Springwells Church Terms

A Helpful Guide to Our Church’s Language

Accountability: Relationships or structures that help believers grow spiritually by providing support, challenge, and guidance toward obedience and maturity.
Why this matters: Accountability prevents stagnation, helps believers stay faithful, and strengthens commitment to God’s call.

Community: A group of believers living in mutual encouragement, accountability, and mission, reflecting Christ’s love relationally.
Why this matters: True spiritual growth happens in community; it provides support, models Christlike love, and multiplies discipleship.

Cultural Christianity: Identifying with Christianity in name, tradition, or convenience without actual discipleship. 

Why this matters: Faith as a label or routine without heart change leaves life unchanged.

Disciple: A committed follower of Jesus who surrenders life daily, obeys His commands, and lives for God’s Kingdom rather than personal comfort.
Why this matters: Discipleship shapes every decision, shifts priorities from self to God, and fuels a life of mission and purpose.

Gospel: God’s action of rescue + commission: saving us from sin (rescue) and sending us to make disciples and serve others (commission).
Why this matters: Understanding the gospel prevents faith from becoming mere belief or ritual—it’s the foundation for transformation and mission.

Gospel Opportunities / Gospel Opps: Moments to engage people with the good news of Jesus, through conversation, teaching, acts of compassion, or relational investment. (Term coined by Alba)
Why this matters: Actively looking for Gospel Opps keeps the church outward-focused, connecting faith to real lives in tangible ways.

Lordship: What it means that Jesus is not just Savior but Master, with full authority over our lives.

Why this matters: Following Jesus means He directs every area of our lives.

Spiritual Disciplines: Rhythms and habits (prayer, Bible study, worship, fasting, etc.) that help a believer grow in intimacy with God and obedience to His will.
Why this matters: Disciplines cultivate spiritual strength, clarity, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, enabling consistent growth and faithful obedience.

Salvation: Starting Line, Not Finish Line

In our previous lesson we asked whether we are fans admiring Jesus from a distance or followers fully surrendering our lives to Him. If following Jesus means daily obedience, how does that begin? It starts with the radical, life-altering moment of being born again.

As we continue this exploration, let's delve deeper into what it means to be born again — a term Jesus used to describe the profound spiritual rebirth that marks the beginning of a true disciple's journey. Being “born again” means experiencing a spiritual resurrection — God takes someone who is spiritually dead and gives them new life in Christ. It’s not just a decision or a feeling; it’s a transformation that changes identity, purpose, and direction. Just as your physical birth began your life, this new birth begins a life in Christ — but it is only the starting line, not the finish line.

The Crushing Reality of Spiritual Death

Before we get theological, picture this daily reality: you wake up with a hollow place you cannot fill. You seek affirmation in likes, promotions, or a better reputation because nothing quiets the ache. Relationships fray. Small failures replay in your mind. You go to church and smile, but later you scroll and numb out. You feel powerless to break patterns you know are wrong.

That is what Scripture calls being dead in trespasses and sins. It’s not mere bad habits — it’s a diagnosis of lostness and spiritual paralysis. The gospel meets that exact place.

Romans 5:6–11

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Picture the most unlikely person to receive a massive inheritance—maybe someone who's been hostile to the family for years. That's Paul's setup in Romans 5. He says something shocking: "While we were still helpless... Christ died for the ungodly" (v.6).

This isn't a reward system. Verse 8 drives it home: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Not after we cleaned up. Not when we proved ourselves worthy. While we were hostile.

The relief in verse 11 strikes you as pure mercy: "we also rejoice in God... through whom we have now received the reconciliation." Paul sounds like someone who can't believe his good fortune—because that's exactly what grace feels like when it hits you.

Reading this is like a breath of relief. Paul paints both our helplessness and God’s radical initiative: Christ died for people who were helpless and hostile to God. That is not a tidy exchange; it is shocking grace. When the gospel lands emotionally, the first response is awe, relief, and gratitude — not performance.

Ephesians 2:1–10

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2 starts with a diagnosis that feels brutal but accurate: "you were dead in your trespasses and sins" (v.1). Not sick, not struggling—dead.

But watch what happens in verse 4: "But God..." Those might be the two most beautiful words in Scripture. "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love... made us alive together with Christ" (vv. 4-5).

