1. Losing the first place affection of loved ones

Luke 14:26“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. 

“Hate” implies to “love less than…”

Matthew 10:37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves

son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Our affection for loved ones?

Affection for friends in discipline?

He is looking for first place preeminence

1. Losing the first place affection of loved ones

2. That which may cost us our “life”

Sports?Art?Music?

Theatre?Computer

s?Career?

Matt. 6:33But seek first the

kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all

these things will be added to you.

We need to figure out our priority system

1 Peter 2:1So put away all malice

and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy

and all slander.

Written to disciples concerning malice

Ephesians 4:26-27Be angry and do not

sin; do not let the sun go down on your

anger, 27 and give no opportunity to

the devil.

Our Anger?

Luke 17:3Pay attention to

yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke

him, and if he repents, forgive

him,

Forgiveness?

Acts 5:1-11;

Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore

what is earthly in you:  sexual

immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,

which is idolatry.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under

compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

1 Corinthians 16:2for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you

to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has

stirred up most of them. Our Finances?

1. Losing the first place affection of loved ones

2. That which may cost us our “life”3. The effort of carrying our own cross

Takes an investment of time / effort to learn the truth

Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;

because you have rejected knowledge , I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law

of your God, also will forget your children.

Proverbs 23:23Buy truth, and do not sell it;

buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

Worth devotion Time for meditation Attending meetings? Reading books? It’s a CEC Teaching others Attending classes Regular, faithful,

consistent, devoted, steadfast worship attendance

Hebrews 5:11-1311 About this we have much to say, and it is

hard to explain, since you have become dull of

hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be

teachers, you need someone to teach you

again the basic principles of the oracles of God.

You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who

lives on milk is unskilled in the word of

righteousness, since he is a child. 

Luke 14:28-30For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost,

whether he has enough to complete it?29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to

build and was not able to finish.’ 

To avoid wasting time, money, and effort

Luke 14:31-32Or what king, going out to encounter another

king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten

thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of

peace.

To avoid defeat by a strong enemy

Matthew 16:24-26Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come

after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save

his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or

what shall a man give in return for his soul? 

Because it is the cost for this greatest of investments

success vs. failure profit vs. loss victory vs. defeat

Have you counted the cost of a home in heaven for eternity?