February 09 2025

Frankie / General Adult

Luke 14:25-35

1. There are many tasks we must handle in our daily lives. We need to decide what to eat, when to go to bed, and where to live. When making decisions, we cannot rely solely on our thoughts or emotions at that moment. Instead, we must consider our priorities carefully. In 2015, during my final semester at seminary, I began searching for a church where I could start my pastoral ministry. However, I did not want to join a Korean church again, so I sent my résumé to Canadian churches across the country. I did not know where I would end up, but my top priority was serving in a Canadian church. Neither region nor denomination was a deciding factor for me—only that it was a Canadian church. Out of the 100 churches I contacted, I received three responses (two from Toronto), but I chose a church in Saskatchewan because it was the first to respond to me. 

2. At that time, I sent my résumé to many Alliance churches, but they were not interested in me. However, a small rural church in Saskatchewan took an interest. As you already know, I ended up serving in Pelly for seven years. And now, I am here at Yorkton Alliance Church. I will explain this in the later part of the sermon. The reason I am sharing this story is to reflect on the idea of priority. In fact, this is a key concept in understanding discipleship, as Jesus teaches His disciples in Luke 14. With this in mind, we can explore Luke 14:25-35 and consider what it means to prioritize Christ in our lives.

Luke 14:25–30 NASB 2020

Now large crowds were going along with Him, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’

Luke 14:30–35 NASB 2020

saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’ Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to face the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and requests terms of peace. So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or the manure pile, so it is thrown out. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

3. Since the first Sunday of January, we have embarked on the Gospel Reading Project, a year-long journey through the four Gospels. As we read, we notice that Jesus frequently uses parables—not merely to convey their literal meaning, but to express deeper truths. In many instances, he employs hyperbole to emphasize and reinforce his teachings. Two notable examples of this can be found in Matthew 7:3-5 and Matthew 23:24.

Matthew 7:3–5 NLT

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

Matthew 23:23–24 CEB

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You give to God a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, but you forget about the more important matters of the Law: justice, peace, and faith. You ought to give a tenth but without forgetting about those more important matters. You blind guides! You filter out an ant but swallow a camel.

4. Jesus uses “a speck in your eye” in Matthew 7:3 and “blind guides” in Matthew 23, illustrating his use of hyperbole to make his teachings more impactful. Keeping this method in mind—the use of hyperbole—can help us better understand his messages.

Now, we can divide today’s passage into four key themes:

1. Cost of Discipleship: vv. 25-27

2. Construction: vv. 28-30

3. War: vv.31-33

4. Salt: vv.34-35

5. I have mentioned several times that we should read the Bible chapter by chapter or at least by grouping similar sections together. Although these four sections address different topics, they share the same important teachings. This is because Jesus presents all four cases within a single teaching, emphasizing a unified message. The key word that provides insight for us to understand this part is “priority.”

6. According to the Oxford Dictionary, “priority” is defined as “a thing that is regarded as more important than another” and, in British English, as “the right to take precedence or to proceed before others.”

1. a thing that is regarded as more important than another

2. (British English) the right to take precedence or to proceed before others

(Oxford Language, 2025)

7. This definition clearly explains the meaning of “priority.” Let’s consider what it means to regard something as more important than another. As you already know, I had furnace issues since last year. When the temperature dropped to -35°C, my furnace stopped working for an entire week. I called the repair workers, but they couldn’t figure out the problem. Then, just when I decided to replace it, it suddenly started working again. It functioned well until two weeks ago, but when the temperature dropped to -30°C again, it stopped working once more. I struggled with it for a while before finally calling a worker. Last Wednesday, I replaced it with a new furnace, and now my home is comfortably warm. Last year, I canceled my plan to get a new furnace because of my trip to South Korea. It had been seven years since I last visited my family, and with my budget, I couldn’t afford both the furnace replacement and the trip in the same year. However, since I have no plans to travel abroad this year, replacing the furnace became my top priority. My decision was made based on priority. 

8. When we reflect on our lives, it becomes clear what our priorities are. However, when I watch YouTube or browse social media, I often see people saying that we should simply follow our feelings and emotions—that whatever we feel like doing in the moment should be our priority. I don’t agree with this idea. Priority is not about following our immediate emotions, nor is it just about handling urgent matters. It goes beyond that. True priority means choosing or committing to what is most important in our lives. 

Proverbs 4:23 ESV

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Exodus 20:1–3 CSB

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides me.

9. These two scriptures serve as examples of the priorities we should keep and remember in our lives. God’s intention was not merely to teach His people the law, but to instill in them the right priorities for daily living. However, those who were not truly interested in God’s will turned His teachings into rigid laws that had to be followed literally. When God’s words are reduced to mere laws rather than guiding priorities, they can become burdensome—a chain that binds rather than a truth that sets us free.

