Single lesson
The Cost of Following Jesus
Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–27
These sayings show that following Jesus is serious. In Matthew and Luke, people speak about following him, and Jesus answers with words about hardship, urgency and wholehearted commitment.
Before you teach
In Matthew, Jesus gives an order to depart to the other side, and two conversations follow. In Luke 9, similar sayings appear as they go on the way. In Luke 14, Jesus turns to great multitudes and speaks directly about being his disciple. These settings are presented separately here.
Describe the central teaching of The Cost of Following Jesus, using two details from the reading. Jesus teaches that discipleship may involve insecurity, urgent obedience and undivided commitment to him.
Welcome: The Cost of Following Jesus
4 minIntroduce “The Cost of Following Jesus” and locate Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–27. Jesus teaches that discipleship may involve insecurity, urgent obedience and undivided commitment to him. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Matthew 8:18, Luke 9:59, Luke 14:27
Read and explain the passage
8 minIn Matthew 8:19-20 and Luke 9:57-58, a man says he will follow Jesus wherever he goes. Jesus answers with a picture from everyday life: foxes have holes and birds have nests, yet the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. Following him is not presented as comfort or security.
Luke 9:61-62 adds another conversation. A man wants to follow Jesus, but first to say good-bye to those at his house. Jesus answers with a farming image: a person with a hand on the plough should not keep looking back. The picture points to steady, forward commitment in God’s Kingdom.
In Luke 14:25-27, Jesus turns to great multitudes and speaks plainly about being his disciple. He says a person must disregard even close family and his own life in comparison with coming to Jesus, and must bear his own cross and come after him. The words show the cost is very high.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The Cost of Following Jesus”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Matthew 8:19, Matthew 8:20, Luke 9:57, Luke 9:58, Luke 9:61, Luke 9:62, Luke 14:25, Luke 14:26, Luke 14:27
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What does Jesus’ saying about foxes and birds teach about following him?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Jesus teaches that discipleship may involve insecurity, urgent obedience and undivided commitment to him. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Matthew 8:20, Luke 9:58, Luke 9:59, Luke 9:60, Luke 9:61, Luke 9:62
Make and respond: Read and respond sheet
9 minWork on “The Cost of Following Jesus: Read and respond sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Cost of Following Jesus” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Matthew 8:18, Luke 9:59, Luke 14:27
Closing: return to The Cost of Following Jesus
3 minRevisit Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–27. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Cost of Following Jesus and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Matthew 8:18, Luke 9:59, Luke 14:27
Questions to explore
What does Jesus’ saying about foxes and birds teach about following him?
Look at the contrast between animals having places to stay and the Son of Man having nowhere to lay his head.
Matthew 8:20, Luke 9:58
How does Luke 9 describe the urgency of Jesus’ call?
Notice both parts of Jesus’ reply: “Follow me” and “you go and announce God’s Kingdom.”
Luke 9:59, Luke 9:60
What picture does Jesus use for a person who wants to follow but keeps looking back?
Read the plough image carefully and connect it to Jesus’ words about being fit for God’s Kingdom.
Luke 9:61, Luke 9:62
Make, think or respond
The Cost of Following Jesus: Read and respond sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A key statement”, “A supporting detail”, “A question to discuss”.
- Read Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–27. Use “The Cost of Following Jesus” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Write one sentence explaining the passage, using a detail from your sheet as evidence.
The finished sheet keeps the details of The Cost of Following Jesus connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use The Cost of Following Jesus as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between The Cost of Following Jesus and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–27. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 8
18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side.
19 A scribe came and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
21 Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Luke 9
57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.”
58 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59 He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
60 But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.”
61 Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.”
Luke 14
25 Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them,
26 “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.
27 Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross and come after me, can’t be my disciple.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.