From Galilee Onwards

In one paragraph

This message was part of an ongoing look at Jesus' journey from Galilee toward Jerusalem. The pastor walked through the moment Jesus set his face toward the cross and what that turn cost the people around him, including his own family. The question he kept pressing was whether those of us who have followed Jesus for a long time are any different from the brothers and disciples who kept missing the...

Read together

1. John 6:66 many disciples turned away after a hard teaching; Peter says where else would we go, you have the words of life
2. John 7:1 Jesus unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill him
3. Luke 9:51 Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, the turning point of his ministry
4. Matthew 8:19-22 listed as a passage covered in the sermon on the cost of discipleship
5. Luke 9:51-62 listed as a passage covered on rejection and the cost of discipleship
6. 1 Kings 19 Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha who asked to say goodbye to his parents before following
7. Hebrews 10:23-25 hold firmly to the confession of hope, encourage one another, not abandoning meeting together
8. John 13:34 a new command to love one another as Jesus loved, by which all will know his disciples

Talk about it

1. The pastor pointed out that Jesus' own brothers did not believe in him, even after watching his ministry up close, and asked whether we as church folks ever find ourselves in the same position, not understanding what Jesus is doing. Has there been a season in your life where you felt that way, and what did that look like?
2. When the Samaritan village rejected Jesus, James and John were ready to call down fire on them, but Jesus rebuked his disciples and simply moved on to another village. Where in your own life are you tempted to respond to rejection of the gospel with judgment rather than patience, and what does Jesus' response here say to you about that?
3. The first person who approached Jesus said 'I will follow you wherever you go,' and Jesus warned him that the road would be harder than he expected. What is something about following Jesus that turned out to be harder than you expected when you first committed to him?
4. Jesus told the second man, who wanted to wait until his father had died before following, to 'let the dead bury their own dead.' What are the things in your own life, even good and reasonable things, that you are most tempted to put ahead of following Jesus, and how do you work through that tension?
5. The pastor closed with Hebrews 10:23-25 and the call to hold fast, encourage one another, and not abandon meeting together. In practical terms, what does it look like for this congregation to stir one another up in love and good deeds, especially when the way feels difficult?