“Another said, ‘Yes, Lord, I will follow You, but first let me say good-bye to my family.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.’” —Luke 9v61-62 NLT
intentions.
“
“Another said, ‘Yes, Lord, I will follow You, but first let me say good-bye to my family.’” —Luke 9v61 NLT
“As Jesus and His disciples were walking along, someone said to Jesus, ‘I will follow You wherever You go.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay His head.’
Jesus said to another person, ‘Come, follow Me.’ The man agreed, but he said, ‘Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the kingdom of God.’
Another said, ‘Yes, Lord, I will follow You, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” —Luke 9v57-61 NLT
“So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Snapchat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelve pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.
Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,’ he said, ‘and then I will come with you.’
‘Go back,’ Elijah replied. ‘What have I done to you?’So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook meant and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and become his servant.” —1 Kings 19v19-21 NIV
“Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.’” —Luke 9v62 NLT
“Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” —Luke 17v32-33 NIV
we can’t
“Let your eyes look straight ahead;
Fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful attention to the paths of your feet
And be steadfast in all your ways.” —Proverbs 4v25-26 NIV“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 3v13-14 NIV
“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” —Romans 6v20-22 NIV
Following Jesus to the finish requires:
Discussion Questions
Question: Jesus calls the man in Luke 9:61-62 to follow Him immediately, without excuses. Reflect on moments in your own life when you’ve responded to Jesus with a “but first” mindset. What impact has this had on your spiritual journey?
Follow-up: How might surrendering these “but first” priorities transform your walk with Jesus?
Question: The sermon emphasized that “convenience doesn’t determine obedience.” How do you tend to respond when obeying God feels inconvenient or uncomfortable?
Follow-up: How might God be calling you to show obedience in areas of your life where convenience has been a deciding factor?
Question: The message emphasized the importance of moving from intention to action. Reflect on a time when you had good intentions to grow in faith or serve but didn’t follow through. What kept you from acting on it?
Follow-up: How can this group help hold you accountable in areas where you desire growth but struggle with consistency?
Question: In Luke 9:62, Jesus says, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” What “old life” habits, mindsets, or attachments do you sense might be holding you back in your walk with Jesus?
Follow-up: What practical actions could you take this week to “stop looking back” and focus on following Jesus forward?