The Great Commission // The Story of the Bible // Tanner Maasdorp

Devotional

Day 1: Empty Tomb, Full Commission

The women approached the tomb at dawn, spices in hand. An angel sat on the rolled-back stone, radiant as lightning. “He is risen,” he declared, pointing to the vacant burial cloths. Their fear turned to explosive joy as they sprinted to tell the disciples. Jesus intercepted them, repeating the command: “Go and tell.” Resurrection demands proclamation. [02:29]

Jesus lives. This changes everything. The same power that shattered death’s chains now fuels our witness. He didn’t rise silently—He ignited a movement. When we share His victory, we participate in history’s greatest turnaround.

You’ve tasted His life-changing power. But who in your circle still hears only silence about Him? Fear often muffles our joy. Today, choose one person who needs to hear “He is risen.” Will you let your feet carry the news as urgently as those first witnesses?

“Go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’”
(Matthew 28:7, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus for boldness to declare His resurrection to one specific person today.
Challenge: Text or call someone within the next hour with this phrase: “Jesus is alive—I wanted you to know.”

Day 2: Unrecognized Savior, Opened Scrolls

Two dejected disciples trudged toward Emmaus, debating crucifixion’s horror. A Stranger joined them, kindling hope as He traced Moses’ writings to the prophets. Their hearts blazed when He broke bread—then vanished. Only in hindsight did they grasp: the Messiah had walked with them, Scripture His roadmap. [11:55]

Jesus still reveals Himself through the Word. Every prophecy, every story, every law points to His rescue mission. Bible study becomes heart-igniting when we seek Him in the text—not just information, but the Person who fulfills it all.

How often do you open Scripture seeking rules rather than the Ruler? The Emmaus road testifies: Christ saturates every page. Today, read Luke 24:13-35 again. Where do you see His fingerprints in the “coincidences” and heartburn?

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
(Luke 24:32, NIV)

Prayer: Confess areas where you’ve treated the Bible as a textbook, not a love letter.
Challenge: Underline every reference to Jesus in Luke 24:13-35. Share one discovery with a friend.

Day 3: Five Loaves, Infinite Multiplication

The disciples saw only scarcity: five loaves, two fish, a hungry crowd. Jesus saw potential. He blessed the meager offering, broke it, and unleashed abundance. Leftovers filled twelve baskets—one for each doubting disciple. Their lack became God’s launchpad. [35:14]

God specializes in multiplying small obediences. Your “not enough” is His starting line. The boy’s lunch didn’t feed thousands until surrendered. What seems insignificant—a kind word, a shared verse, a listening ear—becomes kingdom currency when placed in Christ’s hands.

What’s your “five loaves”? Maybe you feel unqualified or under-resourced. Name one thing you can offer today—time, testimony, or talent. How might Jesus multiply it to nourish others?

“Bring them here to me,” he said. [...] They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
(Matthew 14:18,20, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for what you already have. Ask Him to multiply it for someone’s hunger.
Challenge: Share a 2-minute story of God’s faithfulness with a coworker or neighbor today.

Day 4: Storing Bread, Storming Famine

Joseph stockpiled grain during seven years of plenty. When famine struck, Egypt had bread; the world came begging. Pharaoh’s nightmare became a rescue plan. God still calls us to gather spiritual nourishment—not to hoard, but to distribute. [27:28]

We live in days of spiritual famine. Many crave purpose but chew on cultural scraps. Your daily Bible time isn’t just for you—it’s manna for malnourished souls. Like Joseph, we store truth to share during others’ lean seasons.

What truth have you gathered recently? A promise? A psalm? A gospel thread? Who in your life needs that specific breadcrumb today?

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven [...] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:20-21, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to make you a conduit, not a reservoir, of His Word.
Challenge: Write down one Scripture about Jesus on a sticky note. Give it to someone needing hope.