And here's the kicker—verse 10: "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." The word "workmanship" is poiema—God's poem, His masterpiece. You're not just saved; you're crafted for purpose.

Ephesians sets the gospel before us as rescue and calling. We were dead; God made us alive.
Grace is not merely the start of relief; it’s the start of purpose: “we are His workmanship… created… for good works.” 

Salvation is a gift — not to leave us idle, but to send us.

Gospel = Rescue + Commission

Two simple truths flow from these passages:

• Rescue. God acts for us when we are helpless. We are justified — declared righteous — by Christ’s blood. We are reconciled to God. That is pure grace.

• Commission. God saves us for a reason. We are “created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Salvation changes identity and brings assignment.

If we treat salvation as a finish line, we miss the mission God intended. The gospel rescues so it can send.

So what does that new life look like in action? The “good works” we’re saved for take shape most clearly in the mission Jesus gave us — making disciples — and in the practical compassion Scripture calls us to show the vulnerable.

The Main Good Work: The Great Commission 

Matthew 28:18–20 NASB1995

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus’ clear charge to His followers was not only to rescue people from sin but to make disciples—teach, baptize, and release them into obedience. This is the primary “good work” God has given the church: to proclaim, teach, baptize, and cultivate discipleship among all peoples.

Why this matters: The Great Commission ties the gospel to mission. The rescue (justification and reconciliation) must overflow into proclamation and disciple-making. A church that keeps the gospel private or purely inward misses the purpose of being saved.

True Ministry Includes Tangible Compassion 

James 1:27 NASB1995

27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 

The mission Jesus gave is never only about words. True ministry is Gospel proclamation and tangible compassion. James makes plain that the gospel’s outward evidence is care for the vulnerable — widows and orphans in his first-century context — and by extension, those who are powerless, neglected, or oppressed today.

Mission cannot be absent of human compassion. Evangelism without care can be exploitative; charity without proclamation can be shallow. The gospel unites proclamation and mercy: we are sent to make disciples and to embody Christ’s compassion.

Gospel + Compassion = Full Mission

The Great Commission (Matthew 28) and James 1:27 together insist the church’s work is both telling and showing: proclaiming Christ, teaching obedience, and demonstrating love by caring for the vulnerable. If our outreach ignores tangible needs, we risk empty words. If our service neglects the gospel, we risk moralism. The gospel’s power is seen when people hear the good news and also feel God’s love practically.

Practical pairings:

• Evangelistic conversation + helping a family with rent or food.

• Bible study + mentoring for job skills.

• Church planting + community health or counseling initiatives.

• Personal testimony + ongoing relational support for the hurting.

What This Feels Like — Before & After

Before (what “dead” looks like):

• Constant search for satisfaction in things that don’t last (likes, status, performance).

• Spiritual inconsistency — “church on Sundays, drift the rest of the week.”

• Guilt-driven attempts to perform rather than joyful obedience.

After (what gospel life looks like):

• Freedom from performance: you serve out of gratitude, not fear.

• Daily purpose: small, ordinary acts become kingdom labor.

• Fruit grows: compassion, patience, integrity — visible and relational.

The “So What?” — Why This Distinction Matters Practically

If salvation is treated as a finish line:

• Spiritual growth stalls. People become “spiritual consumers.”

• Faith becomes performance-driven: guilt and burnout follow.

• Church becomes entertainment or social club rather than sending community.

If the gospel is the starting line and the mission includes compassion:

• Believers grow into maturity and mission: both proclamation and service.

• Faith is a lifestyle that reshapes family, work, and neighborhood.

• The church becomes a sending, serving community that reflects Jesus’ whole ministry.

In short: finish-line Christianity shrinks life; starting-line, mission-shaped Christianity enlarges it.

Quick Self-Assessment: Finish Line or Starting Line?

Finish Line indicators:

• “I’m saved, so I don’t need to change much.”

• Spiritual growth feels optional.

• Church is mostly a place for comfort or entertainment.

Starting Line indicators:

• You regularly ask, “What is God calling me to do?”

• You serve even when it’s inconvenient.

• You’re in a small group or have an accountability relationship.

Discussion

1. Purpose Check – If the ultimate purpose of my new life isn’t just being born again, but living for Christ, how clearly is that reflected in my daily priorities right now?

2. Fruit Test – Looking honestly at my life, what “fruit” (Luke 6:43-45) is most evident — and what might be missing that God is calling me to grow in?

