“Not for the Faint of Heart: The Radical Call of Jesus”

 

 A Call That Costs Everything

When Jesus called His disciples, He didn’t lure them with comfort, fame, or ease. He said:

“Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” — Luke 9:23 (NIV)

Following Christ is the most life-giving decision a person can make—but it’s not a cheap one. It’s a call to die to self, abandon comfort, and embrace a Kingdom that often looks foolish to the world. In a culture obsessed with self-preservation and convenience, the message of costly discipleship remains radical and offensive.

“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Click to explore resources designed to support your walk with God. 

 What is Discipleship, really?

Discipleship is not just attending church, quoting Scripture, or believing in Jesus intellectually. It is a lifelong journey of surrender, obedience, and becoming like Christ, no matter the cost.

“A disciple is someone who has decided that the most important thing in life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do.”
— Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy

Jesus made it clear that discipleship involves more than belief. It’s about a total reorientation of life:

“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples.” — Luke 14:33 (NIV)

Click to explore resources designed to support your walk with God. 

The Cross: More Than a Symbol

To many, the cross is a decoration, a charm, a logo. But to Jesus, it was a personal and prophetic invitation to suffer, die, and rise again.

“Take up your cross…” meant crucifixion. Not comfort. Not luxury. Not prosperity.

True discipleship means:

  • Laying down your reputation

  • Enduring rejection

  • Sacrificing ambition if necessary

  • Obeying even when it hurts

“There is no crown without a cross, no glory without suffering, and no resurrection without death.”
— John Stott, The Cross of Christ

 Following Jesus Means Leaving Things Behind

When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, the Bible says:

“At once they left their nets and followed Him.” — Matthew 4:20 (NIV)

To follow Jesus means leaving behind your “nets”—your comfort zones, careers, plans, sins, or whatever holds you back. For the rich young ruler in Luke 18, the cost was his wealth, and he walked away sorrowful.

“You cannot follow Jesus and stay where you are.”
— Francis Chan, Crazy Love

Click to explore resources designed to support your walk with God. 

 Suffering Is Not a Detour—It’s Part of the Journey

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” — 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)

The early church understood this. Paul was beaten, imprisoned, stoned, and shipwrecked—not because he lacked faith, but because he followed Jesus. Discipleship isn’t proven in prosperity—it’s proven in perseverance.

“God will never use a man greatly until He has wounded him deeply.”
— A.W. Tozer

Are we willing to follow Jesus when the miracles fade, when people betray us, when the world mocks us?

The Eternal Reward Outweighs the Earthly Cost

Jesus never asked us to lose everything for nothing. Every sacrifice made for Him carries eternal weight:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)

We are not just giving up something—we are gaining Someone. Jesus Himself.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
— Jim Elliot, missionary martyr

 Discipleship in Today’s World: Still Relevant, Still Costly

In an age of easy faith and consumer Christianity, the call of Christ remains unchanged:

Come. Die. Follow.

He still asks for:

  • Undivided loyalty (Matthew 6:24)

  • Costly obedience (John 14:15)

  • Fearless devotion (Revelation 2:10)

“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Click to explore resources designed to support your walk with God. 

 Will You Follow, No Matter the Cost?

There is no version of the gospel where Jesus is Savior but not Lord. True discipleship costs you everything, but it gives you more than you could ever earn.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” — Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

The road is narrow. The cross is heavy. But the joy… the joy of knowing Him is worth it all.

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