Day 1: Join Christ's mission through availability, submission, obedience.
Living with purpose begins when you make yourself available to God, saying, "Here I am, Lord," willing to step outside comfort and let Him use you for a mission greater than yourself; availability opens the door, submission acknowledges His authority, and obedience carries the work forward as commanded in the Great Commission—this is how ordinary lives become part of God's eternal plan. [28:50]
Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV)
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Reflection: Today, who is one person in your everyday life (neighbor, coworker, classmate) that you can intentionally be available to and begin praying for, speak to, or invite to church this week?
Day 2: Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
The reason Jesus left heaven and walked among us was singular and urgent: to seek and save those far from God; when that truth settles in the heart it reshapes priorities, so Christians join Him in seeking the lost, seeing evangelism not as optional but as the natural outworking of being made new and part of His mission. [34:53]
Luke 19:10 (NKJV)
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Reflection: Identify one person you know who seems distant from God—what is one practical way (a phone call, a meal, a text sharing your story) you will reach out to them this week to show you care and to open a door for the gospel?
Day 3: Follow Jesus and become fishers of men.
Discipleship begins with following Jesus—He calls, "Follow Me," and then shapes and equips followers to be fishers of men; this is not about having all the answers first but about saying yes to Jesus’ call and allowing Him to train and use you in everyday contexts to bring others to faith. [39:10]
Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)
Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Reflection: What is one immediate change in your daily routine (commuting route, lunch choices, timing) that would give you more natural opportunities this week to have a spiritual conversation with someone?
Day 4: Salvation includes surrender; Christ is Lord.
Coming to Christ is not merely signing a ticket to heaven; it is surrendering the right to rule one's own life and submitting to Jesus as Lord—faith that stops short of lordship is not the full gospel, so true conversion carries with it a life of obedience under Christ’s authority. [24:59]
Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJV)
Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
Reflection: Is there one decision, habit, or area (relationships, finances, time, entertainment) where you are holding back from surrendering to Jesus' authority—what specific first step will you take today to yield that area to Him?
Day 5: Sin's consequence calls for surrender and repentance.
The reality that "the wages of sin is death" should drive believers to urgent compassion for the lost and to personal surrender; recognizing the cost of sin underscores the need for Jesus as Savior and Lord and compels the church to mobilize in seeking those headed for eternal separation unless the gospel reaches them. [24:07]
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflection: Spend five minutes now asking God to show you one person whose eternal need concerns you—what is one tangible thing you will do within the next 48 hours to begin engaging that person's life for Christ?
Sermon Summary
Most of us want our days to count for more than mowing grass that grows right back. We long for a purpose that lasts. Jesus gives that purpose. Following Him isn’t picking a religious product off the shelf; it’s stepping into His kingdom, enlisting in His rescue mission, and putting our hand in the pile for the souls of men and women. In Matthew 28, we see what He asks of us so our lives carry eternal weight.
First, availability. The disciples heard what Jesus wanted because they showed up where He told them to be. They didn’t have the whole plan; they simply made themselves present and willing. The greatest ability really is availability—saying, “Here I am,” even when it pulls us out of comfort.
Second, submission. When they saw Jesus, they worshiped—and some doubted. Into that mixture, He said, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” We don’t negotiate terms with a King. Salvation is not fire insurance plus later lordship; it’s surrender to the One who knows more than we do and loves us enough to rule us for our good.
Third, obedience. The single command is “make disciples.” Going, baptizing, and teaching describe how we do it—as we are going, wherever we live, work, shop, and play. Baptism isn’t just water; it’s immersion into a people. No one grows well as a lone Christian. We bring new believers into Christ’s body and teach them to obey everything He commanded so disciples multiply disciples.
We protest, “I’m shy; I don’t know enough.” But this isn’t optional for a follower of Jesus. The good news is that we never go alone. He promises, “I am with you always.” So let’s keep it simple: make ourselves available, submit to His authority, and obey His command to make disciples—one person at a time. Imagine if we pursued the spiritually lost with the same urgency and shared effort a community uses to find a lost dog. People’s eternities are at stake. This is the purpose we were made for.
