Sunday, June 28, 2026 | Core 52: The Co-Mission

Devotional

Day 1: A Shoe Store Visit That Changed Generations

When an ordinary Sunday school teacher chose courage over comfort, eternity shifted. Edward Kimball’s lunchbreak conversation with a shy shoe store employee proved small acts of faithfulness ripple through generations. Discipleship isn’t about eloquence or expertise but showing up where people are. D.L. Moody’s conversion birthed ministries reaching billions because one man refused to let fear silence his care. True influence begins when we see workplaces as holy ground for heart-to-heart moments. [21:17]

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)

Reflection: Where has God placed someone in your routine—a coworker, cashier, or neighbor—who needs a courageous conversation more than a polished sermon? How might your “shoe store moment” impact eternity?

Day 2: Burning Bushes and Hillbilly Accents

Moses stood barefoot before a burning bush, convinced his stutter disqualified him. God’s call often comes through ordinary moments that feel anything but ordinary. The bush wasn’t about pyrotechnics but presence—a reminder that divine partnership trumps personal inadequacy. When we fixate on our limitations, we miss the wildfire of “I AM” ready to speak through our cracks. Ministry isn’t about our ability but our availability to carry holy embers into dark places. [23:54]

“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ And God said, ‘I will be with you.’” (Exodus 3:10-12, NIV)

Reflection: What “hillbilly accent” do you hide behind to avoid God’s call? How might embracing your weakness become the very place God’s presence shines brightest?

Day 3: Go Means Your Front Door, Not Just Overseas

The Great Commission’s “go” isn’t a plane ticket but a posture. Jesus modeled ministry as a daily walk—healing the woman who touched his cloak, dining with Zacchaeus, teaching fishermen. Discipleship happens in school pick-up lines, grocery aisles, and family group chats. When we reduce “go” to overseas missions, we miss the mission field of our own backyard. Your front door is the first outpost of the Kingdom. [36:37]

“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’” (Matthew 10:7, NIV)

Reflection: What ordinary space do you treat as spiritually neutral ground? How could you reclaim it today as holy territory for Kingdom conversations?

Day 4: Baptism Is the Starting Line, Not the Finish

The Ethiopian eunuch’s baptism wasn’t graduation but enrollment. Submersion in water marked the beginning of lifelong learning, not the end of spiritual growth. Modern Christianity often treats baptism as a checkbox, but Jesus designed it as a launchpad. Like a newborn’s first breath, baptism invites us into a lifetime of gasping for more of God. Discipleship thrives when we stop counting conversions and start cultivating apprentices. [43:45]

“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?’ And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” (Acts 8:36-38, NIV)

Reflection: Have you reduced faith to a one-time decision? What daily practice could remind you baptism was just the first lap in your race of obedience?

Day 5: From White Belts to Black Belts in Obedience

Spiritual growth isn’t about perfection but persistence. A black belt Christian isn’t someone who never falls but someone who keeps standing back up. Jesus’ command to “teach obedience” requires showing our scars alongside our victories. Discipleship means admitting we’re all white belts learning to wield grace, truth, and love—one awkward swing at a time. Mastery comes through showing up, not shining. [25:13]

“Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20, NIV)

Reflection: What spiritual “move” do you avoid practicing because you feel unskilled? How might your willingness to fumble through it today mentor someone else’s faith?

Sermon Summary

The commission lands in a shoe store before it lands in a pulpit. The call to discipleship finds a Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball, who risks an awkward lunch break to talk about Jesus, and that one ordinary “yes” rolls forward to D. L. Moody and on to Billy Graham. The mission belongs to God; the co is the partnership. Fear always tries to shove the mission back on human ability, like Moses at the burning bush, but God keeps saying the assignment is his, the power is his, and the invitation is to join him, not perform for him.

Matthew puts the last words of Jesus on a mountain where worship and honest bewilderment live side by side. The text lifts up a risen Christ who says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” and then sends his disciples out under that authority and with that presence. The command to “go” does not demand a passport; it demands availability. As they go to work, to ballgames, to family tables, the kingdom goes with them.

The call to “make disciples” refuses the thin version of faith that settles for attendance or fandom. Disciples are apprentices. They learn a voice, a way, a craft, and they carry it. Jesus did not recruit fans; he told fishermen to go catch dead things and make them alive again. Apprenticing others will mean letting people close enough to see how the Christian life actually works in real time.

Baptism sits at the front door of this apprenticeship, not the back. The water meets the blood; the Spirit, the water, and the blood agree. The pattern in Acts is simple enough that an Ethiopian can hear Jesus on a short ride and say, “There’s water. What’s stopping me?” Nothing. Start there. Then keep going.

