Mothers Shocked by Pastor's Sermon on Following Christ

Many women at Grace Community Church were stunned and outraged when their pastor, **David Jones** [name changed to protect the innocent] delivered a sermon on following Christ instead of a message just telling mothers how wonderful they are.

The sermon, titled "The Cost of Discipleship", was based on Luke 14:25-33, where Jesus warns his followers to count the cost of following him and to renounce everything that hinders them from doing so.

Jones challenged the women to examine their lives and see if they were truly committed to Christ or if they were just following him for the benefits. He also urged them to repent of any idols or sins that were keeping them from loving God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.

The women were shocked and offended by Jones' sermon, which they felt was insensitive, judgmental and harsh. They expected a message that would affirm their role as mothers and praise them for their sacrifices and contributions to their families and society.

"I came here to be encouraged and uplifted, not to be told that I need to give up everything for Jesus," said one woman, who asked to remain anonymous. "I already do so much for my kids and my husband. I don't need some old man telling me what to do with my life."

Another woman said she felt betrayed by Jones, who she thought was a champion of biblical womanhood and complementarianism. "He always talks about how women should submit to their husbands and stay at home and raise godly children. But now he's saying that's not enough? That we have to give up our dreams and desires and hobbies and friends for Jesus? That's not fair. That's not biblical."

Some women even accused Jones of being sexist and misogynistic, saying that he was trying to oppress women and make them feel guilty and inferior. They claimed that he never preached such hard messages to men, but only to women.

"He's always going easy on the men. He never tells them to give up their careers or their hobbies or their sports or their video games for Jesus. He never tells them to repent of their lust or their pride or their anger or their greed. He only picks on us women. He hates us. He hates mothers," said another woman.

Jones defended his sermon, saying that he was simply preaching the truth of God's word and that he loved the women and wanted them to experience the joy and freedom of following Christ wholeheartedly.

"I'm not trying to hurt anyone or make anyone feel bad. I'm trying to help them see the reality of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. It's not easy. It's not comfortable. It's not popular. It's costly. But it's worth it. It's the only way to find true happiness and peace in this life and the next," he said.

He also denied that he was sexist or misogynistic, saying that he preached the same message to men and women alike. He said that he respected and honored mothers and their role in God's plan, but that he also wanted them to realize that their ultimate identity and purpose was in Christ, not in motherhood.

"Motherhood is a wonderful gift from God, but it's not the ultimate gift. The ultimate gift is Christ himself. He is our life. He is our treasure. He is our everything. And he calls us to love him more than anything else in this world, even more than our own families. That's what it means to be his disciple," he said.

Jones said he hoped that the women would forgive him for any offense he may have caused and that they would listen to his sermon with an open heart and mind. He said he prayed that they would grow in their love for Christ and their obedience to his will.

"I love these women. I love this church. I love this community. And I love the Lord Jesus Christ more than anything else. And I want everyone else to love him too. That's why I preach what I preach," he said.