3. Cost of Comfort – Where am I tempted to settle for a comfortable, cultural Christianity instead of the sacrificial life of true discipleship?

4. Kingdom Impact – How is my life advancing God’s kingdom in my family, workplace, and community — and where is it still more about my kingdom than His?

5. Next Step – If true Christianity is not just about what I say I believe but how I live, what’s one practical step I can take this week to live out my faith with greater authenticity?

Final Word — Grace That Sends

The gospel isn’t an excuse to sit back; it’s the moment God pulls you out of helplessness and sends you into the world with purpose. When you remember that Jesus died for you when you were at your worst, the natural response is gratitude that shows up in action — speaking the good news and meeting real needs. Salvation isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting line. Go.

The Lordship of Jesus: A Challenge to Comfortable Christianity

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21, NASB1995)

In the comfortable pews of modern Christianity, a dangerous delusion has taken root—one that allows believers to claim Jesus as Savior while keeping Him at arm's length as Lord. This theological sleight of hand has produced what many scholars call  “easy believism”: a shallow understanding of salvation divorced from its inevitable fruit—obedience. When we examine Christ’s own words in Matthew 7:21–27 and Luke 6:46, we encounter a sobering reality that should shake every professing Christian to their core.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Lordship

What Lordship Actually Means

The Greek word kurios, translated as “Lord,” appears no fewer than 474 times in the New Testament, with Acts alone using it 92 times in reference to Jesus. In the ancient world, kurios was not a casual title of respect—it was a political and theological declaration. In the Roman Empire, kurios was reserved for Caesar. To call someone kurios was to acknowledge their sovereign authority over your life, labor, loyalty, and even death.

When the early church proclaimed, “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9), they were making a revolutionary statement that was both spiritual and subversive. They declared that Caesar was not the ultimate authority—Jesus was. This confession meant that the empire’s values—power, wealth, violence, nationalism—were subordinate to the Kingdom of God.

The contradiction today is stark: we sing, “Jesus is Lord” on Sunday mornings while living as functional atheists Monday through Saturday. We say, “Lord, I give You my life,” yet structure our existence around career, comfort, and consumerism. If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.

Lordship means absolute authority over every aspect of life:

• Time: our calendar becomes an altar.

• Money: budgets declare kingdom priorities.

• Relationships: reconciliation overrides retaliation.

• Witness: life is arranged for Gospel opportunities.
  
  

His will supersedes our preferences, His commands override convenience, and His kingdom priorities trump earthly securities.

The Scandal of Selective Discipleship

Modern evangelicalism has propagated the notion that one can accept Jesus as Savior while postponing submission to Him as Lord. This artificial division has no biblical foundation. We have replaced discipleship with decisions, obedience with offerings, and submission with slogans.

Dallas Willard observed: “The idea that you can have Jesus as Savior but not as Lord is a fiction that has wrecked the spiritual lives of millions. It is like saying you can have a marriage without commitment, or a job without work.”

This selective discipleship has created three devastating counterfeits:

1. Confessionalism without compliance: doctrinal accuracy without ethical obedience is lawlessness (Matthew 7:23).

2. Platform over submission: celebrating gifts or growth rather than quiet, consistent obedience.

3. Consultant Christianity: submitting only when it costs little, treating Jesus as an advisor rather than King.

Biblical Evidence: Words That Won’t Be Ignored

Matthew 7:21–27: The Great Divide

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

The repetition “Lord, Lord” suggests urgent, desperate appeal. Yet Jesus declares that verbal confession—even passionate religious expression—is insufficient.

He continues: “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22–23)

The Greek word ginosko (translated “knew”) implies intimate, experiential knowledge—not merely intellectual awareness. These were people engaged in supernatural ministry, yet they remained “workers of lawlessness”—people living in rebellion against God’s authority.

The takeaways are shocking:

• Confession alone does not save.

• Religious activity cannot substitute for obedience.

• Authentic faith is always manifested in doing God’s will.

This passage demolishes the comfortable notion that salvation is a transaction securing a ticket to heaven while leaving present life unchanged. Entrance into the kingdom is only for those who obey the Father.

Luke 6:46: The Question That Demands an Answer

"Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46)

Luke highlights habitual disobedience. This is not about perfection—every believer struggles—but about the fundamental orientation of life. The truest measure of what you believe about Jesus is what you do next.

