If Anyone Comes to Me…

Luke 14:25-35 

Key Verse 13:34

1. Verse 25 mentions “crowds”, but the remainder of the passage talks about Jesus’ “disciple.” How are the “crowds” different from a “disciple”? 

2. Read verse 26. The Bible teaches us to love people, not to hate them. (Luke 10:27) Yet why does Jesus say at this time to hate those who are listed here? What do you think Jesus might have meant when he used the word “hate”? 

3. Read verse 27. What does “cross” mean? Why is it that without carrying one’s cross, one cannot be Jesus’ disciple?

4. Think about a man building a tower (28-30) and a king going to war against another king (31-32).  In what respect is choosing to be a disciple of Jesus like: 

1) a man building a tower; and 2) a king going to war against another king? 

5. Compare the two examples (a man building a tower and a king going to war against another king) with what Jesus says in verse 33. What does the phrase “in the same way” indicate about: 1) the importance of counting the cost of following Jesus as his disciple; and 2) the actual cost of following Jesus? 

6. Read verse 34. What does a disciple of Jesus have in common with salt?? 

7. Verses 34-35 indicate that it is possible for a Christian to become like salt that loses its saltiness, thereby becoming “useless”. How can one prevent this from happening?