Study Guide: The Parables of the Tower Builder and King
*This study guide can be used alongside the message preached on May 3, 2026 during the series Parables.
Pray
Before you begin your study, take a moment of silence. Ask yourself: "What part of my life am I trying to 'build' without first consulting God?”
Read
Luke 14:28-33
Observe
vs. 28 | Sitting Down to Face the Numbers
Jesus starts with a question that hits home: are we actually prepared for where this journey is going? He isn't looking for a "yes" based on an emotional high; He’s asking us to take a seat, take a breath, and look at the "math" of our lives. Following Him isn't just a weekend project; it’s a massive build that requires us to check our resources—our time, our heart, and our will—to see if we are truly ready to commit to the long haul.
vv. 29–30 | The Pain of the Half-Finished Life
There is a specific kind of heartache in seeing a foundation that never became a home. Jesus warns us that a half-hearted commitment doesn't just stall; it leaves us exposed. We’ve all felt that sting of starting something for God with great fanfare, only to let it sit unfinished when the work got hard. He wants more for us than a life of "started-and-stopped" faith that ends in regret or outside criticism.
vs. 31 | Measuring the Strength of My Resistance
This second story shifts the perspective. If the tower is about whether I can afford to follow Him, the king is about whether I can afford to fight Him. It’s a sobering thought: if I choose to stay the king of my own life, am I strong enough to stand against the Creator of the universe? It’s a call to look at the "opposing force" of God’s holiness and realize that my stubbornness is a battle I’m destined to lose.
vs. 32 | Finding the Terms of Peace
Realizing we are outmatched shouldn't lead to despair, but to a "delegation of peace." This is where we stop trying to hold our ground and instead ask for His terms. In our own lives, this looks like surrender—waving the white flag before we hit rock bottom. It’s the realization that coming to God’s terms is the only way to find safety and rest.
vs. 33 | Saying Goodbye to the Old Ownership
Here is the bottom line, and it’s a heavy one. In the original language, "giving up everything" literally carries the idea of "saying goodbye." Jesus is asking us to bid farewell to our own ownership of our lives. He isn't saying we have to be miserable or empty-handed; He’s saying we have to hand Him the keys. We can’t follow Him into the new life if we are still gripping the old one with both hands.
Credit: Guzik, David. “Luke 14 - Feasts and Invitations.” Enduring Word, n.d., https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/luke-14.
Application
1. Audit Your "Current Projects".
Just like the builder in verse 28, we often start things—new habits, spiritual goals, or even academic commitments—without looking at the calendar or the "cost" in energy. This week, look at one area where you’ve "laid a foundation" but stopped building (maybe it’s a prayer routine, a volunteer commitment, or a personal goal). Ask yourself: Did I stop because it got hard, or because I never committed to the cost in the first place? Decide today to either pick up the tools and finish or to pivot your focus to what God is actually calling you to complete.
2. Identify Your "White Flag" Moment.
In the parable of the two kings, the smaller army realizes they can’t win and asks for terms of peace. In our lives, we often exhaust ourselves trying to "fight" God’s will because we want to stay in control of our future, our relationships, or our reputation. Identify one area of your life where you feel a constant "tug-of-war" with your conscience or God’s word. Instead of trying to win a battle against the Almighty, "send a delegation of peace." Pray a simple, honest prayer: "Lord, I stop resisting. What are Your terms for this part of my life?" True peace only comes when we stop trying to outmaneuver God.
3. Practice the "Daily Goodbye".
Verse 33 talks about "giving up everything" or "saying goodbye" to our possessions and self-will. This isn't a one-time event; it's a daily mindset. It’s the difference between saying "This is my car/money/time" and "This is God’s car/money/time that I am currently using." Pick one thing you are tightly gripping—perhaps your social status, your GPA, or a specific relationship—and mentally "say goodbye" to your ownership of it. Remind yourself that it belongs to Him. When you view your life as a gift on loan rather than a personal empire, the "cost" of following Jesus feels less like a loss and more like a smart investment.
Pray (ACTS)
What is the ACTS prayer model?
A - Praise God as the Master Architect and the King of Kings, whose wisdom and power are far beyond our own.
C - Confess an area where you’ve tried to build your life on our own terms and resist God’s authority rather than surrendering to His perfect plan.
T - Thank God for being a patient Teacher who invites us into His work and provides the grace we need to finish what we start.
S - Ask the Holy Spirit for the courage to say "goodbye" to our own selfish ambitions today so that you can fully commit to following Him.
Discuss or Reflect
Questions for personal reflection, spiritual insight, or group interaction.
When you first decided to follow Jesus (or explore faith), what did you think the "cost" was going to be, and how has that changed over time?
Looking at your current spiritual life, would you say you are currently building a "tower," or are you standing still on a foundation you laid years ago?
What is one "unfinished project" in your character (like patience, honesty, or discipline) that you feel God is calling you to get back to work on?
How do you deal with the fear of "ridicule" or failure when people see you trying to live out your faith?
In what specific area of your life do you find yourself most often "going to war" with God’s instructions?
If you were to sit down and "count the cost" of rejecting God’s lead in your life, what does that potential future look like?
What does "terms of peace" look like for someone your age in the middle of a stressful school year or a difficult social situation?
Why is it often harder for us to surrender to God's authority than it is to try and struggle through things on our own?
Jesus uses the phrase "say goodbye" to everything we have; what is the hardest thing for you to say goodbye to right now?
How can we practically "give up everything" while still living as students who have responsibilities, belongings, and goals?
How does the idea that "Jesus accepts you as you are, but loves you too much to leave you that way" change your perspective on His demands?
If someone were to look at your life from the outside, what would they say is the one thing you haven't "bid farewell" to yet?