The Real Cost | Rick Bezet | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

The Real Cost

Union Church • May 5, 2025 • 42 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In 'The Real Cost,' Pastor Rick Bezet challenges believers to evaluate what it truly means to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. True discipleship requires daily commitment, total surrender, and radical authenticity rather than seeking spiritual bargains or lukewarm compromise. When we understand the immense sacrifice Jesus made for us, we are empowered to live honestly in community and reclaim our spiritual edge.

Themes

DiscipleshipSurrenderAuthentic FaithCommunity & AccountabilityConviction vs CondemnationSpiritual Restoration

Pastor's Points

1.

The cost doesn't look for a bargain.

2.

The cost is daily, not one moment in time.

3.

The cost doesn't attempt to negotiate.

4.

The cost is authentically studied.

Key Points

1.
The cost doesn't look for a bargain.
2.
The cost is daily, not one moment in time.
3.
The cost doesn't attempt to negotiate.
4.
The cost is authentically studied.
5.
True spiritual healing occurs within authentic Christian community, as confessing sins to God brings forgiveness while confessing to others brings healing.
6.
To properly measure the cost of discipleship, believers must first grasp the immense price Jesus paid on the cross.
7.
Jesus demands our supreme devotion, requiring all other earthly relationships and personal desires to take second place to Him.
8.
God detests lukewarm, comfortable Christianity and calls His people to passionate, wholehearted surrender.
9.

Sermon Moments

“You confess your sins to God, he'll forgive you. But if you confess your sins one to another, you'll be healed. We have a lot of forgiven people who are very sick because they're all alone.”

“There's a cost to being faithful to God and doing devotions every day. But what maybe you've never considered is there's a cost not to.”

“When you're cold, you have an intense desire to be warm again. But when you're lukewarm, you're satisfied. You like where you are and you just settle there.”

“Holy Spirit conviction draws you to the father. Condemnation tries to leave you there to die.”

“Where did you lose it? Let's pick up our edge and start swinging again for Jesus.”

This Week

Establish a daily habit of prayer and Scripture reading to feed your faith every day rather than relying solely on Sunday services.

Find a trusted Christian friend or small group leader with whom you can share your real struggles and experience spiritual healing.

Examine your life for areas where you are attempting to drive a bargain with God or settle for lukewarm Christianity.

Identify any area where you have begun negotiating with God instead of yielding total obedience to His will.

Learn to recognize the difference between Holy Spirit conviction and Satanic condemnation, choosing to run toward God when you stumble.

Be completely honest with your family or spouse about your flaws, seeking forgiveness and genuine reconciliation when you fall short.

Return to the exact place where you feel you lost your spiritual edge, get honest with God, and ask Him to restore your passion for serving Him.

Remember This

Following Jesus requires daily surrender, complete authenticity, and counting the true cost of discipleship without compromise or negotiation.

A Challenge for You

Journey back to the place where you lost your spiritual edge, get honest with God, pick up your edge, and start swinging again for Jesus.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.