A Love the leads to the Cross and Beyond: He Rose, Now What?

Apr 19, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Worship and Doubt on the Mountain

The disciples climbed the mountain Jesus appointed. Their sandals scraped against rocks as they whispered questions about rumors of resurrection. When Jesus appeared, they fell facedown in worship—yet some hesitated. Their knees touched dirt, but their hearts wavered between awe and uncertainty. Jesus didn’t scold their mixed faith. He stepped toward them, scars visible, and began speaking life into their confusion. [41:07]

Jesus meets us in our tangled moments of belief and doubt. He knows worship can coexist with questions. The disciples’ story shows that shaky faith still qualifies us to receive His mission. Jesus didn’t wait for their doubts to vanish—He commissioned them mid-struggle.

Many of us hide our uncertainties, fearing they disqualify us from serving God. But Jesus invites you to bring your half-belief into His presence. What step of obedience have you delayed because you’re waiting for “perfect” faith?

“When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”
(Matthew 28:17–18, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to strengthen your trust in His authority, even when questions linger.

Challenge: Write down one doubt you’ve been afraid to name, then pray, “Jesus, I believe—help my unbelief.”

Day 2: All Authority in Heaven and Earth

Jesus stood on the Galilean hillside, resurrection scars gleaming. He declared, “All authority is mine”—not some, not most, but every ounce of power in galaxies and governments. Demons shuddered. Angels cheered. The disciples’ sandals dug into soil that now belonged to their King. This wasn’t a pep talk—it was a coronation. [55:34]

When Jesus claims all authority, He’s not flexing—He’s fortifying. His words assure us that cancer cells, broken relationships, and even Satan’s schemes answer to Him. The disciples’ mission—and ours—rests on this unshakable truth: Christ reigns.

You face battles that feel bigger than your strength. But the same authority that crushed death backs your obedience today. Where are you acting like a defeated soldier when your Commander holds the universe’s scepter?

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”
(Matthew 28:18, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for ruling over one specific fear or struggle you’re facing.

Challenge: Text a friend: “Jesus has all authority over ___. Pray I live like I believe it.” Fill in the blank.

Day 3: The Triangle Offense of Discipleship

Jesus sketched His game plan: “Go… baptize… teach.” Like a coach diagramming plays, He showed how disciple-making moves—outward to neighbors, downward into baptismal waters, and deeper into Scripture’s truths. This three-part rhythm—reach, welcome, grow—keeps the Church advancing against hell’s defenses. [01:00:31]

Evangelism without baptism leaves converts orphaned. Baptism without teaching breeds shallow faith. But when we obey all three, we mirror Jesus’ method: He called fishermen, walked with them, then unleashed them to multiply. The mission thrives on momentum, not programs.

Is your faith stuck in one gear? Maybe you share Bible verses but avoid messy relationships, or serve at church but never speak Christ’s name outside it. Which part of Jesus’ strategy—go, baptize, or teach—needs your focus this week?

“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.”
(Matthew 28:19–20a, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one person to invite toward baptism or deeper Bible study.

Challenge: Invite a newer believer for coffee this week to discuss a verse that changed you.

Day 4: Buried and Raised with Rubber Duckies

Water splashed as Arian and Matt plunged beneath the surface. Their baptisms weren’t magic—just messy obedience. Like the Samaritan woman running to her village, they stood dripping to declare, “I’m His!” The rubber duck bobbing nearby reminded everyone: even joy belongs in holy moments. [18:20]

Baptism isn’t a self-improvement ritual. It’s a funeral for old selves and a birthday for new creations. Jesus links it to disciple-making because going public matters. Submersion shouts, “I’m united with Christ’s death and resurrection—and His people.”

When did you last share your baptism story? Your “before and after” could ignite someone’s faith. Who needs to hear how Jesus rewrote your identity?

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
(Romans 6:4, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for your baptism day and pray for someone still needing to take that step.

Challenge: Call or text someone who witnessed your baptism and say, “Thank you for celebrating my new life.”

Day 5: I Am With You Always

Jesus’ final promise wasn’t a gold medal or a pension plan. It was Himself. “I am with you always,” He said—not “I’ll send tips” or “Good luck.” The disciples’ mission hinged on this: the King who held all authority would walk beside them through jail cells, shipwrecks, and ordinary Tuesdays. [01:23:22]

God’s presence isn’t a reward for perfect obedience—it’s the fuel for it. The disciples didn’t earn companionship; they received it. Jesus’ “with you” turns duty into delight and fear into courage. Hell’s worst tactics crumble before a God who sticks closer than a shadow.

