a. The Lord's invitation is couched in very beautiful
            poetical words.
         b. Let us not make light the Lord's precious invitation.
   B. The man said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
      1. This man was concerned about the wrong burial.  Being
         buried with Christ is the burial all should be truly        
         concerned about.
      2. His response implies his intention to follow Jesus later.
      3. This man was delaying following Christ and was using
         burying his father as an excuse.
      4. Many are like this today.  They have all good intentions of
         serving God, but not now.  Thus, they give all kinds of
         excuses for not doing God's will now.
   C. Notice Jesus' reply to him: "Let the dead bury their own dead,
      but you go and preach the kingdom of God."
      1. In other words, "Let the spiritually dead bury the          
         physically dead."
      2. Burying the dead is important, but others can do that.
         a. It has been my experience that the people of the world
            are usually very diligent in taking care of those        
            affairs.
      3. Jesus did not teach people to forsake responsibilities to
         family, but he often gave commands to people in light of
         their own inward needs.  This man was putting family first.
         a. Jesus was able to look into the heart of the rich young
            ruler, and know exactly what he needed.  Mark 10:21-
            22
      4. Procrastination keeps us from doing what we ought to do.
         a. People put off obeying the gospel and becoming a
            Christian.
         b. Members of the church put off attending, praying,
            studying, visiting, aiding those in need.
         c. Jesus would say, "Follow me.  Don't use the less
            important things of the world as an excuse.  Let the
            world (the spiritually dead) take care of mundane things
            of this life, but you follow me."
      5. Jesus said, "...But go and preach the kingdom of God."
         a. Thus, an important part of being a disciple is teaching
            the Word of God.
         b. We all are evangelists.  We are the servants who compel
            others to come into the kingdom.  Luke 14:23
         c. We sing forth the praises of Him who called us out of
            darkness.  1 Pet. 2:9

III. The third person: THE WAVERING CANDIDATE.  Luke 9:61
   A. Like the first man, he volunteered.
      1. Like the second man, he also had a problem.  He said - Luke
         9:61.
      2. Jesus replied - Luke 9:62
         a. Anyone plowing a straight furrow must keep his eyes
            fixed on an object ahead.
         b. There is a similar illustration handed down from early
            pioneer preachers.  They said, "When one crosses a
            swollen stream, he must keep his eyes focused on a rock
            on the other side.  Don't look at the rushing water for
            you will loose balance and be swept away.  Just keep
            your eyes on the rock and steadily walk across."  The
            application was: One must keep His focus on Christ.
   B. The man of our text had his eyes in the wrong direction.
      1. If he had gone back to bid farewell to his family and       
         friends, they probably would have discouraged him from      
         following Jesus.
      2. Anyone who looks back to his former interest, will not be a
         devoted disciple.
   C. We must keep our eyes on the heavenly goal.
      1. We must keep our minds on things above, not on things on
         the earth.  Col. 3:1-3;1 Pet. 1:13
      2. Our attention must be focused on following Christ.  We must
         be "single minded" in following Him.
         a. Luke 17:32 - Lot's wife no doubt still had interest in   
            the things of her home.  She lacked faith in the things  
            God had said by His angels.  Gen. 19:26
      3. Again, the Christian must have singleness of commitment to
         Jesus Christ.  We must not "look back" to the things of this
         world.
      4. Devotion to Christ must reign supreme, before family,
         worldly interest, or self.
         a. With our focus wholly on Jesus, we will not allow
            anything to distract us from following Him.

Concl.
   A. These three men called Jesus "Lord," but it is doubtful if any 
      of them went on to be true disciples.
   B. The three illustrate vital conditions which must be met in     
      order to follow Christ.
      1. Luke 9:57-58
         a. We must count the cost and pay the price.  Let us not
            have short-lived enthusiasm, but serve with dedication
            and commitment for the long term.  We know that
            difficulties and hardships will come, but we will run    
            with patience the race that is set before us.
      2. Luke 9:59-60
         a. Some things in life are important, but none are as
            important as serving God.  Nothing should take
            precedence over our service to the Lord.  We will let
            worldly people take care of the mundane of this life. 
            We are ready evangelists of the gospel of Christ.
      3. Luke 9:61-62
         a. Let us keep our eyes focused on the heavenly goal.  We
            will not give family and friends opportunity to
            discourage us.  Our devotion to Christ reigns supreme. 
            We serve Him with gladness and singleness of heart.