10. When we read today’s passage, Luke 14:25-35, with this understanding, it becomes clear that Jesus’ intention is not to literally tell us to hate our families, brothers and sisters, or even ourselves. Instead, He is teaching about priority. When Jesus speaks about the war between two kingdoms, the construction of a watchtower, and the importance of salt retaining its flavour, all of these illustrations point to the same message—understanding and choosing the right priorities in life.

11. Just as we calculate the estimated cost of materials before starting construction, setting the right priorities means determining what is truly important in our hearts. When I sought an estimate for the furnace installation and carefully considered it, my priority was to evaluate what was most important in making the right decision for the next step. 

12. The highest priority for a Christian is, without a doubt, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Without Him, how can we even be called Christians? The very meaning of “Christian” is someone who follows Christ. So without a personal decision to follow Him, how can one truly be a Christian? With this in mind, I do not agree with infant baptism. For me, baptism is about making a conscious decision to follow Christ. That’s why I personally see believer’s baptism as the best reflection of discipleship. Of course, infant baptism can be understood within the framework of covenant theology, but I don’t see it as the same as a believer’s conscious decision to follow Christ. I can explain this further at another time.

13. Being a disciple of Christ is not about simply becoming a morally good person. It is not even about living a better life. Rather, it is about making Jesus the highest priority in one’s life. A true disciple does not follow personal desires but chooses to follow Christ’s will. Instead of pursuing their own dreams and visions, a disciple seeks to follow Jesus’ vision and direction—because He is their priority.

Acts 4:12 NIrV

You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.”

14. The reason I moved to Canada was to serve the body of Christ as a missionary. To prepare for this calling, I attended seminary in Toronto from 2011 to 2015. During my final semester, I began considering my next steps in ministry, specifically how I could serve a Christian fellowship as part of the body of Christ. So, I started sending out my résumé across Canada—about 110 ish in total, mostly to Alliance churches. However, I received no responses for a long time. Then, in August, three churches finally reached out to me. The first was Pelly Fellowship Chapel. Before sending out my résumés, I had set a personal priority: I would proceed with the first church that responded to me. Even though another church in Toronto later contacted me, I politely declined their offer and explained my reasoning. In response, the pastor prayed for me, which was a great encouragement. At that time, my decision was considered unusual. People assumed I would only focus on the senior group and believed there was no clear vision. They warned me that there was no Korean food, so I would go hungry. They said there were no Koreans, so I would feel lonely. For seven years, there was no Tim Hortons, no Starbucks, no Korean restaurants, and not even traffic signals. But I was never lonely, and I didn’t miss Korean food—except for meals shared with family. That was the cost of following the priorities I had set in Christ. I did not decline the church in Saskatchewan because of these challenges. Rather, I made my decision based on the priorities I had committed to in Christ.

15. My priority was set as follows:

1. I would begin the next process with the church that contacted me first.

2. The church should belong to the Evangelical Fellowship Church of Canada (EFCC) and not practice infant baptism.

3. I was open to serving in any region or province.

My vision was to serve the church of Christ, and by serving the church, I believed I was ultimately serving Jesus Christ. With this conviction, I was able to establish these priorities for my next step.

16. Once we become Christians, we also become disciples of Jesus—whether we recognize it or not. Those outside of salvation see us as followers of Christ and assume that our priority is Jesus, not our own desires. Because of this, we cannot serve two masters. When we placed our faith in Jesus Christ, our priority shifted from pursuing our own desires to seeking God. Our life’s direction changed from fulfilling our own wishes to fulfilling God’s plan.

17. Jesus teaches that salt that loses its saltiness will be thrown away—it becomes useless, even as manure. In the same way, if disciples lose their priority in Jesus, the world will no longer recognize Him through them, and their lives will not reflect true discipleship on this earth. This teaching emphasizes our holy responsibility in Christ. God loves us so much that He has entrusted us with this sacred calling—to live our lives according to the priority of Christ.

Philippians 3:13–16 NASB 2020

Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

As I close my sermon, let this song be our prayer—that we will keep pressing on toward the goal, making Christ our highest priority

I'm pressing on the upward way

New heights I'm gaining ev'ry day

Still praying as I'm onward bound

Lord plant my feet on higher ground

Lord lift me up and let me stand

By faith on heaven's tableland

A higher plane than I have found

Lord plant my feet on higher ground

18. Where is our new identity? It is in Christ, our Lord. What is our new life? It is a life lived in, with, and through Christ. If Christ is our new life and identity, then our priority is no longer our own—it belongs to Jesus. And when our priority is in Him, He gives us the strength to uphold it through the Holy Spirit. With the Spirit’s help, we can establish a new priority in life and faithfully follow Christ. Let us set our eyes on higher ground. Let us build our lives on our Firm Foundation. Jesus must be the priority we establish in our hearts, for in Him, there is both hope and life.