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Following Christ is not about comfort, reputation, or convenience. It is a call to die to self and surrender everything to Him.

Teaching from Luke 14, Dr. Jonathan Youssef unpacks Jesus’ hard words about discipleship: loving Him above family, possessions, ambitions, and even self. To carry the cross means yielding every area of life to Christ’s sovereign rule and following Him regardless of the cost.

Dr. Youssef also warns against false conversion and an easy-believe-ism that produces no transformed life. Genuine discipleship counts the cost, renounces competing loyalties, and follows Jesus with wholehearted obedience.

This episode calls listeners to:

• Examine whether their faith is genuine,
• Repent of compromise and divided loyalty,
• Put Christ above comfort, possessions, and reputation,
• Take up the cross and die to selfish ambition,
• Follow Jesus with complete surrender,
• Intercede for a world in need of true disciples.

True discipleship is costly—but Jesus Christ is worthy of everything.

Scripture Focus: Luke 14:25-35

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Jonathan Edwards once said, “True legacy consists not of what we leave behind, but of what we instill in others.”

That’s an important reminder, especially when we think about money and inheritance. All of us have a natural desire to provide for the people we love. Whether it’s our children, grandchildren, or others God has entrusted to our care, we want to leave them in a better position than we were.

That’s a good desire. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”

But Scripture encourages us to think about inheritance as more than simply transferring money or assets. What we pass on also includes wisdom, character, faith, and an understanding of what it means to steward what God provides. Because wealth without wisdom can become more of a burden than a blessing.

Proverbs 20:21 warns, “An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.” The goal, then, isn’t simply to transfer assets. It’s to prepare the next steward.

Our heirs aren’t merely future recipients. They will become managers of resources that ultimately belong to God. And that changes the way we think about legacy.

Throughout Scripture, inheritance is connected to both identity and responsibility.

In the Old Testament, land wasn’t simply property. It was connected to family, covenant, and the responsibility to faithfully steward what God had entrusted to His people. Families didn’t merely receive something. They were entrusted with something.

The same principle applies to us. If we pass on wealth without preparing the heart, we may leave the next generation with resources they aren’t prepared to steward wisely. But when we invest in their spiritual formation, teach them biblical principles of stewardship, and point them toward God as their ultimate Provider, wealth can remain what it was always meant to be: a tool.

So how can we prepare the next steward?

Long before the next generation receives anything from you, they are learning from you.

More is often caught than taught. The way you spend, save, give, and respond to financial uncertainty tells a story about what you believe.

Do your financial decisions reveal trust in God or anxiety about having enough? Do they reflect generosity or a constant desire to accumulate more? Do they demonstrate surrender to God or a need to maintain control?

None of us will model stewardship perfectly. But our everyday decisions give those who come after us opportunities to see that money is a gift to manage, not a source of identity or security.

Your financial life is already teaching a lesson. The question is what lesson it is teaching.

Another important step is simply talking about it.

Many families avoid conversations about money altogether. Parents may never explain why they give, how they make financial decisions, or what principles shape their approach to wealth. Then, when assets eventually change hands, the next generation receives the resources without understanding the convictions behind them.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 describes faith being passed from one generation to another through the ordinary rhythms of life:

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…”

That kind of discipleship includes the way we think about money. Tell your children why generosity matters to you. Explain how you make spending decisions. Share lessons you’ve learned from financial mistakes. Talk about why contentment matters and why money can never provide the security only God can give.

Most importantly, help them understand that money is not the goal. Faithfulness is.

Good stewardship is usually learned gradually. Psalm 78 describes on

There’s no deception with bigger consequences than to think you’re a Christian when, truth is, you’re not. So where do you stand? How can you know for sure that your faith is real, that your sins are paid for, and that your eternity is certain? Consider those questions with John MacArthur as he continues his series called Salvation Survey.

When a friend is slipping away from the faith, what do you do? Chip gets very specific about how to rescue those in spiritual danger.

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