A Radical Discipleship
The Lord Jesus' Call for Urgency in the Christian Life
Welcome to Faith for Living’s Sunday sermon. Selected from our broadcast archives spanning over thirty years, we believe the Word of the Lord is an unchanging truth. Today, we focus on Mark chapter nine and Jesus’ call to radical faith that demonstrates compassion for the lost and encourages self-examination. Is our faith in Christ leading us to prioritize Him in our lives? To make His mission our primary focus? The difficult lessons always lead to personal freedom and joy in giving our lives to God and others. In doing so, we discover a new way of living, a purpose, and transcendent joy. Welcome to the life of radical discipleship.
A Radical Discipleship
Dr. Michael A. Milton
Would you consider Christianity passive or radical? The answer to that question brings faith for living.
AUDIO
A DEVOTIONAL TAKEN FROM THE MESSAGE
Introduction
There was a popular book titled Love Wins. Its proposition, stated charitably, is that love wins because there is no hell—no eternal separation from God or a self-fulfilling punishment: “I will not have God to rule over me.” And, thus, it is.
But this proposition is directly denied by the Word of God. Jesus warns that there is a hell. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, preaching in London in the late nineteenth century, dealt with the same issue. He warned against a false “sympathy” that avoids speaking of hell. Christ, he said, knew no such sympathy. Instead, His compassion was shown in warning that there is a place of everlasting torment.
So, what is authentic Christian living? It is not passive, but radical. It is a life of aggressive self-examination before the Word of God. It is asking, “Is grace producing in me holiness that glorifies God? Or is there something hypocritical in my life?”
Radical Discipleship and Hypocrisy
A convicting story comes to mind. A pastor was at dinner with his family and some church members. As he began to tell a story, his little girl interrupted: “Now, Daddy, is this a preacher story or a true story?”
The question pierces: Is there anything we are doing that is hypocritical?
James warns, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (Jas. 3:1). Spurgeon himself was said to have lost sleep on Saturday nights under the burden of souls. And should he not have? Indeed, such seriousness is necessary.
Why Is Radical Discipleship Required?
Jesus said: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42).
The Greek word mikros—“little ones”—may mean children, or it may refer to young believers, even if elderly in years but childlike in faith. Our lives profoundly affect the mikros.
This means pastors, teachers, and every believer must examine themselves lest their words or actions lead others astray. This is not “health and wealth” preaching. It is a solemn warning from Christ Himself.
What If We Refuse Spiritual Surgery?
Jesus teaches that if sin is not amputated—cut away—it spreads like gangrene. The result is hell.
Ezekiel warns: “He who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head” (Ezek. 33:4).
As a boy, I heard my pastor preach that passage. Overcome, he dropped to his knees and pleaded with us to repent. His words were unforgettable: “I do not want your blood on my hands.”
That is radical language. But it is biblical language.
In truth, some may say I preach too seriously. But how can I not? Every one of us will stand before Almighty God. In one hundred years, none of us will be here. Grace alone, through faith in Christ alone, secures our salvation. But the call is to radical introspection.
The Positive Effect of Radical Christianity
Jesus adds: “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:50).
Salt preserves. Salt purifies. Salt is distinctive. So too is the believer who undergoes spiritual surgery by grace.
I remember my days in the military. My roommate was a Mormon. I argued against his theology, calling it heresy. But he looked at my life and said: “If your faith is true, then Christianity means nothing—because your walk doesn’t match your talk.”
That rebuke convicted me deeply. My knowledge did not match my life. I was corrected, not by doctrine, but by the undeniable evidence that my faith was not salty.
But when Christ came into my life, everything changed. The old Mike Milton had to die. Christ began to live in me. My eyes, hands, and feet had to be brought under His Lordship. And His mercy forgave the many I had led astray.
This is the good news: Your sins can be forgiven. Your life can be changed. You can become salt in the world.
The Church, then, is like a marathon of amputees—each of us limping, leaning on Jesus Christ to reach the finish line. And it is beautiful. For others see not us, but Christ in us.
A Student’s Question
Q: Dr. Milton, you spoke of the book Love Wins, which denies hell. How does this affect the rest of one’s theology?
A: To deny hell is to deny the plain teaching of Jesus Christ. It is a Gnostic move—claiming hidden interpretation against the clear Word. Moreover, it denies the substitutionary atonement. For if there is no hell, what did Christ save us from?
Practically, it destroys missions. If people without the gospel are already “safe,” then the most “loving” thing would be to leave them alone. It also destroys doctrine by domino effect—undermining the cross, the atonement, the mission of the Church, and the Great Commission itself.
Conclusion
Beloved, Christianity is not passive. It is radical discipleship—cutting away sin, embracing holiness, preserving faith like salt in the world.
Today Christ calls you to examine your life, to repent, and to live radically for Him. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to avoid. And there is a Savior whose mercy is greater than all your sin.
Benediction
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May the Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you and give you peace—
now and forevermore.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Reflection & Discussion Questions
Radical or Passive?
Dr. Milton described Christianity as “radical discipleship,” not a passive religion. How does this challenge common cultural perceptions of faith as private or optional? What might radical discipleship look like in an ordinary believer’s life today?The Reality of Hell
The sermon emphasized Jesus’ clear teaching on hell. For some, this doctrine feels uncomfortable or even offensive. Why might acknowledging the reality of judgment be essential for understanding the depth of Christ’s love and the meaning of the cross?The Weight of Influence
Jesus warned against causing “little ones” (mikros) to stumble. How might our daily actions—whether in the pulpit, the workplace, or the home—positively or negatively influence those who are new in the faith? Can you think of an example in your own experience?Hypocrisy and Integrity
The story of the pastor’s daughter asking, “Daddy, is this a preacher story or a true story?” raises the issue of hypocrisy. Why is integrity—when our words and actions align—so vital for the credibility of the Christian witness? How do communities of faith help guard against hypocrisy?The Cost of Neglect
The sermon warned that ignoring sin is like refusing amputation for spiritual gangrene. What are the dangers of living an “unexamined life” spiritually? How might practices such as confession, accountability, or examen (self-reflection before God) serve as safeguards?Salt and Savory Living
Jesus’ image of salt conveys both preservation and distinctiveness. In what ways can Christians today embody this “saltiness” in a culture that often resists biblical truth? How might this witness draw not only fellow believers but also seekers toward the gospel?
Leader’s Guide for Small Group Discussion
Handouts for the Small Group
