Making Disciples: Go, Baptize, Teach to Obey

Matthew 28 puts the mission right on the surface. Jesus grounds every part of it in his authority and then gives one clear charge at the center. Make disciples. The four verbs go, baptize, and teach are not four different missions. They serve the main command to make disciples among all nations. Acts 1:8 frames the reach. Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. Local to global. The call is missional and near at hand, not just overseas but across town.

Baptism comes next. The text assumes conversion. Repent and be baptized. Baptism is an outward sign of the inward work of regeneration, the new birth. It is not optional add-on but part of how disciples are made. Then comes the piece that so often gets lost. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. The Greek tereo means keep. Obedience is the target, not mere information transfer. That math that celebrates high baptism numbers with flat congregational depth just does not math. The parable of the sower names the problem. Shallow soil springs up fast but withers when the heat comes. Without ongoing teaching that aims at obedience, roots stay thin, and people fall away when trouble hits.

Colossians 3:16 gives the church its texture. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing. Jesus’ own pattern seals it. So often he said, have you not read, it is written. Here he says, teach them to keep all I have commanded you. His words carry final weight because all authority in heaven and on earth is his. Heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will not. This does not sideline the rest of Scripture. Matthew 5 says he fulfills Law and Prophets. John says he is the Word made flesh. To teach his commands is to teach the Bible as it climaxes in him.

John 15 shows the life of a disciple. Abide in the vine. Apart from me you can do nothing. Friendship with Jesus is marked by doing what he commands. Obedience is not drudgery. As Roger Staubach learned, once obedience is embraced, there is harmony, fulfillment, and victory. The promise bookends the task. I am with you always. In the whole of every day. That presence fuels bold going, faithful baptizing, and patient teaching. Deuteronomy 6 brings it home. Teach these words diligently in the house, on the road, morning and night. The Great Commission starts where life is lived and keeps going to the ends of the earth.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Make disciples by baptizing and teaching. The Great Commission does not stop at decisions. Its core command aims for lifelong formation under Jesus. Going opens the door, baptism marks the new birth, and teaching trains a pattern of obedience. The church’s mission succeeds when disciples learn to keep everything Jesus commanded. [28:49]
• 2. Baptism follows repentance and belief. Baptism is not a finish line but a first step of obedience that signals regeneration. The order matters because water does not cause life, it confesses life. Faith turns to Christ, and baptism publicly identifies with Father, Son, and Spirit. [32:03]
• 3. Shallow roots wither without teaching. Rapid response without depth leaves believers exposed when trial hits. Jesus’ rocky soil story warns that joy without roots will not last under heat. Intentional, ongoing instruction that targets obedience drives roots down and steadies saints for long haul faithfulness. [35:14]
• 4. Christ’s words carry final authority. Jesus authorizes the mission by asserting all authority and by promising the permanence of his words. His commands interpret the whole Bible he fulfills, so teaching them is not narrow but comprehensive. Real discipleship honors the red letters without losing the full canon he completes. [38:38]
• 5. Abiding obedience bears lasting fruit. Union with Christ is the engine of sanctification, and obedience is its visible fruit. Friendship with Jesus is not sentiment but alignment with his will. Staying in the vine produces durable fruit that activity alone can never manufacture. [43:16]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:16] - Recap and reading the Great Commission
• [28:07] - Four verbs, one mission: make disciples
• [30:25] - Going local and global
• [31:20] - Baptism as sign of regeneration
• [32:37] - Teach to obey everything Jesus commanded
• [33:39] - Conversions without discipleship: the numbers
• [35:14] - Rocky soil and shallow roots
• [38:38] - Jesus’ authority and enduring word
• [42:21] - Abide to bear lasting fruit
• [44:58] - Obedience and the Staubach story
• [46:34] - With you the whole of every day
• [47:44] - Practicing the Great Commission at home and away
• [52:05] - Prayer and invitation to Christ

1. What four verbs does Jesus use in Matthew 28:19-20 to outline the mission of making disciples, and how do they work together? [28:07]
2. According to the sermon, why is baptism linked to repentance and belief rather than being a standalone ritual? [32:03]
3. The Greek word tereo (translated “observe” or “keep”) in Matthew 28:20 emphasizes obedience over mere knowledge. How does the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:5-6) illustrate the danger of neglecting this? [35:14]
4. What statistic was shared about baptisms and church attendance between 1996-2016, and what problem does this reveal about discipleship? [33:39]

1. Why might Jesus frame the Great Commission as a single command (“make disciples”) supported by actions like going, baptizing, and teaching, rather than treating them as separate tasks?
2. How does the promise of Jesus’ presence “to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) address potential fears or hesitations about fulfilling the Great Commission? [46:34]
3. The sermon connects shallow roots (Matthew 13:5-6) to a lack of teaching aimed at obedience. Why is obedience, not just knowledge, critical for sustaining faith during trials?
4. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” How does this truth shape the way believers approach disciple-making and daily obedience? [42:21]

1. Jesus’ command to “go” includes both local and global missions. What is one practical way you can engage with someone in your immediate community (your “Jerusalem”) this week to share the gospel or encourage a believer? [30:25]
2. Baptism publicly identifies someone with Christ. If you’ve been baptized, how does remembering your baptism strengthen your commitment to obedience? If you haven’t, what is holding you back from taking this step?
3. The parable of the sower warns about shallow roots. What habits or practices could you adopt to deepen your roots in Scripture and obedience? Be specific (e.g., prayer partnerships, Scripture memory, etc.).
4. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 calls believers to teach God’s commands “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way.” How can you intentionally model or discuss obedience to Christ’s words in everyday moments (e.g., meals, commutes, bedtime)?
5. The sermon highlights that teaching is for all believers, not just “gifted” teachers. What is one area of Jesus’ commands (e.g., forgiveness, generosity, prayer) you feel equipped to explain or demonstrate to another believer? [49:29]
6. Roger Staubach’s story shows that obedience leads to harmony and victory. Where in your life do you need to stop resisting God’s “playbook” and trust His commands, even if it feels counterintuitive? [46:03]