Luke 14:15-35

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Difference Between a Believer and a Disciple

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Becoming a believer means accepting the invitation and not living a life of excuses.

  2. Becoming a disciple means counting the cost and living a life of sacrifice.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t be thrown out as a disciple.

QUESTIONS

  1. What was the point of the Parable of the Great Banquet?

  2. As represented in the parable, who was first invited to the banquet?

  3. Who refused the invitation? Who accepted the invitation?

  4. Who was the invitation extended to next?

  5. What is the point of Luke 14:26?

  6. Are verses 34-35 saying you can lose your salvation?

ANSWERS

  1. The blessings of the kingdom are wonderful, but not everyone who is invited will be present.

  2. The Jewish people were invited when the Lord came and announced that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

  3. The self righteous Jewish leaders refused to accept the invitation. Many such as Mary Magdalene and Zacchaeus were accepting Christ as Messiah. But still there was room.

  4. The invitation to enter and enjoy the blessings of God’s kingdom would go out to the Gentiles with the Great Commission to preach the gospel worldwide.

  5. To become a true disciple, the Lord must be number one above all else – including your own family.

  6. No, true believers can never be thrown out of God’s family. These verses are talking about our testimony before the world as disciples of Jesus Christ.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Review the excuses that people used in the parable to refuse the invitation to the banquet. Discuss how people use these same excuses today to refuse and neglect the invitation of the gospel.

  2. Discuss the difference between becoming a Christian and being a disciple. True salvation costs us nothing. True discipleship costs us everything.

CHALLENGE

  1. If you claim to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and then lose your testimony because of compromise and failure, the world will write you off and throw you out. Don’t let the world throw out your testimony.

KEY VERSES

  • “‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses.” Luke 14:17-18

  • “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33

Luke, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsLuke 14:15-35