"And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee." Luke 10:30-35

Six Parties in the Story
* Careless (Helpless) - a certain man
* Cruel (Heartless) - thieves
* Cold (Harsh) - a certain priest
* Curious (Hardened) - a Levite
* Compassionate (Honourable) - a certain Samaritan
* Caring (Helpful) - the host of the inn

"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head. And He said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62

First man - Too forward looking
Second man - Too afterward looking
Third man - Too backward looking

Discipleship demands
* Resolution (lacking in first)
* Readiness (lacking in second)
* Resignation (lacking in third)

Consider the
* Cost of discipleship
* Claims of discipleship
* Conditions of discipleship

Three Rich Men
* Elimelech - not wise
* Unnamed Kinsman - not willing
* Boaz - both wise and willing

Three Poor Women
* Orpah - Poverty of Return
* Naomi - Pathway of Restoration
* Ruth - Progress of Redeemed

1. Elimelech and Naomi (Ruth 1:1)
- Two people departing from God's promised land

2. Mahlon and Chilion (Ruth 1:4)
- Two men disobedient to God's precept

3. Ruth and Orpah (Ruth 1:14)
- Two woman deciding for God's provision

4. Naomi and Ruth (Ruth 1:19)
- Two pilgrims delighting in God's path

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

One call but three aspects *
1. Shout : The authority of it - the believers' response
2. Voice : The dignity of it - the believers' regard
3. Trump : The clarity of it - the believers' readiness

One command with three perspectives
1. With a Shout : The gravity of it
2. Voice of the Archangel : The grandeur of it
3. Trump of God : The greatness of it

*The absence of the Greek definite article before "voice" and "trump" make them qualifiers instead of being distinct.

Read Part 1, Part 2.

"Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?" 1 Corinthians 14:6

- Revelation by intuition
- Knowledge by testimony
- Prophesying by perception
- Doctrine by reflection

"Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:12

Testimony - "I am of Paul" (testimony of Paul received)
Reflection - "I of Apollos" (teaching of Apollos reflected)
Perception - "I of Cephas" (token of Peter regarded)
Intuition - "I of Christ" (truth of Christ revered)

"to be carnally minded is death... the carnal mind is enmity against God" Romans 8:6-7

1. Doubtful mind (Luke 12:29)
2. Evil mind (Acts 14:2, Col 1:21)
3. Reprobate mind (Rom 1:28)
4. Carnal mind (Rom 8:7)
5. Blinded mind (2 Cor 3:14, 4:4)
6. Corrupted mind (2 Cor 11:3, 1 Tim 6:5, 2 Tim 3:8)
7. Vain mind (Eph 4:17)
8. Earthly mind (Phil 3:19)
9. Fleshly mind (Col 2:18)
10. Shaken mind (2 Th 2:2)
11. High mind (2 Tim 3:4)
12. Defiled mind (Tit 1:15)
13. Faint mind (Heb 12:3)
14. Double mind (James 1:8, 4:8)

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" 2 Cor 10:5