Series Synopsis

Jesus said in Luke 14:33, “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” This all-consuming message of the gospel is offensive to the world because the world by nature hates Christ (John 15:18). The gospel demands surrender, repentance, and loyalty to the Lord. But in efforts to make the gospel more palatable to the masses who hate Christ, multitudes who would consider themselves evangelical are now suffering from severe spiritual starvation. The compromises once thought to make Christianity more winsome—such as making faith solely about a positive relationship with God—have created entire generations of so-called evangelicals who have no understanding that following Christ is costly. The gospel has become a means to self-esteem instead of being crucified with Christ. In this series from John 15 and 16, Steve takes a detailed look at the true price of being a follower of Christ. The grace of God is free, but the decision to follow Christ means renouncing all you have.

Sermons in this Series

July 21, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 1: Easy-Believism Exposed

John 15-16 • Steve Swartz

July 28, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 2: The Scriptural Foundation of a Costly Faith

John 15-16; Selected Scriptures • Steve Swartz

August 4, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 3: The Cost of Fatherly Discipline

John 15:1-3 • Steve Swartz

August 11, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 4: The Cost of Committed Perseverance

John 15:4-6 • Steve Swartz

August 25, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 5: The Cost of Fruitful Prayer

John 15:7-8 • Steve Swartz

September 1, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 6: The Cost of Unconditional Obedience

John 15:9-11 • Steve Swartz

September 8, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 7: The Cost of Sacrificial Love

John 15:12-15 • Steve Swartz

September 15, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 8: The Cost of Gospel Mission

John 15:16-17 • Steve Swartz

September 22, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 9: The Cost of Hateful Persecution

John 15:18-25 • Steve Swartz

October 6, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 10: The Cost of Total Rejection

John 15:26-16:4 • Steve Swartz

October 13, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 11: The Cost of Gospel Defense

John 16:4b-11 • Steve Swartz

October 20, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 12: The Cost of Scriptural Loyalty

John 16:12-15 • Steve Swartz

November 3, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 13: The Cost of Current Sorrow

John 16:16-24 • Steve Swartz

November 10, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 14: The Cost of Heartbreaking Humbling

John 16:25-32 • Steve Swartz

November 17, 2019

Costly Christianity, Part 15: The Reward of Following Christ

John 16:33 • Steve Swartz