2025.03.23 | What If Following Jesus Cost You Everything?
This blog is based on the sermon from March 23, 2025.
I’ll be honest… when I first started following Jesus, I never really thought about the cost. I knew faith meant commitment, but I pictured it as a beautiful, peaceful journey… not something that would invite resistance. But the deeper I grew in my faith, the more I realized: a life centered on Jesus stands out.
And standing out isn’t always easy.
In Matthew 14, we read about John the Baptist: bold, unwavering, completely sold out for the Kingdom. He spoke the truth, no matter the cost. And the cost? His life. Herod had him imprisoned, and eventually, John was beheaded. All because he refused to compromise his faith.
That story shakes me.
I may not face that kind of persecution, but it makes me ask:
Am I living my faith so boldly that people notice?
Or am I blending in, staying quiet when it’s easier, avoiding opposition at all costs?
Because here’s the thing… Kingdom ministry always commands attention. When we truly follow Jesus, it changes everything. Our priorities shift. Our values become countercultural. And yes, sometimes that means facing pushback.
But John’s story doesn’t end in tragedy. His life wasn’t wasted. It pointed to something greater. His mission was always about beholding Jesus, preparing the way for the One who would bring true salvation. And when his disciples heard of his death, where did they go? Straight to Jesus.
That challenges me.
When life gets hard, when I feel resistance, when I wrestle with my own doubts…
Do I run to Jesus first?
Or do I run to comfort, to distractions, to the opinions of others?
John the Baptist lived with a Kingdom Mindset… and that’s what I want too!
A faith that’s bold, unshakable, completely dependent on Jesus.
So I’m asking myself today (and maybe you can too): Am I living in a way that reflects Jesus so clearly that people notice?
And if opposition comes because of it… will I still say He’s worth it?
And standing out isn’t always easy.
In Matthew 14, we read about John the Baptist: bold, unwavering, completely sold out for the Kingdom. He spoke the truth, no matter the cost. And the cost? His life. Herod had him imprisoned, and eventually, John was beheaded. All because he refused to compromise his faith.
That story shakes me.
I may not face that kind of persecution, but it makes me ask:
Am I living my faith so boldly that people notice?
Or am I blending in, staying quiet when it’s easier, avoiding opposition at all costs?
Because here’s the thing… Kingdom ministry always commands attention. When we truly follow Jesus, it changes everything. Our priorities shift. Our values become countercultural. And yes, sometimes that means facing pushback.
But John’s story doesn’t end in tragedy. His life wasn’t wasted. It pointed to something greater. His mission was always about beholding Jesus, preparing the way for the One who would bring true salvation. And when his disciples heard of his death, where did they go? Straight to Jesus.
That challenges me.
When life gets hard, when I feel resistance, when I wrestle with my own doubts…
Do I run to Jesus first?
Or do I run to comfort, to distractions, to the opinions of others?
John the Baptist lived with a Kingdom Mindset… and that’s what I want too!
A faith that’s bold, unshakable, completely dependent on Jesus.
So I’m asking myself today (and maybe you can too): Am I living in a way that reflects Jesus so clearly that people notice?
And if opposition comes because of it… will I still say He’s worth it?
I’d love to hear your thoughts! How has following Jesus challenged or changed you? Drop a comment below. Let’s walk this out together.
Want to dive deeper into this message? Watch the full sermon here:
Want to dive deeper into this message? Watch the full sermon here:
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Archive
2026
January
February
March
2026.03.01 | I’ve Been Around Jesus My Whole Life, But My Picture of Him Was Too Small 2026.03.08 | I Didn’t Realize How Distracted I’d Become at Church2026.03.15 | When the Leaves Look Good but the Fruit Is Missing2026.03.22 | Watching My Kids Helped Me Understand the Two Sons2026.03.29 | The Stewardship of the "Vineyard"
April
May
2026.05.03 | I Told Myself I’d Serve When Life Slowed Down2026.05.10 | I Finally Understood What Wholehearted Love Looks Like. I Was Holding It.2026.05.17 | I Keep Running Into This Question, and I'm Running Out of Reasons to Ignore It.2026.05.24 | I’ve Been Trying to Impress God for Years. I’m Tired.
June
2026.05.31 | I've Always Assumed Global Mission Was for a Certain Kind of Person.2026.06.07 | I Know the Gospel. I Just Don't Talk About It Much Anymore.2026.06.14 | I've Been Searching for Something. I Think Sunday Told Me What It Is.2026.06.21 | I've Been Running on Empty for a While. Sunday Gave Me Something to Hold Onto.2026.06.28 | I Keep Praying for Stability. Maybe I Should Be Praying for Something Else.
2025
August
2025.01.26 | The Sower, the Seed, and the Soil2025.02.02 | Growing in God’s Kingdom2025.02.09 | When Small Things Become Something Big2025.02.16 | A Call to Faith and Hope2025.02.23 | Finding the Ultimate Treasure2025.03.02 | Finding My Worth in Christ2025.03.09 | Are You Living with Eternity in Mind?2025.03.16 | Are We Missing What’s Right in Front of Us?2025.03.23 | What If Following Jesus Cost You Everything?2025.03.30 | When What You Have Feels Like Not Enough2025.04.06 | When the Storm Feels Bigger Than Your Savior
September
2025.05.04 | When Jesus Wants More Than Just Our Sundays2025.05.11 | When Jesus Shows You Your Heart2025.05.18 | Faith That Won’t Let Go: At Home and Around the World2025.04.27 | When Following Rules Isn't Enough2025.04.20 | Alive. Free. Loved. With Jesus.2025.04.13 | When the Wind Hit My Face2025.05.25 | Loaves, Fish, and a Full Calendar: Why I’m Still Saying Yes to Jesus2025.08.17 | What Must I Do to Be Saved?2025.08.03 | Faithfulness When It Hurts2025.06.08 | When Obedience Makes Things Awkward... Not Easier2025.07.27 | When God Redirects You, Trust Him2025.08.10 | Finding Freedom in the Midnight Hour: A Journey Through Fear and Faith2025.08.24 | Hope in Hard Seasons2025.08.31 | Grace That Gathers Us2025.09.07 | The Sign That’s Already Enough2025.08.24 | Childlike Faith, Public Love: Ryder and Brady’s Baptism at Hope2025.09.14 | When the Headlines Overwhelm, Remember God’s Track Record2025.09.21 | Who Do You Say Jesus Is?2025.07.20 | You Were Made for This2025.07.13 | I Thought I Wasn’t Ready… Until I Realized Jesus Already Called Me2025.07.06 | Not Flashy, But Faithful: A Tribute to the Barnabases at Hope2025.06.29 | Learning to Just Point to Jesus2025.06.22 | The Church Is Full of People Who Don’t Belong — And That’s the Point2025.06.15 | Living Faith That Puts Others First2025.06.01 | When Bold Faith Feels Costly
October
December
2025.11.16 | Kingdom Greatness: Learning Humility and Dependence from a Child2025.11.09 | The Sons Are Free — Yet Jesus Paid It All2025.11.02 | He Died for Me2025.12.07 | The Hard Gift of Correction: Why Humility Is the Key to Freedom2025.11.30 | Found & Forever Loved: Why God's Pursuit Changes Everything2025.11.23 | Freedom Found in Facing the Truth2025.12.14 | The Heirlooms of Hurt2025.12.28 | The Table of Enough: Learning to Trust the Daily Allowance2025.12.21 | I’m No Angel, But I Have a Message
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