Day 5: Co-Laborers with the Risen King

Jesus stood on a Galilean hill, scars visible, authority absolute. “All power is mine,” He declared—then stunned them: “Go make disciples.” The commission came with a covenant: “I am with you always.” The resurrected God doesn’t send—He accompanies. [41:18]

We’re not salesmen pushing a product. We’re ambassadors walking with the King. His presence transforms duty into privilege. Every conversation, every act of love, becomes a collaborative miracle when we remember Immanuel walks beside us.

Who feels beyond your reach? A family member? A skeptic coworker? Jesus isn’t asking you to convince them—He’s inviting you to introduce them. Will you take one step this week to bridge their doubt with His presence?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations [...] And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for His constant presence. Ask for eyes to see His work around you.
Challenge: Identify one person to pray for daily this week. Message them: “I’m praying for you—how can I serve you today?”

Sermon Summary

Matthew lets the angel’s words crack open the silence at the tomb: “He is not here. He is risen.” The text then pushes movement into the story. The angel says “go quickly,” and the women run. Jesus meets them, repeats the charge, and joy breaks into mission. Matthew then brings his whole gospel to its landing: the risen Lord, holding all authority in heaven and on earth, says “go therefore and make disciples,” promising, “I am with you always.” The commission sounds like the natural overflow of resurrection life: good news received becomes good news shared.

Luke sets two disciples trudging the Emmaus road, faces fallen, hope gone. Jesus joins them, hidden in plain sight, and calls them “slow of heart” to believe all the prophets said. Then the resurrected One gives the study: beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he shows everything concerning himself. The result registers in their bodies: “Did not our hearts burn within us?” The turn comes not from vague inspiration but from Scripture unveiling Jesus. John 5:39 anchors it: the pages themselves do not give life; they testify of the One who does.

Romans lays the logic bare: how will they call on One they never believed; how will they believe in One they never heard; how will they hear without someone sent? The call to “go” therefore is a call to introduce real people to the real Jesus of Scripture, not a caricature. Amos speaks of a famine, not of bread, but of hearing the word of the Lord. Genesis answers with Joseph’s wisdom: in years of plenty, gather the grain so that when famine hits, there is bread. The image carries. The church is called to gather the bread of the Word now, not to grow spiritually obese, feeding self while others starve, but to be ready to feed many who come hungry.

Matthew’s hillside multiplies the hope. The disciples say, “We have only five loaves and two fish.” Jesus says, “Bring them here to me,” blesses, breaks, and gives, and the disciples give to the multitudes. The commission does not demand a storehouse, just a surrendered crumb. God values every soul with the price of his Son, and then dignifies ordinary servants by co-laboring with them. The promise that seals the sending still holds: the One who sends is the One who stays. “I am with you always.”

Key Takeaways

1. The risen Christ sends disciples The empty tomb does not end the story; it launches it. The angel and then Jesus push urgency into the resurrection: “go quickly,” “go and tell,” and finally “go therefore and make disciples.” The gospel moves from encounter to announcement because the Savior is alive and reigning. The mission is not an add-on; it is resurrection’s firstfruit. [04:53]
2. Scripture burns when it shows Jesus The Emmaus hearts do not ignite from general Bible talk, but from Scripture interpreted Christ-first. When the text is opened to reveal the suffering and glory of Christ, despair loosens and desire awakens. Deep change happens when the Bible is read to behold the Redeemer, not just to collect information. Seeing him in the Word warms what doubt had cooled. [11:55]
3. Gather the bread before famine Amos warns of a famine of hearing, and Joseph provides the pattern: store the grain in plenty to feed multitudes in want. Intentional, daily gathering of truth is not hoarding; it is preparation to serve starving neighbors. Bread kept becomes stale, but bread shared stays fresh in hand and heart. The time to stock the storehouse is now. [27:00]
4. Share the little; God multiplies The disciples’ “only five loaves” becomes more than enough in Jesus’ hands. The commission runs on willingness, not résumé; God takes a crumb of lived grace and feeds a crowd. A single faithful word can start a chain of mercy no one sees this side of the kingdom. Offer what is in hand, and let Christ do the math. [34:56]
5. Co-labor under Christ’s promise The One who commands the going guarantees his presence. Fear shrinks when the church remembers that the Sender walks beside the sent. Mission is not a solo push but a shared yoke with the risen Lord. “I am with you always” turns obligation into courage. [05:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:09] - Prayer for the Spirit
[01:39] - The Great Commission named
[02:29] - He is risen: living Savior
[03:41] - Urgent “go”: angel and Jesus
[04:53] - All authority, make disciples
[06:20] - Road to Emmaus begins
[10:45] - Jesus opens Scripture about himself
[11:55] - Hearts burn: the turnaround
[17:57] - How shall they hear?
[22:05] - A famine for the Word
[26:22] - Joseph’s plan: gather the bread
[34:56] - Five loaves multiplied
[41:43] - Appeals and commissioning prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV): “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Luke 24:13-32 (ESV): The Road to Emmaus account, where Jesus opens Scripture to reveal Himself.
- Amos 8:11-12 (ESV): “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.”