The parable of the wise and foolish builders (Luke 6:47–49) reinforces the principle: both hear Christ’s words, but only one builds on the rock. Lordship requires excavation—removing self-rule, convenience, and applause—and pouring obedience as bedrock beneath every part of life.

Consumption is not transformation. Sermons don’t make disciples—obedience does.

The Church’s Comfortable Rebellion

The Seduction of Cultural Christianity

Contemporary Christianity has been seduced by cultural accommodation and therapeutic theology. The gospel is often repackaged as a life-enhancer rather than a life-transformer. We offer Jesus as an addition to our agenda rather than the complete replacement of it.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously warned against “cheap grace”—forgiveness without repentance, salvation without cost, discipleship without discipline. Today, many churches have become hearing-heavy, application-light, assuming exposure produces maturity.

Evidence in the Church

Practical atheism among self-identified Christians is sobering:

• Divorce rates similar to non-Christians

• Pornography and sexual sin at comparable levels

• Financial generosity indistinguishable from secular society

This is not to suggest Christians must be perfect—but it raises the question: if the Spirit dwells within, why is life fundamentally unchanged? True faith always bears fruit.

The Grace That Trains

Understanding Grace and Obedience

Critics argue lordship theology adds works to faith. Scripture maintains a balance:

• Saved by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8–9)

• Yet faith works through love (Galatians 5:6)

• We are saved unto good works (Ephesians 2:10)

Dallas Willard clarifies: “Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.” Grace removes earning as the way to God; it fuels effort in obedience.

Titus 2:11–12:  "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives."

Lordship is not the fee for salvation—it is the fruit of it.

Toward Radical Recovery: Building on Bedrock

1. Repent of False Allegiances

We must confess where we have made other things lord: careers, comfort, political tribes. Bonhoeffer wrote: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” The death is daily—autonomy, self-justification, curated image.

2. Reform Church Culture

Redefine success around obedience outcomes:

• Accountable community: Small groups focused on action, not just discussion

• Practice-based teaching: Each sermon names a concrete step; follow-up asks, “Did you do it?”

• Obedience measures: Wins = baptisms + obedience stories (forgiveness offered, idols surrendered, enemies loved)

3. Revolutionize Daily Life

Lordship grows through Spirit-empowered habits:

Daily:

• Kneel-and-yield prayer: “Jesus, You lead; I follow”

• Scripture before screen time

• One concrete obedience step

Weekly:

• Sabbath rest

• Planned Gospel opportunity (hospitality/service)

• Confession with another believer

Monthly:

• Budget audit: “Where did my treasure go?”

• Relationship audit: “Who needs reconciliation?”

• Serve the vulnerable

Faith is built stone by stone; small, consistent obedience is the mortar.

The Storm Is Coming

Jesus ends His sermon with a warning: storms will come. When they hit, only one thing matters: whether we built on obedience as bedrock.

The rock is not:

• A prayer prayed

• A church attended

• A title claimed

The rock is doing what Jesus says: loving enemies, giving to the poor, forgiving, storing treasures in heaven, seeking first the Kingdom, denying self, taking up the cross.

Many will confidently approach the throne claiming Jesus as Lord, only to hear: “I never knew you; depart from me.” Don’t let cultural Christianity rob you of authentic salvation.

Start today:

• Say “yes” to Jesus before knowing the assignment.

• Obey the first clear command in the Gospels you encounter.

• Tell a trusted friend and ask them to follow up.

The narrow gate demands everything—pride, autonomy, cherished sins, comfort. Small daily deaths produce life, peace, and eternal security.

Conclusion

One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess: Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10–11). For those who call Him Lord now, by doing the will of the Father, there is joy in living under the rule of the One who loves perfectly. The storm is coming—build on the rock.

Key Takeaway: Lordship is non-negotiable: Jesus is Lord of all, or He is Lord of none

Discussion Questions

1. Alignment Check: In what areas of your life are you truly submitting to Jesus’ authority, and where are you still keeping Him at arm’s length?
   
   

2. Obedience Audit: Reflecting on Matthew 7:21–23, where have you experienced a gap between religious activity or good intentions and genuine obedience to God’s will?
   
   

3. Everyday Lordship: How do your daily choices—time, money, relationships, and priorities—demonstrate (or contradict) that Jesus is Lord over all of life?
   
