Party On!
This is the sermon I preached Sunday, Sept. 4 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text is Luke 14:25-33. The enthusiastic crowd following Jesus was unaware that he was going to Jerusalem to the cross. They decided on their own to follow him. Jesus emphasizes the importance of his words by t urning to address the hasty volunteers. He tells the crowd, “Think about what you’re doing and where I’m going and what that will take, then decide if you're willing to go with me all the way.” Woven throughout the fabric of today’s gospel are the words, “if you’re not willing…you can’t be my disciple.” The first not willing is refusal to let go of family ties. Jesus then goes one step further, telling the crowd to let go of, “ even one’s own self!” What did Jesus mean? In Luke’s world, high cultural value was placed upon the family network. Jesus says disciples must disavow their primary allegiance to their family. Families would certainly disapprove of Jesus’ instructions. Such a com