It's amazing that anyone reading through the Gospel of Luke for the first time makes it past chapter 14 without throwing in the towel. That's where Jesus gives a stump speech that's honestly a real turn off. You might say it was his worst sermon ever. Jesus, who is all about loving even your enemy, says to a large crowd following him, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Doesn't that sound inspiring?

It's easy to skip right over these hard sayings of Jesus, and indeed, many preachers do! But I think it's important that we give it a look and consider how Luke 14:25-33 invites us to count the cost of following Jesus.