Sermons

Call to Follow Jesus
Luke 9:57-62

What is the physical location of the event of this Bible passage? Where was Jesus coming from (9:28-36)? What was the direction of the journey now (9:31)?

This passage is between two mission activities (9:1-9 and 10:1-24). How many disciples were sent out for mission in the second outreach? These 72 were probably selected from the new followers found through the first outreach. What do we learn about their selection process in our passage?

How many candidates are we learning to know in this passage (9:57-62)? Are they successful in their entry exam?

The first candidate seems enthusiastic. What is his problem? Why does Jesus respond reluctantly to him? How would you have responded? Was Jesus homeless? What does he mean with "having nowhere to lay his head"? There one other place in the New testament where this same expression of "laying down his head" appears. Can you think where (John 19:30)? What does the other passage tell about his real home?

The second candidate is invited by Jesus. He wants to bury first his father, but Jesus does not permit that. Is Jesus being unreasonable? His desire of burying his father maybe an expression of politely saying "maybe later" rather than actually being in the time of grieving. It is quite possible that his father was not even close to death. There is some evidence of this kind of expression in the Middle-East. What kind of excuses do people give, when they are not ready to follow Jesus? What is the best moment to follow Jesus?

The third candidate is willing to follow Jesus but also hesitates right from the beginning. What does the "looking back" mean?

Try to give character names to these three men.
We are to learn from their negative example. Form three sentences based on them. Start each sentence by "I am not..." and end by "but I am..."