Witness Jesus’ Teaching On Counting the Cost - Vence Gordon
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class opened with Vence Gordon introducing Luke 14’s banquet parable, where a landowner invited many guests who made excuses, prompting the host to invite the poor and outcasts. He linked this story to the kingdom of God, illustrating how many reject the invitation to discipleship. The teacher then transitioned to Luke 14:25‑33, where Jesus taught that anyone who follows Him must love Him above all else, even to the point of ‘hating’ family members, carry their own cross, and carefully weigh the cost before committing to any endeavor, such as building a tower or going to war. Gordon emphasized that this “cost” is not a financial price tag but a call to singular devotion, relational sacrifice, and focused obedience. Drawing on his own military experience, he illustrated how a clear, unmoving focus on the mission parallels a disciple’s need to keep Jesus as the central point of every decision. The class concluded with a challenge to examine personal priorities, remove divided hearts, and pursue discipleship with full awareness of its demands, trusting that loving Jesus more will enhance all other relationships.
Key Scriptures
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Which of you, if you want to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, when he sets out to fight another king, will not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to encounter the twenty thousand? And if not, he will send a delegation while still far away and ask for terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his possessions. Salt is good, but if salt becomes unsalty, how can it be made salty again? It is fit for neither the soil nor the fertilizer. It is fit only to be thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.