Observation Questions

What specific instructions did Jesus give to the women at the tomb in Matthew 28, and how did they respond?
In Luke 24, what happened to the disciples’ hearts as Jesus explained Scripture to them on the road to Emmaus?
According to Amos 8:11-12, what kind of famine is coming, and how does Joseph’s story in Genesis 41 relate to this warning? [27:00]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus repeatedly emphasizes urgency (“go quickly,” “go and tell”) in Matthew 28? What does this urgency reveal about the nature of the resurrection’s impact?
The disciples’ hearts “burned” when Jesus opened Scripture to show Himself (Luke 24:32). How does this contrast with merely studying the Bible for information? [11:55]
The sermon connects Joseph’s grain storage to gathering spiritual “bread” today. Why is storing truth now critical for facing a future famine of God’s Word?

Application Questions

Who in your life needs to encounter the real Jesus of Scripture rather than a cultural caricature? What specific truth about His character could you share with them this week? [19:05]
When you read the Bible, how could you shift your focus from “collecting information” to actively looking for Jesus in the text? Try this with one passage this week and journal what you discover.
The sermon warns against becoming “spiritually obese” by hoarding truth. What’s one practical way you can “share the bread” of Scripture with someone feeling spiritually hungry? [30:57]
What “five loaves and two fish” do you feel you have to offer God (e.g., a story of His faithfulness, a verse that changed you)? How can you surrender even that small offering to Him today? [34:56]
The Great Commission ends with “I am with you always.” Where do you need courage to step out in mission, and how does His presence change your fear in that situation?

Sermon Clips

But was it merely the fact that they had an encounter with Jesus? Because a lot of us are saying, okay, if we have a one on one face encounter with Jesus, of course, gonna have a turnaround. Beloved, they didn't even know it was Jesus they were talking to. They didn't even know it was him, but yet their hearts still burned. Their hearts were on fire, and they had a turnaround from their lowly estate. And it wasn't merely because they opened the scriptures, but it's because he showed them himself throughout the scriptures. [00:12:24] (28 seconds)

Maybe that's all you have to share, but you could share. Plant that seed in someone's heart, and that seed can grow, and they can share it with another person, and they can share it with another person, they can share it with another person, and you have started a domino effect that you will never even see until you get to the kingdom of heaven. So it's not about how much bread you have. It's about the fact that you are willing to share what bread you do have. God wants to use our willingness. [00:36:02] (31 seconds)

Beloved, the beautiful thing about the great commission is those last words in the yellow, I am with you always. God is not a distant aloof God sitting up in heaven saying, you guys go and win this world for me while I sit up in heaven. No. He is saying, I want to co labor with you. And no matter where you go to share this gospel, no matter who you encounter, no matter how scary it may seem, no matter what circumstance you may be finding yourself in, I am with you always to the end of the age. [00:41:05] (37 seconds)

God wants us to gather the bread. There's coming a famine for the word of God. There's a time when people are going to be looking to and fro for this word of God, for the word of Jesus. And just like in the time of Joseph, he was calling them to gather the bread in the time of plenty, so that way, in the time of famine, they'll be sustained. He's saying right now, we have this bread. Let us gather the bread, so that way we are sustained. [00:27:42] (26 seconds)

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