   

4. Cultural Christianity vs. Radical Discipleship: Where might you be settling for comfort, convenience, or the approval of others instead of living in costly, Spirit-empowered obedience?
   
   

5. Next Step Challenge: What is one concrete step you can take this week to surrender an area of your life to Jesus’ lordship and build your spiritual foundation on the rock?

Jesus’ teaching in Luke 14 is startling: he warns that following him comes with a real cost. He told the crowd that a life in his service “includes a cost,” and that allegiance to him will make all other relationships seem secondary. In practical terms, Jesus urges would-be disciples to count the cost: like a builder planning a tower or a king assessing his troops, one must be sure they can finish the commitment. In Luke’s account, Jesus speaks bluntly – even saying a disciple must “hate” family and self in comparison to loving him – not to promote literal hatred but to stress that nothing must come before loyalty to Christ. This teaching is not about cheap sentiment; it is a call to deep, concrete sacrifice.

The Call to Count the Cost

Luke 14:25–33 lays out three key demands for Jesus’ followers. First, total allegiance: Jesus uses shocking language (“hate one’s father and mother... one’s wife and children... even one’s own life” in the passage) to show that no earthly tie can come before commitment to him. As the Working Preacher commentary explains, this hyperbole highlights “the seriousness of taking the journey with him. In practice it means putting Christ above family and self-interests.

Second, cross-bearing: Jesus says, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). In first-century terms this meant being willing to die for Christ. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it, “When Christ calls a person, he bids him come and die” – dying to the old self so a new life in Christ can begin. Carrying the cross means accepting suffering or even martyrdom, not clinging to safety.

Third, renouncing possessions: Jesus warns that one must be ready to give up all belongings if necessary. He compares discipleship to a builder and a king: a person wouldn’t start building a tower without first ensuring they have enough to finish it, and a king won’t launch an attack unless he knows he has sufficient forces (Luke 14:28–32). In other words, following Christ must not be entered into half-heartedly or on credit – one must be prepared to “give up all that he has”.

• Absolute loyalty. Jesus’ “hate family” image underscores that Jesus must come first – above even the most cherished earthly relationships.
  
  

• Cross-bearing. Disciples are called to carry their own cross (daily sacrifices and trials) because following Jesus may lead to suffering or death.
  
  

• Counted commitment. He uses parables of building and war to insist we calculate the cost before committing (tower-builder and king with armies).
  
  

• Forsaking all. A genuine disciple is willing to surrender possessions and security, recognizing that Christ’s cause is worth more than any earthly wealth.

Together, these demands make clear that discipleship is not casual or convenient. As one commentator notes, in Jesus’ day “it really did cost something” to follow a crucified Messiah, and Jesus wanted listeners to know exactly what was at stake.

Bonhoeffer’s Insight: Cheap Grace vs. Costly Grace

German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer unpacked this teaching in his classic book The Cost of Discipleship. He warned against “cheap grace” – a grace that costs us nothing – and contrasted it with “costly grace”, the true Gospel call. Cheap grace, he writes, is “the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance... baptism without church discipline... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross”. In short, cheap grace lets us “have Christ” without any real change in life.

By contrast, costly grace demands everything. Bonhoeffer describes it as the treasure hidden in a field or the pearl of great price: one gladly sells all to obtain it. Costly grace is “the gospel which must be sought again and again” and it is costly precisely “because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ” – even to the point of giving up one’s life, which paradoxically brings true life. In other words, grace costs us our old life, but it gives us new life in Christ.

This theme echoes Jesus’ own words in Luke 9:23, and Bonhoeffer emphasizes it: “The call of Christ… sets the Christian in the middle of the daily arena against sin and the devil. Every day he must suffer anew for Jesus Christ’s sake,” and the scars of those struggles become “living tokens of this participation in the cross of his Lord”. In Bonhoeffer’s view, to follow Jesus is to count the cost of denying self and old desires. As he bluntly put it, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die”– not to glorify suffering, but to allow Christ to transform and use us.

Bonhoeffer himself lived out this costly discipleship. He openly resisted the Nazi regime (arguing on the radio against Hitler’s dictatorship), joined efforts to overthrow Hitler, and was arrested in 1943. He spent years in Nazi prisons, counseling other inmates, and in April 1945 – just weeks before liberation – the 39-year-old theologian was hanged in a concentration camp. His final words were, “This is the end—for me, the beginning of life.”. Bonhoeffer’s life and writings (including The Cost of Discipleship) profoundly illustrate that true grace often comes at a high price, but it also brings true life.