Are you serving like a solo athlete or a teammate linked to Christ? What task feels lonely that Jesus actually wants to tackle with you today?

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20b, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to make you aware of His nearness in a specific situation today.

Challenge: Set a phone reminder at 3:00 PM today to pause and say aloud, “Jesus is here.”

Sermon Summary

Jesus rose victorious and then issued a clear, authoritative strategy for the church: go, baptize, and teach. The risen King claims all authority in heaven and on earth and uses that authority to commission a mission that reshapes identity, practice, and community. Making disciples means first calling people to genuine faith in Christ, then bringing them into the covenantal life of the church through baptism, and finally forming them into mature followers by teaching obedience to Jesus’ commands. Baptism symbolizes inward renewal, union with Christ, and entrance into the body of believers; it completes belief with belonging. The text reframes mission as a rhythmic, offensive movement—evangelism that wins converts, baptism that incorporates them, and discipleship that equips them to reproduce the cycle. The address on the mountain confronts wandering and mission drift, warning that zeal without direction can look like activity but finish last. The risen Lord’s authority undergirds the task, and his promised presence secures perseverance: the church does not act alone but as the visible instrument of Christ’s reign. Practical pastoral priorities follow: resist complacency, pursue evangelism anchored in gospel truth, welcome new believers into visible community, and invest in life-on-life discipleship so that faith deepens and multiplies. The passage paints mission as both urgent and hopeful—urgent because the world wanders; hopeful because the victorious Christ empowers his people and remains with them to the end of the age.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus' authority compels the mission The risen Lord asserts universal authority as the basis for sending the church into the world. That authority grounds urgency and removes any debate over whether mission belongs to culture or congregation: mission is a divinely commanded response to a sovereign King. Christians act under command, not cultural preference, and so must align methods to the Master’s mandate rather than popularity. [55:16]
2. Make disciples: evangelize, baptize, teach Discipleship is a single movement with three distinct practices: proclaim the gospel, incorporate believers into covenant community, and mature them in obedience. Skipping any step produces weak conversions or isolated converts; each phase shapes identity, belonging, and formation. The cycle intends reproduction—mature disciples go on mission and make more disciples. [81:56]
3. Baptism shows union and belonging Baptism symbolizes more than cleanliness; it signals an inward union with Christ and entrance into the covenant people of God. It turns personal belief into public belonging and anchors new faith within a body committed to growth and accountability. The practice protects against privatized faith by binding belief to communal responsibility. [75:18]
4. Resist mission drift; run true course Activity without the Master’s marching orders leads to wasted effort and missed victory—like runners following the wrong leader. Churches and believers must measure programs and passions against the Great Commission, pruning what distracts and investing in outward gospel work. Persistent focus on the mission realigns energy toward enduring fruit. [48:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:18] - Baptism Celebration
[17:46] - Candidates’ Testimonies
[40:49] - Reading: Matthew 28:16–20
[42:24] - He Rose—Now What?
[43:05] - The Triangle Offense Analogy
[48:31] - Warning Against Mission Drift
[50:50] - Mixed Faith and Hesitation
[55:16] - Jesus Declares All Authority
[60:31] - The Command: Go Make Disciples
[74:04] - What Baptism Signifies
[81:56] - Evangelize, Baptize, Teach—Strategy
[82:57] - Promise: I Am With You Always
[84:47] - Prayer and Sending
[100:01] - Benediction and Mission Charge

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”

Observation questions

What does Jesus claim about His authority in verse 18, and how does this connect to His command in verse 19?
What three specific actions does Jesus link to “making disciples” in verses 19-20?
How does the passage describe the disciples’ initial reaction to seeing Jesus (v. 17), and why might this detail matter?

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus emphasizes His authority before giving the Great Commission? How does this authority shape the urgency and focus of the mission?
Baptism is described as more than a ritual—it signifies “union with Christ and entrance into the covenant people of God” ([01:15:18]). How does baptism create both personal and communal responsibility for believers?
The sermon warns against “mission drift” using the analogy of a runner following the wrong leader ([48:31]). How might churches or individuals unintentionally drift from Jesus’ strategy of evangelize-baptize-teach?

