Missed Calls |Pt.2| The Cost of True Discipleship

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Church On The Rock Nashville (COTRN) Show Notes Date: May 4, 2025 Series: Missed Calls (Week 2) Title: The Cost of True Discipleship Speaker: Pastor Nick Birmingham Text: Matthew 19:16-22 (Focus: 19:20-22)

Opening:

• Acknowledgment of those serving in various roles (Worship Team, Kids Workers, etc.).
• Continuation of the "Missed Calls" series.
• Relatable examples of missed phone calls and their varying importance (boss, spouse, mom).
• Phone calls that evoke anxiety (potential bad news).
• The fast-paced nature of life and its potential to distract us.
• Introduction to the topic: The cost of true discipleship.
• Discipleship is challenging and often requires letting go of comfort and security.
• The process of spiritual growth involves new levels and new challenges.

Scripture Reading and Context: Matthew 19:16-22

• The encounter with the rich young ruler.
• The young man's seemingly successful and put-together life (ages 20-40, successful – "30 under 30" analogy).
• Despite achievements, something was missing – the feeling of "what do I still lack?"
• This moment is a spiritual crossroads for the young man and for us.
• The passage is not just about giving away possessions but about what those possessions represented – his identity.
• As Christ followers, Christ must come first.

Key Point 1: The Honesty of Self Examination (Verse 20)

• The young man's question: "All these I have kept, what do I still lack?"
• How often do we, as Christ followers, truly assess our lives?
• This wasn't a test from Jesus, but a genuine inquiry from the young man who desired eternal life (the kingdom of God).
• He had taken an assessment of his life.
• While it might seem haughty that he claimed to have kept all the commandments, it was not uncommon in the wisdom literature of the day for people to believe they had followed the law to the letter.
• Obedience to the law hadn't satisfied him; he sensed a lack.
• Many people in the world fill their lives with things but remain miserable, never stopping to assess why.
• This young man looked inward and challenged himself.
• Connection to FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) – the anxiety of missing an opportunity.
  • Urban Dictionary definition provided.
  • Suggestion that the worldly perversion of FOMO might have a Godly origin – a fear of missing out on what God has for us, missing the display of His glory.
  • The young man might have been worried about missing out on the kingdom of heaven.
• It takes courage to embark on self-examination.
• True success starts with an honest evaluation of our gaps, not just