Stories of Sacrifice from the Church

For many believers around the world, Jesus’ words have meant suffering and even death. The early Church saw this: the first martyr, Stephen (Acts 7), was stoned for witnessing about Jesus. In church history, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (a 16th-century classic) records countless Christians – in England and elsewhere – who were burned or executed for refusing to renounce Christ. These stories remind us that “the cost is real” for those who follow Jesus. Even today, ministries like Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) collect testimonies of believers who pay a price for faith. Their newsletter has recounted Christians being evicted from villages, having arms and legs hacked off by machetes, being burned alive, or facing guns to their heads with the demand “Renounce Christ or die.” Yet these believers “held to their faith and died.”. Such accounts are harrowing, but they testify to the unshakable devotion of disciples in hostile places.

Consider one modern example: Richard Wurmbrand was a Lutheran pastor in Communist Romania. He and his wife secretly led an “underground church” and spoke truth to power. In 1948 he was arrested and spent 14 years in prison.  During his confinement he was severely tortured: prison guards broke four vertebrae in his back and burned and cut 18 holes in his body. He spent over two years in a “dying room” for the gravely wounded. Yet Wurmbrand survived, and after his release he founded a ministry (later known as The Voice of the Martyrs) to support fellow Christians under persecution. His story – chronicled in Tortured for Christ – is a vivid example of costly grace lived out in suffering.

These examples underscore a vital point: counting the cost is not theoretical. Discipleship has a price. Cole Richards, president of VOM, reminds us: “To love our Lord is to count the cost of discipleship and consider Him entirely worthy of our faithful obedience, no matter the price and no matter the opposition”.  Believers in many parts of the world indeed face costly opposition, from government prisons to social violence. Their willingness to “carry the cross” in the face of death demonstrates the depth of their faith.

Discipleship in the Western World

In Western countries (North America, Europe, Australia, etc.), Christians generally have religious freedom. We can worship openly, keep Bibles in schools, and live our faith without fearing chains or bullets. By historical standards, Christians in the West have not faced the severe persecution that believers do in much of Asia or Africa. In fact, one observer notes that Western “persecution” often feels like an “advanced stage of cancer: it eats away at you, yet you cannot feel it”.  In other words, hostility here is subtle – cultural pressure, ridicule or discrimination – rather than overt violence.

This comfort can breed complacency. As one writer laments, “Because Western Christians do not face true persecution, our Christianity… is untested”. We may grieve for shrinking cultural influence or lose some freedoms, but in Scripture Jesus still warns all his followers: “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20, NIV). Indeed, 2 Timothy 3:12 says “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. In practice, living for Christ in the West can still carry costs – social, relational and even professional.

Kyle Dunn’s recent article on Western discipleship lists some everyday “costs” we might face:

• Being misunderstood or mocked. Your genuine faith can be mistaken for arrogance or extremism. Asking a coworker about faith or inviting someone to church might be seen as judgmental. Speaking of Jesus to someone in need could backfire socially. Yet sharing the Gospel is the privilege of ambassadors of Christ, even if others misread our motives.
  
  

• Family friction. Loved ones may oppose or distance themselves when you follow Jesus. Conversations about faith might be shut down, or relatives may threaten to cut ties if you don’t stop. These wounds sting and can change family traditions and holidays for years. Pressing on in faith may mean enduring painful strain in relationships.
  
  

• Friendship costs. Choosing holiness can mean skipping parties, leaving early, or opting out of activities with friends. For example, walking away from a late-night drinking session might cost you social time. You’ll practice discernment, possibly losing some shared moments with friends to honor your commitments to God.
  
  

• Workplace pressures. At your job, standing by biblical ethics can have consequences. Refusing a morally dubious expense account, declining to gossip, or skipping after-work events because of values might slow career advancement or raise eyebrows. Sometimes like missionaries, we are embraced at work for doing the right thing, and sometimes we are pushed aside.
  
  

• Romantic sacrifices. Choosing whom to date may mean turning down attractive, fun people if they do not share your faith. Walking away from a promising romance because the other person doesn’t honor Christ is a sizable cost, but it protects your commitment and heart.
  
