The Invitation
Luk 14:16 Jesus told him: A man once gave a great banquet and invited a lot of guests.
Luk 14:17 When the banquet was ready, he sent a servant to tell the guests, "Everything is ready! Please come."

The Excuses
Luk 14:18 One guest after another started making excuses. The first one said, "I bought some land, and I've got to look it over. Please excuse me."
Luk 14:19 Another guest said, "I bought five teams of oxen, and I need to try them out. Please excuse me."
Luk 14:20 Still another guest said, "I have just gotten married, and I can't be there."

A Second Invitation
Luk 14:21 The servant told his master what happened, and the master became so angry that he said, "Go as fast as you can to every street and alley in town! Bring in everyone who is poor or crippled or blind or lame."
Luk 14:22 When the servant returned, he said, "Master, I've done what you told me, and there is still plenty of room for more people."
Luk 14:23 His master then told him, "Go out along the back roads and fence rows and make people come in, so that my house will be full.
Luk 14:24 Not one of the guests I first invited will get even a bite of my food!"

The Cost
Luk 14:25 Large crowds were walking along with Jesus, when he turned and said:
Luk 14:26 You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life.
Luk 14:27 You cannot be my disciple unless you carry your own cross and come with me.
Luk 14:28 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. What is the first thing you will do? Won't you sit down and figure out how much it will cost and if you have enough money to pay for it?
Luk 14:29 Otherwise, you will start building the tower, but not be able to finish. Then everyone who sees what is happening will laugh at you.
Luk 14:30 They will say, "You started building, but could not finish the job."
Luk 14:31 What will a king do if he has only ten thousand soldiers to defend himself against a king who is about to attack him with twenty thousand soldiers? Before he goes out to battle, won't he first sit down and decide if he can win?
Luk 14:32 If he thinks he won't be able to defend himself, he will send messengers and ask for peace while the other king is still a long way off.

No place for half heartedness
Luk 14:33 So then, you cannot be my disciple unless you give away everything you own.
Luk 14:34 Salt is good, but if it no longer tastes like salt, how can it be made to taste salty again?
Luk 14:35 It is no longer good for the soil or even for the manure pile. People simply throw it out. If you have ears, pay attention!