8 Sermon Illustrations on Cost Of Discipleship

Men today want to know, How much does the job pay? What do you offer? The story is told that when Garibaldi set out to liberate Italy, he saw some young men standing at a street corner, and he asked them if they would like to enlist in his cause. "What do you offer?" they said. "Offer?" replied Garibaldi. "I offer you hardship, hunger, rags, thirst, sleepless nights, footsores in long marches, privations innumerable, and finally victory in the noblest cause that ever confronted you." Young Italy did follow him! Our Lord says, "If any one would come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me" (Mark 8:34).

Let's ask ourselves this question: "Am I concerned about the sacrifices I may be called upon to make in serving Christ?" Two young men were talking about this very thing. One of them said, "I cannot tell you all that the Lord Jesus is to me, or what He has done for me. I do wish you would enlist in His army." "I'm thinking about it," answered the other young man, "but it means giving up several things-in fact, I am counting the cost." A Christian officer, just passing, heard the last remark, and laying his hand on the shoulder of the young soldier said, "Young man, you talk of counting the cost of following Christ, but have you ever counted the cost of not following Him?"

Jonathan and his armor-bearer, marching against the Philistines, passed between two rocks, — the one called Bozez, signifying "dirty;" the other Seneh, meaning "thorny, a hard passage." But on they went, through thick and thin, and at last gained the victory. The Israelites were first brought to the bitter waters of Marah before they might taste the fountains of milk and honey of Canaan. In vain shall any man expect the river of God's pleasures before he hath pledged Christ in the cup of bitterness. There is but one way, one door, one passage, to heaven, and that a strait one, through which we pass with much pressure and tugging; having our superfluous rags torn off from us in the crowd of this world. He that will be knighted must kneel for it, and he that will enter at the strait gate must crowd for it. Spencer.

The crusaders of old used to bear a painted cross upon their shoulders. It is to be feared that many amongst ourselves take up crosses that sit just as lightly, — things of ornament, passports to respectability, a cheap substitute for a struggle never made and a crown never striven for.

— D. Moore