Key Takeaways
1. Availability precedes every other ability. Showing up where Jesus appoints positions us to hear, receive, and be sent. We don’t need the full blueprint before we say yes; we need a willing presence that says, “Here I am.” God does His best work through people who are simply there for Him to use. [11:23]
2. Bow to the One with all authority. Worship turns to obedience when we accept Jesus’ absolute claim over heaven and earth. Doubt can coexist with worship, but it cannot rule our decisions. Submission means He sets the agenda; we stop editing His commands to fit our comfort. [19:29]
3. Make disciples as you are going. “Go, baptize, teach” orbits one command: make disciples. This happens in the ordinary flow of life—conversations, meals, workplaces—and it continues as we connect people to the church and teach them to obey. True success is spiritual reproduction, not mere decisions. [30:23]
4. His presence empowers faithful obedience. Jesus’ final promise is not a pep talk but a presence: “I am with you always.” The Spirit steadies our fears, supplies words, and opens doors we could never pry open. Our confidence is not in our skill but in His nearness. [38:41]
[43:25] - Availability, submission, obedience: the call to respond
Bible Study Guide
Bible Reading
- Matthew 28:16–20 (NKJV) — 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Observation Questions
Matthew 28:16 says the disciples went to “the mountain which Jesus had appointed.” How does that detail shape our understanding of availability—why is showing up critical to hearing Jesus’ commission? (See sermon: “They heard because they were there.” [11:23])
Verse 18 is Jesus’ claim of authority. What concrete changes in a disciple’s life does this claim require when it is accepted? (See sermon emphasis on submission: “All authority has been given to me…” [19:29])
Verses 19–20 list going, baptizing, teaching around the single command to “make disciples.” What differences do you observe between the central command (make disciples) and the three actions listed? How do those actions fit together in everyday life? (See sermon: “as you are going” [30:23])
Verse 20 ends with a promise: “I am with you always.” What immediate practical comforts or responsibilities flow from that promise for someone who must witness to others? (See sermon: “And lo, I am with you always…” [38:41])
Interpretation Questions
How does the preacher’s assertion that “availability precedes every other ability” interpret the Galilee scene—what assumption about discipleship underlies that claim? (See sermon: “The greatest ability is availability.” [11:23])
The preacher insists salvation is not optional lordship but surrender — “Savior and Lord or none.” How should this statement shape a new believer’s priorities when personal plans conflict with Jesus’ commands? (See sermon: “Savior and Lord or none.” [24:36])
The sermon highlights that “go” in the Great Commission is framed as “as you are going.” How does reading “go” as ordinary, daily life (work, home, shopping) change the church’s mission strategy compared with only organized mission trips? (See sermon: “as you are going” [30:23])
The preacher used the lost-dog story to illustrate communal effort. What does that parable imply about how a local church should mobilize for evangelism and care? What elements of the story are meant to be copied? (See sermon: lost-dog illustration [40:16])
Application Questions
The pastor challenged each person to “reach one” (Vision 2020 idea). Name one person in your relational circle you will target this year. What is the first concrete step you will take with that person this week? (See sermon: “each one to reach one.” [36:10])
Availability: what is one specific way you will demonstrate “Here I am” this month? (Examples: attend an outreach training, join a team, accept an invitation to share your testimony, set a regular time to pray for a neighbor). Write the step and when you will do it. (See sermon: “Here I am, Lord.” [13:13])
Submission: identify a current choice or habit you are reluctant to surrender to Jesus’ authority (work schedule, relationship, entertainment, money, etc.). What is one practical change you will make this week to submit that area to Him? (See sermon: “we don't retain the right to rule our own lives.” [23:34])
Obedience/disciple-making: who will you intentionally invite into spiritual conversation or invite to church in the next 14 days? What will you say or ask to move that relationship toward Christ? (See sermon: “Make disciples…as you are going.” [36:58])
Confidence in witness: when fear or shyness keeps you from sharing the gospel, what short prayer or sentence will you use to ask Jesus for help in the moment? Practice drafting that sentence now. (See sermon: “I am with you always” as the source of help. [38:41])
Church mobilization: the lost-dog story showed neighbors mobilizing quickly. What one small, concrete step can this group take in the next month to mobilize for gospel work (phone chain, neighborhood prayer walk, assigned visitation team)? Who will commit to lead that step? (See sermon: community mobilized in the search [41:59])
Sermon Clips
``Friends, Christianity is not something that we select, that we pick out. It's not something that we just choose to make a part of our lives. Friends, it's something that we become a part of. It is something in which, it's an army in which we enlist. It's a kingdom in which we join. It's a cause in which we get behind. It is a rescue mission for the souls of men and women that we put our hand in the pile for. Amen? That's what this thing is about. So there's more to following Christ than just signing up.
[00:06:01]
(37 seconds)
#EnlistInFaith
You know what faithful discipleship begins with? Making ourselves available to him. Faithful discipleship begins with availability. God, here I am. It begins with being willing to get outside of our comfort zone. It begins with being willing to put aside all of our reservations, to put aside all of our preconceived notions, and simply say, yes, Lord, here I am. We think we've got to know stuff. We think all of that. I'm sure you've heard this before, friends, but the greatest... You know what the greatest ability is? The greatest ability is availability.
