Whether you heard the message from Sunday or are part of one of our “What’s Next” groups at Venture, here’s a way for you to go deeper.
this week's next steps
This week's study
Following Jesus is not a casual choice—it’s a transformational commitment. In Luke 14, Jesus confronts the crowd with stark, uncompromising words: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate... even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” This isn’t a call to abandon love but a challenge to reorient our priorities. Jesus must become our greatest allegiance. He invites us not merely to admire Him from a distance but to follow Him closely—to walk in His steps, embrace His cross, and align our lives with His kingdom. True discipleship isn’t defined by occasional attendance or passive belief; it’s marked by devotion, sacrifice, and a willingness to be shaped by the Master.
A disciple is more than a student—they are an apprentice. To know Jesus is to become like Him and to do what He did. This life of learning and becoming requires intention, not convenience. It means we count the cost, just as Jesus illustrated with the builder and the king. Yet, the cost of discipleship pales in comparison to the reward—Christ Himself. In a world conditioned for comfort and consumerism, we are called to be salt—preservers of truth, carriers of light, and agents of change. The Dead Sea, constantly receiving but never giving, stands as a warning: without an outlet, even the richest spiritual intake can stagnate. Discipleship calls us not to store but to pour out, not to consume but to be consumed by a mission greater than ourselves.
As we reflect on this calling, may we move from the crowd to commitment, from knowledge to application, from formation to mission. Let us finish this season not with passivity but with vision, discipline, and deep devotion to the One who first called us by name.
A disciple is more than a student—they are an apprentice. To know Jesus is to become like Him and to do what He did. This life of learning and becoming requires intention, not convenience. It means we count the cost, just as Jesus illustrated with the builder and the king. Yet, the cost of discipleship pales in comparison to the reward—Christ Himself. In a world conditioned for comfort and consumerism, we are called to be salt—preservers of truth, carriers of light, and agents of change. The Dead Sea, constantly receiving but never giving, stands as a warning: without an outlet, even the richest spiritual intake can stagnate. Discipleship calls us not to store but to pour out, not to consume but to be consumed by a mission greater than ourselves.
As we reflect on this calling, may we move from the crowd to commitment, from knowledge to application, from formation to mission. Let us finish this season not with passivity but with vision, discipline, and deep devotion to the One who first called us by name.
Questions to Consider:
- How does Jesus’ description of discipleship in Luke 14 challenge common ideas about what it means to follow Him?
- What areas of your life currently reflect a "consumer" mindset rather than a "disciple" mindset?
- In what ways can your faith become an "outlet" to impact others, rather than just an internal or personal experience?
- Where in your spiritual life do you sense God calling you to count the cost and take a step of deeper commitment?
- How does viewing discipleship as an apprenticeship (being with Jesus, becoming like Him, doing what He did) reshape your approach to spiritual growth?
Recommended reading
The Discipleship Opportunity: Leading A Great-Commission Church In A Post-Everything World - Daniel Im
The Lost Art Of Disciple Making - LeRoy Eims
Spiritual Discipleship: Principles Of Following Christ For Every Believer - J. Oswald Sanders
Practicing The Way: Be With Jesus. Become Like Him. Do As He Did. - John Mark Comer
The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life Will Deeply Transform Your Church, Team, And The World - Peter Scazzero
The Lost Art Of Disciple Making - LeRoy Eims
Spiritual Discipleship: Principles Of Following Christ For Every Believer - J. Oswald Sanders
Practicing The Way: Be With Jesus. Become Like Him. Do As He Did. - John Mark Comer
The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life Will Deeply Transform Your Church, Team, And The World - Peter Scazzero
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