I have a few things to go over for those of you that have yet to decided if you want to go on the journey of becoming a disciple maker and for those of you who are trying to figure out who you would like to disciple. While reading a book by J. Oswald Sanders I was reminded of the three types of people that may say yes to being discipled. We learn about three types straight from Christ himself. In Luke 9: 57-62 we see Jesus walking down the road. He is talking with those walking with him and one man declares to Jesus that he will follow him wherever he will go. This man is “The Impulsive” and has not counted the cost of following Christ. Jesus reminds him that the son of man has no where to lay his head. Jesus gives him a quick check to reality. We can see many people get wrapped up in the charisma of following someone. This discipling business is not to be romanced. You have the real question of would you give up everything to follow Christ? Never say yes just to please or impress someone else. The next type of person that we see tell Jesus that he will follow him is “The Reluctant”. This man tells Jesus that he should first let him go bury his father. This is the one who wants to settle things first. He wants to essentially finish doing all he wants to do before he will follow the Lord. He wants to follow the Lord when it is more convenient for him. I can tell you, there will never be a convenient time to follow. The next one that tells Jesus he will follow him is “The Halfhearted”. This is the man that tells Jesus he should let him go back and say bye to his family. When we look at the surface of this request, it seems like the man just wants to kiss his wife and kids’ goodbye. What could be wrong with that? Its sweet right? Well, nothing in the word is surface deep. This man is half concerned with following the Lord and half concerned with what he has left behind. I am reminded of Lot’s wife when I think of this man. The Lord tells us that “no one who puts his hand to plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom”. When you consider following Christ…

1. Have you counted the cost?
2. Are you waiting for a convenient time?
3. Is your heart torn between your old life and the possibility of a new life?

If you are looking for someone who modeled how deciding following Christ should look, I would suggest you reading through the story of how Elisha decided to follow Elijah. And listen to the popular song Burn the Ships. It is a nod to Cortez, who burnt his own ships when he arrived at the new world with hundreds of men. He made the visual statement that there is no turning back. If Discipling has taught me anything, it is that you will get tired. You will want to quit. You will die a thousand deaths. However, the Lord will grow you with each death. But first you have to make a decision on whether or not this is for you.