  

These are not martyrdom, but they are real costs. In the West, the enemy often attacks through culture and opinion rather than chains. News media, academia, or even laws may pressure Christians to remain silent, avoid certain topics, or compromise convictions. This “soft persecution” can erode faith if unchecked. It echoes the warning of Hebrews: “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”. In other words, we should expect friction and stay faithful.

Without dramatic trials, it can be tempting to drift into cheap grace: thinking of Christ casually or using Christian identity as a hobby rather than a life. But Jesus’ words in Luke 14 remind us that discipleship is fundamentally the same call, even if the context is different. We too must count the cost: What in my life threatens to become more important than Christ? What “nets” might I have to leave behind? What personal “idols” must die?

Carrying the Cross

Ultimately, the “cost” of discipleship is not a burden we bear in vain. Jesus promises that following him – even to the point of loss or suffering – leads to true life. He said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24). The scars and struggles of faithful living become, as Bonhoeffer said, “living tokens” of sharing in Christ’s cross. The New Testament assures us that those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed (Matthew 5:11–12), and Revelation honors the martyrs in God’s presence.

As we embrace this calling, we can remember Paul’s testimony: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Every trial endured for Jesus is a seed sown in eternal harvest. We are not alone in this path: “Jesus is counting”—he sees our sacrifices, understands our pains, and promises a reward. Our suffering is finite, but following Christ leads to everlasting life. As VOM’s Cole Richards reminds us, we love the Lord best when we recognize him as “entirely worthy of our faithful obedience, no matter the price”.

Discipleship is hard. But in response to this call, many believers have found a profound purpose: “It is a privilege to represent Jesus, to carry light into dark places… Christ might be glorified”. Let us consider the cost honestly, pray for courage, and keep our eyes on the joy that awaits those who follow Christ all the way.

Discussion Questions:

1. What might Jesus’ command to “hate” one’s family mean for you today? How can love for Christ be greater than the love of family in healthy ways?
   
   

2. Can you think of a time when following Jesus felt like it cost you something important? How did you respond?
   
   

3. How do Bonhoeffer’s ideas of “cheap grace” versus “costly grace” challenge your own understanding of grace?
   
   

4. In what ways can a comfortable culture make us lazy or indifferent about discipleship? What are some subtle “costs” of faith in our society?
   
   

5. What might it look like for you to “take up your cross” this week? How can you rely on Christ’s strength in that?

Lesson 6: Hearing God's Voice — Bible & Spirit

John 10:27; Hebrews 4:12; Acts 17:11
A Boy Learning to Listen

The lamp of God had not yet gone out in the temple when young Samuel heard his name in the night. Three times he ran to Eli, certain the old priest had called him. Three times Eli sent him back to bed. Only on the third interruption did Eli realize what was happening—God Himself was calling the boy.

Samuel didn’t know it at first. Scripture says plainly, “Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him” (1 Samuel 3:7). He had to be taught how to respond. Eli’s advice was simple: “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”

Samuel obeyed. When the voice came again, he answered with those words, and that night became the beginning of his prophetic ministry. He didn’t start with special powers—he started by learning to recognize God’s voice.

Samuel’s story reminds us that hearing from God is not automatic, even for those who love Him. It’s something we learn.

The Shepherd Who Speaks

Jesus gives us this incredible promise: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Notice He doesn’t say, “Some sheep” or “The special sheep.” All His sheep hear His voice.

That means hearing God’s voice isn’t for a spiritual elite—it’s the normal expectation of Christian life. Jesus didn’t die and rise again only to forgive our sins. He restored the relationship with God that was lost in Eden. Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden and talked with Him as a friend. Through Christ, that kind of closeness is offered again.

And yet, many Christians live as if God has gone silent. We pray, but don’t expect answers. We read Scripture, but don’t pause to listen for the living voice behind the living Word. The book of Acts shows us a very different pattern.

• Peter received a vision that reshaped the entire mission of the church.
  
  

• Philip was directed to a desert road where he met an Ethiopian ready to hear the gospel.
  
  

• Paul was stopped in his tracks and redirected by the Spirit.
  
  

• Ananias overcame his fear and visited Saul of Tarsus because the Lord spoke.

For the early church, God’s voice was not rare—it was essential. The same God who spoke then still speaks today. The question is not if God is speaking but whether we’ve trained ourselves to listen.