“Teach them to obey everything I’ve commanded” refuses a download-only model. Obedience grows in relationships that can handle hard questions and slow answers. “I don’t know yet, let’s look it up and talk next week” is not a cop-out; it is discipleship with integrity. The promise that brackets the whole thing is simple and weighty: the authority is his, and the presence is his, all the way to the end of the age.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s mission needs their yes The mission belongs to God, and the co is the partnership. Fear will try to hand the assignment back, but the call is to step in anyway. Ordinary obedience, like Kimball’s visit to a shoe counter, can shape generations nobody sees coming. The commission waits for a simple yes. [24:16]
2. All authority fuels everyday going Jesus locates the command inside his cosmic authority and his constant presence. That means the pressure to manufacture results gets lifted, and courage gets put back in. The “go” happens as they move through normal life with kingdom eyes open. The King goes with them. [34:44]
3. Disciples, not fans or attendees A believer can admire Jesus; a disciple apprentices to Jesus. Apprenticeship looks like learning a craft until the master’s way becomes second nature, then passing it on. Jesus recruits people who will carry his words, his works, and his way into real relationships. [39:07]
4. Baptism begins a lifelong apprenticeship Baptism isn’t the finish line; it is the starting gun. The water publicly ties a life to Jesus’ death and resurrection and welcomes the Spirit’s work. From there, teaching and practice keep forming a person who obeys, not just agrees. [42:27]
5. Teach obedience through real relationship Truth lands best inside patient, face-to-face friendship. Honest “I don’t know yet” answers build trust and make space for growth. The Father, Son, and Spirit back the slow work of helping a soul learn to obey in the grain of daily life. [45:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[18:10] - Edward Kimball’s quiet influence
[21:51] - From Moody to Billy Graham
[23:01] - The Co-Mission explained
[23:54] - Moses and the fearful yes
[29:44] - Turning to the Great Commission
[30:22] - Matthew’s setup and context
[31:49] - Worship and honest doubt
[33:58] - All authority and presence
[35:58] - Go: ministry as you go
[38:31] - Make disciples, not mere believers
[41:42] - Baptism is the starting line
[45:46] - Teach them to obey
[47:16] - A new assignment: go where people are
[53:55] - Prayer and sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 28:17, the disciples both worshiped Jesus and doubted. What does this reveal about the relationship between faith and uncertainty?
How does Jesus frame His authority in verse 18 before giving the command to “go”? Why might this order matter?
The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:36-38 asked to be baptized immediately after hearing the gospel. How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on baptism as a starting point? [43:45]
What parallels exist between Moses’ hesitation in Exodus 3:11 (“Who am I?”) and the fear of inadequacy mentioned in the sermon? [23:54]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus pairs His command to “go” with the promise of His presence (v. 20)? How does this address common fears about sharing faith?
The sermon contrasts “believers” with “disciples.” What practical differences might exist between someone who admires Jesus and someone apprenticing under Him? [39:07]
Baptism is called the “starting gun” rather than the finish line. How does this reshape our understanding of spiritual growth and ongoing discipleship?
Moses tried to deflect God’s call by focusing on his limitations. How does God’s response in Exodus 3:12 (“I will be with you”) reframe our view of obedience?

Application Questions

Where is your “everyday going” — the places you already go (work, family gatherings, etc.) — and how could you intentionally see those spaces as opportunities for kingdom impact? [36:37]
The sermon warns against settling for being a “fan” of Jesus. What’s one area of your life where you need to shift from admiration to active apprenticeship?
When have you hesitated to share your faith or serve because of feeling unqualified? How might Jesus’ authority (not yours) change your next step? [24:16]
The Ethiopian eunuch asked, “What’s stopping me?” about baptism. What practical barriers or fears might someone you know have about starting their faith journey? How could you help remove them?
The sermon encourages saying, “I don’t know yet — let’s look it up.” Who in your life could you invite into a honest, ongoing conversation about faith questions?
Moses’ story shows God uses ordinary “yes” moments. What small, faithful step could you take this week that might ripple into something bigger?

Sermon Clips

56s

#AllAuthorityInChrist

“Very first thing that we need to highlight comes right in verse Jesus came to them, and he said this, all what? Authority. All authority had been given to me. The authority of heaven, which means I govern all of the spirits that have ever been created by God, are under my authority. And on earth, everything you created, Paul takes it this way. He says, everything in heaven and earth, invisible and visible, has all been created, not just through God, he specifies it through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus is highlighting that right here to them. Guys, pull it in. I want you to know before I tell you what I'm about to tell you, you need to understand something. All authority has been given to me.”

47s

#FromBelieverToDisciple

“Yeah. I like the cow the Cowboys, Dallas Cowboys, my favorite NFL football team. You can judge it. You can hate it. I don't really care about your opinion on the matter right now. Because right now, we're all tied for first. You know what I mean? We're all tied for first place. But I'm not a Dallas Cowboy, am I? There's a difference between believing in the team and being a part of it. And that's what Jesus is trying to get us to understand, is that when we go into all of these nations, and we start making these disciples, we need to transform them from being believers to being disciples. What is a disciple? These guys are hardcore apprentices. They live, they talk, they walk, they act, they carry the message of whoever it is that they're following, and they promote that to the world. That is a disciple.”

43s

#DiscipleshipEqualsObedience

“But here's the trick. What are we teaching disciples to do? What's the end game here? It's this. Teach them to obey. Teach them everything. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you to the end of the day. So he says, teach them to observe, which is basically obeying what Jesus has commanded. See, there's a difference between being a believer and being a disciple. A believer is somebody who just hears it. A disciple is someone that says, I wanna apply this to my life. And we can only teach people to do that when we have real relationships.”

64s

#LegacyOfDiscipleship

“It changed the game for everybody because as Moody started to grow up, he had influence over somebody, and this his name was Dwight L. Moody. And as Moody grew up, he influenced the next generation, who then influenced the next generation, and you can see the line from Edward's ministry as a Sunday school teacher for about the next six generations, all the way from Edward down to one of the most prominent Christian theologian pastors of our time, Billy Graham. And if it wasn't for the influence of this one guy named Edward, Billy Graham and his ministry may have never taken place. Now, you probably have heard of the name Billy Graham because he's one of the the, like, the best national Christian speakers that we've ever known. In fact, his material, his ministry has gone on to reach, like, billions on b with a b, billions of people worldwide, and that all started with the influence of this guy named Edward Kimball.”

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Sunday, June 28, 2026 | Core 52: The Co-Mission | Brandon Llewellyn