This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Luke 14:25-34, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
That time, lots of people followed Jesus around. They wanted to learn from Him and hear what He had to say.
Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “If you want to be my follower, you must love me more than anyone else in the world. That means even more than your mom, dad, sister, brother, or anyone else you love. If you want to be my disciple, you must be willing to carry your own cross and follow me.”
Jesus told a story about a person who wanted to build a tall tower. Before they started building, they thought carefully about how much it would cost and if they could finish it. Jesus explained that if someone starts building without thinking about the cost, they might run out of money and not be able to finish. Then, everyone would laugh at them for starting something they couldn’t complete.
Jesus also told another story about a king who was going to battle against another king. Before going to battle, the first king thought carefully about how many soldiers he had and how many soldiers the other king had. He realized he only had ten thousand soldiers while the other king had twenty thousand soldiers. He knew that he didn’t have enough soldiers to win the battle, so he made peace with the other king instead of fighting.
Jesus said, “If you want to be my disciple, you must be willing to give up everything you have and focus on following me. That way, you’ll be ready to do what I ask you to do.”
Biblical Lessons
- Following Jesus means putting Him above everything else, even our family and possessions.
- Being a disciple of Jesus means being willing to sacrifice for Him and carry our own cross.
- Before we start something, we should think carefully about the cost and if we can finish it.
- It’s important to be wise and make good decisions, even if it means making peace instead of fighting.
- We should be willing to give up everything we have in order to follow Jesus.
Related Stories
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Must-Read Christian Books
Mere Christianity
Lewis lays out the core beliefs of the Christian faith with clarity, logic, and imagination, rooted in Scripture.
View on Amazon
Holiness
A rich, pastoral treatment of sin, sanctification, and the fight for holiness in the Christian life, deeply rooted in Scripture.
View on Amazon
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Practical, biblical guidance on disciplines like prayer, Bible intake, worship, and fasting to grow in godliness.
View on Amazon
Systematic Theology
A classic Reformed theology text, rich in biblical exegesis and doctrinal clarity.
View on Amazon
A Call to Spiritual Reformation
Walks through Paul's prayers to teach believers how to pray biblically and God-centeredly.
View on Amazon
The Discipline of Grace
Shows how God's grace and our disciplined effort work together in sanctification.
View on Amazon
Overcoming Sin and Temptation
A classic Puritan work on mortifying sin and living in the power of the Spirit.
View on Amazon
God's Big Picture
Traces the storyline of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in a clear, Christ-centered way.
View on Amazon
The Attributes of God
Devotional meditations on God's character that stir reverence and worship.
View on Amazon
A Body of Divinity
A warm, devotional exposition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism's doctrines.
View on Amazon
The Hospitality Commands
Shows from Scripture how vital hospitality is to Christian obedience and fellowship.
View on Amazon
Total Truth
Equips believers to see all of life through a biblical worldview and challenge secular thinking.
View on Amazon
The Universe Next Door
Surveys competing worldviews and contrasts them with the Christian view of reality.
View on Amazon
Christ of the Covenants
Explains the biblical covenants and how they reveal Christ and God's plan of redemption.
View on Amazon
Operation World
A prayer handbook with up-to-date information on nations and their gospel needs.
View on Amazon
Idols of the Heart
Helps believers identify and repent of heart-idols through the lens of Scripture.
View on Amazon
This Momentary Marriage
Shows how marriage is designed to display the covenant love of Christ and His church.
View on Amazon