The Primary Voice: God’s Living Word

The most consistent way God speaks is through His Word. Hebrews 4:12 describes Scripture as “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword… able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Notice—it doesn’t say was living and active, but is. Every time we open the Bible, God is able to speak directly into our situation. A verse you’ve read dozens of times may suddenly grip you as if it were written for this very moment. That isn’t coincidence—it’s the Spirit applying God’s Word personally.

But there’s a safeguard: God will never contradict His written Word. Any impression, dream, or “message” that goes against Scripture must be rejected. This is why grounding ourselves in the Bible is non-negotiable. It trains our spiritual ears to know what God sounds like.

Testing What We Hear

The believers in Berea modeled this beautifully. When Paul preached the gospel, they listened eagerly—but then “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

That balance of openness and discernment is vital. God encourages us to be expectant but also careful. True words from the Lord will agree with Scripture, reflect Christ’s character, and produce the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22–23). Messages that stir confusion, fear that drives us from God, or excuses for sin are not from Him.

Discernment is not cynicism—it’s wisdom.

The Many Ways God Speaks

While Scripture is the foundation, God’s Spirit uses many means to guide us:

• Scripture applied personally — A passage comes alive in direct relevance.

• The inner witness of the Spirit — Promptings, convictions, peace, or unrest that direct us.

• The counsel of others — God often confirms His guidance through pastors, mentors, and friends.

• Circumstances — Open doors, closed doors, providential encounters.

• Dreams and visions — Sometimes God breaks in dramatically, as He did with Peter, Paul, and others.

The variety doesn’t mean God is unpredictable; it means He’s personal. He knows how to reach us where we are.

Learning to Discern

Recognizing God’s voice takes practice. Like Samuel, we learn by listening. Here are some practical ways:

1. Immerse yourself in Scripture. Let the Bible set the tone for what God’s voice sounds like.

2. Create quiet space. God’s “still small voice” is often drowned out by noise. Make room for silence.

3. Pray with expectation. Believe Jesus’ promise that His sheep do hear His voice.

4. Test everything. Filter impressions and words through Scripture and godly counsel.

5. Notice the fruit. God’s leading produces love, joy, peace, and holiness—not fear, chaos, or pride.

6. Respond in obedience. God speaks most clearly to hearts ready to act on what He says.

Think about Samuel’s posture: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Listening and obedience go hand in hand.

What God’s Voice Is Like

Over time, you’ll learn the character of God’s voice:

• It aligns with Scripture.

• It reflects Jesus’ compassion and truth.

• It comes with peace, even when the call is hard.

• It humbles rather than inflates.

• It moves us toward love and obedience.

These qualities help us separate God’s leading from our own thoughts or the enemy’s lies.

Growing in Confidence

At first, it can feel uncertain—“Was that God, or just me?” That’s normal. Samuel missed it three times before he recognized the voice of the Lord. With time and practice, God’s voice becomes more familiar.

Like learning a friend’s voice over the phone, recognition comes from repeated encounters. The more you spend time in Scripture, prayer, and obedience, the more naturally you’ll know when the Shepherd is speaking.

The God Who Still Speaks

We do not follow a silent God. He is living, active, and relational. Through His Word and Spirit, He continues to guide, convict, comfort, and direct His people.

Hearing God’s voice is not about chasing mystical experiences—it’s about walking with the Shepherd who promised to lead His sheep. It’s about cultivating a heart that says, “Speak, Lord, I’m listening.”

The question is not whether God is speaking. The real question is: Are we listening?

Discussion Questions

1. Samuel’s story (1 Samuel 3): What does it teach us about learning to recognize God’s voice? Have you ever had someone help you discern God’s leading like Eli did for Samuel?
   
   

2. Hearing God through Scripture: Share a time when the Bible spoke to you personally and directly. How did you know it was God’s voice and not just your own thoughts?
   
   

3. The Berean model (Acts 17:11): How can you put this kind of daily “testing by Scripture” into practice in your own life?
   
   

4. Listening practices: Which of the practical steps for discernment feels most difficult for you—quiet space, testing, obedience, or something else? How could you grow in that area this week?
   
   

5. Confirmation: Think about a time you weren’t sure if God was speaking. What helped bring clarity? How might Scripture, wise counsel, or fruit-testing help you confirm God’s voice today?