[00:12:50]
(55 seconds)
#AvailabilityIsAbility
The most talented, gifted orator or Christian is useless to God if they're not willing to be used by him. I believe some of the greatest men, the men we look back on and say some of the greatest men were not the smartest, were not the most gifted. They were just willing to be used by God. Friends, that brings us to simply have you said, Lord, I'm willing. Lord, I'm here. I'm yours. I want to follow you unconditionally. Here I am, Lord. Send me. Availability is the first thing that's needed to live with purpose in our lives and to become part of a mission bigger than ourselves.
[00:15:10]
(66 seconds)
#WillingToBeUsed
If we want to be part of something bigger than yourself, then you have to listen to somebody other than yourself. You're never going to be part of something bigger than you if the only person you ever listen to is you. And God calls us to be a part of His kingdom, His mission, His army. We sing in Vacation Bible School, Oh, soldier. Right? Thank you. That's pretty good. That's pretty quick on you guys. We sing that. We talk about being part of the army of the Lord. Then we become, on Sunday morning, we become spectators and consumers of some kind of Christianity that we've chosen.
[00:27:23]
(65 seconds)
#ListenBeyondYourself
Friends, true Christianity involves making ourselves available, submitting to Him, and being obedient to His commands. You know, Jesus gives us a lot of commands throughout the Gospels. He gives us a lot of commands throughout Scripture as a whole. But here in verse 19 and 20, He gives us some of the most important instructions of all. Verse 19, He says, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.
[00:28:27]
(40 seconds)
#ObedientDiscipleship
But literally, this text is going, make disciples. As you are going, as you are going about your life, as you are living your life, where you live, where you work, where you play, where you shop, make disciples. Make disciples is the word matheteo. The root meaning refers to both believing and learning. It's not just one or the other. It involves believing. So, because a lot of people say this, we go and we make disciples and we share the gospel and somebody gets saved and we're done, right? No, it's believing, but it's also learning.
[00:30:23]
(49 seconds)
#BelieveAndLearn
So, when somebody becomes a follower of Christ, they get saved and they're transformed and regenerated in their heart, then they become a disciple of Christ. That's what happened to us. We got saved and then we began to learn. We began to grow and learning how we're supposed to be like Christ and what He wants us to do and how He wants us to live. So, that making disciples is an encompassing command. It is a command for us that as we have become a disciple of Christ, that's who He's speaking to, right? Those followers of His, those disciples of Him, then we also are to go and as we're going to what? Make disciples.
[00:31:12]
(37 seconds)
#ConnectedInChrist
Because when you are immersed into the water, the symbolism there is also that you're immersed into the body of Christ and you become part of the body of Christ. And so, when somebody gets saved, we don't just leave them out there to flounder around. We are to help them get connected to a local church. Listen, it is, I've never met a Christian who is growing as they ought, who is a lone Christian and is not connected to a local church. You look all throughout the New Testament and you do not find anywhere a believer who is a lone believer and is not connected or working with or working in conjunction with or starting New Testament churches, the local church, all throughout the New Testament.
[00:33:01]
(44 seconds)
#HeCameToSave
It is just a given that when someone gets saved, they become a part of that church. And so, as we help people come to know Christ as the Lord and Savior, we bring them to become part of the fellowship of God's people. And then, it follows through with what making disciples means. It says, verse 20, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. So it doesn't just stop with somebody becoming a Christian, but then they learn and grow into who they are supposed to be and they continue to learn and grow so that once we have become a disciple of Christ, we are supposed to go and help others become a disciple of His, right?
[00:33:45]
(39 seconds)
#GoMakeDisciples
All of this only makes sense if you think about it. We talked about this last week. What is the purpose for which Jesus came? Luke 19.10. For the Son of Man has come to what? Seeking to save that which was lost. If that's his whole purpose for coming. It is. See, people want to stop and say the reason for the season is Jesus. Yes, but the reason for the season is that Jesus came, stepped out of heaven to become a man. So that he could live a sinless life and suffer and die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.
[00:34:34]
(34 seconds)
#AlwaysWithUs
And then rise from the dead to prove that he was who he said he was. That's the full reason for the season. He came to seek and to save the lost. Friends, it only makes sense if he came to seek and to save the lost. And he's saved us and we have become a disciple of his. It only makes sense that he commands us to do what he came to do is to make disciples of all the nations. Oh, but pastor, I can't do that. I'm shy. I can't talk to people. I don't know enough. I don't know how.
[00:35:08]
(31 seconds)
And friends, here's the wonderful thing. Look at the end of verse 20. Jesus says, after he gives us these commands, he says, And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Friends, he promises to always be with us. His Holy Spirit lives inside of us. He will give us the words to say. As you pray each and every day for opportunities and for God to work in your heart and in your life and to show you who he wants you to talk to. Friends, he will be with you and he will give you what you need to say.
[00:38:36]
(35 seconds)
