24/05/2026
Morning Service | May 24, 2026
BUT FIRST CHRISTIANS
Matthew 8:18–22:Luke 9:57–62
Pastpr Jayco Cruz
Three kinds of people who wanted to follow Christ
The cost only makes sense when we see the worth of Christ.
Colossians 1:15-18
He is preeminent in His person.
He is preeminent in His words.
He is preeminent in His works.
He is preeminent in His beauty.
He is preeminent in His compassion.
He is preeminent in His authority.
He is preeminent in His saving work.
A person can be near Christ, impressed by Christ, attracted to Christ, even speak words of commitment to Christ and still not truly follow Christ.
What keeps people from truly following Christ?
We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
John 10:27
I. THE FIRST MAN: THE FOLLOWER WHO LOVED COMFORT
Matthew 8:18–20
Are you married or just dating?
The church is not a building.
The church is You and me.
So if Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, we cannot treat the church casually.
Comfort is anything we protect because we believe life is unbearable without it.
There is a difference between a tourist and a soldier.
A tourist asks, “Is the place comfortable?”
A soldier asks, “What is the mission?”
A tourist asks, “What are the amenities?”
A soldier asks, “Where does my commander want?
A tourist complains when the trip is hard. A soldier expects hardship because he is under orders.
Christ Must Be More Precious Than Comfort
Will you follow Christ when obedience is uncomfortable?
II. THE SECOND MAN: THE FOLLOWER WHO HAS CONCERNS
Matthew 8:21–22
Security is the thing we trust to make us feel safe apart from Christ.
Christ Must Be More Precious Than Your Concerns
What is your “let me first”?
Matthew 6:33
III. THE THIRD MAN: THE FOLLOWER WHO LOVED CONNECTIONS
Luke 9:61–62, Matthew 10:37, Luke 17:32-33
A rival relationship is any relationship whose approval matters more to us than Christ’s command.
In fact, when we love Christ first, we can love family better.
We thank God for fellowship.
We thank God for friends.
We thank God for family in church.
But our deepest reason for following must be Christ Himself.
Christ Must Be More Precious Than Relationships
Why follow Christ?
So what keeps people from Christ?
Sometimes comfort.
Sometimes security.
Sometimes relationships.
Let us not be “Lord, but first” Christians.
Let us be Christ-centered disciples.
