The story of the Christian faith is the story of the growth of a plant. A plant starts as a seed, grows roots and breaks the soil as a tender sprout, then develops to bear fruit. The Christian faith grows similarly. It begins with listening to Jesus (the seed is planted), proceeds to following Jesus (faith begins to grow, and finds fulfillment in taking Jesus into the world (faith develops to bear fruit.) To grow from a follower of Jesus to a disciple of Jesus is to grow from receiver to giver. Discipleship is the transformation from consumer of Christ's love to one who shares Christ's love for the blessing of others and that transformation from follower to disciple invites cost.

Jesus was quite clear that discipleship was neither free nor easy. He told his followers in Luke 14:27-33: "Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was notable to finish.' Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." No one can complain that Jesus sugar-coated his invitation to become a disciple. Jesus was clear. Discipleship involves cost.

For most of us discipleship will involve a cost to our pocketbooks. I know that money is not a popular sermon topic; it never has been. John Wesley, prominent in the Methodist tradition, was preaching his famous sermon on stewardship. The first point was "Make All the Money You Can." A well-to-do deacon in the church, said, "Amen!" The second point of Wesley's sermon was "Save All the Money You Can." "Amen," said the deacon, even more emphatically. "And," concluded Wesley, "Give All You Can." The deacon frowned and muttered, "That just spoiled a great sermon."

But considering how much importance we place on money, how can it be ignored when Christian discipleship is begging to be proved. Norman Lucas summarized the four separate levels of Christian giving, four steps to Christian stewardship. A person on the lowest step gives nothing. He says, "My money is mine to do with as I choose." A person on the second step gives what he feels like giving, of what he has left after meeting his own wants and needs. Lucas contends that these first two steps aren't even Christian, that non-Christians do as well. He believes that Christian giving starts at step 3 - regular, systematic, proportionate giving - giving a pre-determined percentage of one's income. This is where the cost of discipleship begins.

But there is a fourth step, a higher level of stewardship still. The fourth step, says Lucas, comes when a person gives not what he can afford, not his fair share, but sacrificially, lovingly, out of a need to express his love and gratitude to God.

He compares these four levels of giving to a woman with four sons. Imagine that a woman's husband dies unexpectedly leaving her elderly, not too well and without much income. After the funeral the woman's four sons meet together privately to decide how their mother is to be cared for.

The oldest son, Carl, is the best off. He has a substantial income and a fine home. But Carl refuses to accept responsibility for the care of his mother. Nor would he contribute anything to her support. "Let her go to the county home," he says.

"No," says the second son Roy, "That wouldn't look good. Mother can come and stay with me for a while." "Fine," say the others. "How long can she stay?" "Two weeks," Roy answers, and adds, "then she's all yours." "Hold on," says the third son, Dave. "The only fair thing is to divide it up. Four of us, thirteen weeks at each of our homes, then we start over. How's that?" It sounded so right to Dave that he was surprised when Carl still wouldn't help at all, and Roy stubbornly held on to his token two weeks.

They all turned to the fourth son, Al, who had been silent so far. "What do you think, Al?” Al smiled, and said: "Everything I have and everything I am I owe to Mother, and I'll tell you frankly, even though you all have more room in your homes than I do, I'd still like to have Mom stay with me as long as she lives. So, let her spend thirteen weeks with Dave, which is his fair share; two weeks with Roy, which is as much as he wants her; and no time with Carl, who can't be bothered. But let Mother spend the rest of the time with me where she will always be welcome.” Which of these four proved to be true sons? The first two appear to be no sons at all. The third, just a grudging and calculating son. The fourth alone ignored share and proportion and simply offered all he had in love and gratitude to the mother who had first loved him and given to him.

Who acts like true sons and daughters of God? Those who close hearts, minds, and pocketbooks to God? Those who give a token to the one who has given all? Those who measure out their fair share? Or are true children of God those who give without counting their share, who give all they can, and give out of love and gratitude, and do so joyfully?

But the cost of discipleship neither starts nor stops with the pocketbook. In fact, sometimes it is easier to write a check for the Lord than it is to spend time with the Lord, or doing the Lord's work. Most churches recognize this by including a Time and Talent commitment at the time of financial pledges. Sadly, while the intent is noble, its practice often falls short of its intent. We have chosen to give Time and Talent its own emphasis in May. But it is mid-year when we experience what was made as an intent six months earlier.

In our busy lives time is precious. How do you determine how much time to give to the Lord? Do you set aside an hour each week for worship? Do you make time in your schedule for growing in faith in Bible study? Do you take time to share with your neighbor the blessings you enjoy as a member of this church? Could an outsider determine by the way you spend your time that you are a disciple of Jesus? Someone has noted that you can tell what a person finds important by reading their checkbook. The same can be said when you read someone’s calendar.

John Maxwell tells a story about the making of parachutes during the Second World War. These parachutes were packed by hand in a tedious, painstaking, repetitive, boring process. The workers crouched over sewing machines and stitched for eight hours every day. The endless line of fabric was the same color. Then they folded, packed and stacked the parachutes. All that was left was for someone to pull the rip cord.

How did they stand it? They stood it because every morning before they began their work, they gathered as a group. One of the managers reminded them that each parachute would save someone's life. They were then asked to think, as they sewed and packed, how they would feel if that parachute was strapped to the back of their son, their father, their brother.

These workers labored sacrificially, unerringly, uncomplainingly, because someone connected what they were doing to a larger picture, to a larger mission that involved the saving of lives.

Our activity this morning of completing financial Estimate of Giving cards, and next May complete Time and Talent sheets may seem tedious, boring, and repetitive. We do it every year. Yet, these acts are marks of a disciple, taking up a cross to serve Christ by serving one another. We call them Consecration Sundays, because in them we consecrate, i.e. set aside for a holy purpose, a portion of our money and time for a larger purpose, a larger mission, which, too, involves the saving of lives. Amen.

May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Amen.