Application questions

Jesus’ command to “go” implies movement toward others. Who is one person in your life you feel called to intentionally share the gospel with this week, and what step will you take to start that conversation?
Baptism publicly declares belonging to Christ and His church. How does your involvement in a faith community (serving, accountability, worship) reflect this “belonging”? Are there areas where you’ve privatized your faith?
The sermon highlights teaching as essential for maturing disciples ([01:19:44]). What is one area of obedience to Jesus’ commands (e.g., forgiveness, generosity, prayer) where you need growth? Who could help you grow in this?
“Mission drift” happens when activity replaces focus. What routines, habits, or priorities in your life might need pruning to stay aligned with Jesus’ Great Commission?
Jesus promises His presence “to the end of the age.” How does this truth change the way you approach challenges in sharing your faith or living obediently?

Sermon Clips

37s

#GoMakeDisciples

“In other words, Jesus has in mind a church that looks like heaven. He says, go and meet people who may not even look like you and make disciples out of them. This is our fundamental calling. Ladies and gentlemen, as baptized followers of Jesus Christ, you and I simply put are to be about his business of making disciples. Simply put, we need to be leading the lost to Jesus Christ. That good old fashioned word, evangelism. We need to be sharing the good news of Jesus with a lost and dying world.”

32s

#StayOnMission

“But the devil is a liar. Amen, George. He is absolutely a liar and he is one who has been defeated. And so this morning, what I wanna do in your midst is I wanna remind you what Jesus reminds us of in this text, and that is what is our God given mission as followers of Jesus Christ? Jesus rose. Now what? What's our duty? What's our job? What should we be focused on? Because God forbid, we succumb to a state of complacency or confusion.”

44s

#GospelToTheLost

“Because a disciple again is a believer who follows in the way of the master. In order to follow Jesus, you need to believe in Jesus and since belief comes before following, then that automatically answers the second question which is how do you make a disciple? How do you make a disciple? And ladies and gentlemen, throughout the bible, there's always only been one definitive method for making disciples and that is by taking the word of the gospel to the lost. Again, that good old fashioned word, evangelism. And I believe with all of my heart that this is the solution and the answer to our greatest need right now is the word of the gospel to the lost.”

35s

#OffCourseWarning

“Here she was running for about 400 meters completely oblivious that she had, you know, run off course. She's running hard as she can run and she's just given it everything that she had. She's running hard, yes, but she's running hard off course. And by the time she realized it and fought to get back in the race, it was far too late. Jesse went from a certain victory to finish in ninth place. The same could be said for many churches today because many churches today are following wrong leaders and finish in last place.”

32s

#StopMissionDrift

“We're going through all the motions appearing to be alive. Yes. We're appearing to be in the race and we're appearing to be about something, but we have no direction. We have no focus. Yeah, we have a bunch of programs, yes, we have a bunch of activities, and yes, we have many bright ideas, but somewhere along the way, we've lost our focus and therefore, our finishing last place. In other words, this is called mission drift. And many churches have succumbed to mission drift.”

41s

#FightForTheChurch

“I don't need to convince you this morning that you and I are in an all out battle royal with the enemy, Satan. And in this this game of life, the enemy will do any and everything possible to neutralize the church if we let them. In some circumstances, it's the cynicism and indifference of our time, and in other circumstances, it's the political divide that puts many of us at odds. But in every circumstance, it's the same. Satan's aim is to isolate us away from one another, distract our focus away from the gospel in order that you and I might forfeit the plan of God for our lives.”

37s

#MultiplyDisciples

“He says, in other words, I want you to grow people up in the faith. Because it's not enough for us just to see people profess faith in Christ and it's not enough for us to just simply see people baptized. Jesus wants to see people matured, growing in their faith and devotion to Jesus Christ. And there's a myriad of ways that we can do this. Best way I believe is through life on life discipleship. Paul reminds Timothy, what you've heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, he says, want you to entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

31s

#GoBeWitnesses

“He doesn't say, I want you to go out and fight within a culture war. No. He says, preach the word. In Acts chapter one, he says, you will be my witnesses and then he sends the disciples out to the other ends of the world. Why? Because he expects the church to be going. He expects the church to be reaching the lost. He expects the church to be on mission, ready and prepared with the word of the gospel on our mouths so that we can see souls saved for the glory of Jesus Christ.”

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A Love the leads to the Cross and Beyond: He Rose, Now What?

Devotional

Day 1: Worship and Doubt on the Mountain

Day 2: All Authority in Heaven and Earth

Day 3: The Triangle Offense of Discipleship

Day 4: Buried and Raised with Rubber Duckies

Day 5: I Am With You Always

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

A Love the leads to the Cross and Beyond: He Rose, Now What?

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