I Came to Bring Division
Scott Luck
Part of Red Ink—The words of Jesus
March 1, 2020

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV)


TO FOLLOW JESUS, I MUST COMMIT TO…

  • THE EXCLUSIVITY OF JESUS
  • THE PRIORITY OF JESUS
  • THE REALITY OF THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

1. THE EXCLUSIVITY OF JESUS

35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(vs. 35-37)


2. THE PRIORITY OF JESUS

38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
(vs. 38)

Taking up your cross means accepting God’s plan and surrendering to God’s control. —Scott Luck

39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
(vs. 39)


3. THE REALITY OF THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
1 Corinthians 1:21-23 (ESV)