About This Sunday

Hello, North Anderson fam!

We're looking forward to gathering with you on Sunday and wanted to share a few quick notes that could help you to best prepare for worship.

First of all, we really hope that you'll plan to join us for Bible Fellowship Classes. As we unpacked on Vision Sunday, we believe that small groups such as these are not only integral to building and maintaining caring and encouraging community within our church family, but to the growth and fruitfulness of each individual member as well. These classes have a time of fellowship at 9:15am and get started soon afterwards.

Pastor Kyle will be preaching a message from Luke 14:25-28 on the cost of true discipleship. It's a bit of a follow up to the Vision Sunday message that was delivered last week. Please spend some intentional time praying for the service, commit yourself to be in the room, engaged in worship, and looking for opportunities to bless and serve others.

As you prepare your heart for the preaching of God's Word, read the passage we'll be working through (Luke 14:25-28), and think through the following questions:

Verse 25 - Who are the "great crowds" mentioned in this verse?

Why do you think so many people were following Jesus at this time?

Verse 26 - What does Jesus mean by "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple"?

How should we understand the use of the word "hate" in this context?

What is the deeper meaning of this command in relation to discipleship?

How does it reflect the radical commitment required to follow Jesus?

Verse 27 - What does it mean to "carry your cross"?

In what ways did the original audience understand the phrase "carry your cross"?

How might this concept apply to modern followers of Jesus?

Verse 28 - What is the parable of building a tower about?

Why does Jesus use the analogy of someone considering the cost before building a tower to illustrate the cost of discipleship?

How does this analogy help clarify the seriousness of the decision to follow Jesus?

CHECK THE END OF THE FILL-IN NOTES ON THE NORTH ANDERSON APP FOR A FEW REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS THAT MAY BE HELPFUL IN APPLYING THIS TEXT TO LIFE.

A couple more quick notes:
- Our Service Interest Forms are due THIS SUNDAY MORNING.
- While the main points of Sundays sermon will be on the screens up front, the scripture text will not. We desire that our church family gets in the habit of bringing their Bibles to church and following along and this a small step in that direction.