Make Disciples: Go, Baptize, Teach in His Authority

Devotional

Day 1: Empty Tomb and Running Feet

The women approached the tomb at dawn, spices in hand, expecting death’s stench. Instead, they found an angel sitting on the rolled-back stone like a victor resting after battle. “He is not here,” he declared, pointing to the empty space where Jesus’ body had lain. Their fear melted into joy as they ran to tell the disciples, their sandals pounding the dirt road. [44:23]

Jesus turns mourners into messengers. The resurrection wasn’t a private miracle but a proclamation to be shared. Those who encounter the risen Christ can’t stay silent—their feet carry the good news.

Who have you told about the empty tomb this week? When joy fills your heart, do you walk or run to share it? Identify one person today who needs to hear, “He is not here—He’s alive!” What keeps you from running?

“So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.”
(Matthew 28:8, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to replace your hesitation with the women’s urgency.
Challenge: Text one person today: “I heard something about Jesus this week—can I share it with you?”

Day 2: Worship and Wavering Hearts

The disciples stood on the Galilean mountain, squinting at the figure approaching them. When they recognized Jesus, some fell face-down in worship. Others hung back, eyes darting—was this a ghost? A trick? Their hands trembled; their knees locked. Doubt split the group like a wedge. [57:53]

Worship requires surrender, not certainty. Jesus didn’t scold the doubters but met them in their tension. His authority isn’t diminished by our faltering faith—He invites us to bring our split allegiance to His feet.

Where do you kneel in worship but clutch doubt in your pocket? What circumstance makes you whisper, “If it’s really You…”?

“And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.”
(Matthew 28:17, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one specific doubt to Jesus aloud, then say, “I choose to worship anyway.”
Challenge: Write down a current doubt and place it under your Bible for the day.

Day 3: All Authority, Every Inch

Jesus stood on the mountain, scars visible, arms spread wide. “All authority,” He declared—not just over synagogues and stormy seas, but over cancer cells and custody battles, panic attacks and pension funds. The Greek word “pasa” pulsed like a heartbeat: all. All. All. [01:01:28]

This authority isn’t theoretical—it’s the foundation for our obedience. We make disciples not because the world is safe, but because Christ owns every square inch of it. Fear shrinks back; authority leans in.

What situation feels outside Christ’s rule today? How would acting on His authority change your next conversation?

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

Prayer: Thank Jesus for His authority over three specific areas of your life.
Challenge: Say “Because Jesus has all authority…” before making one decision today.

Day 4: Go Where You’re Sent

The disciples shuffled feet on Galilean soil—home. Fish markets smelled familiar; childhood homes dotted the shoreline. Yet Jesus didn’t say “Stay.” He said “Go”—not to Rome’s halls but to neighbors’ homes, to the PTA meeting, to the mechanic’s shop. [01:11:14]

“Go” is both command and gift. We’re sent not as conquerors but as carriers—delivering hope to the places we know best. Your workplace, family reunion, or grocery line is your Galilee.

Who in your daily orbit needs the disciple-making version of you, not just the polite acquaintance?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
(Matthew 28:19a, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to show you one “Go” assignment within your current routine.
Challenge: Initiate a spiritual conversation with a coworker or neighbor within 48 hours.

Day 5: The With-You Promise

Dust clung to the disciples’ sandals as Jesus spoke His final words. They braced for another goodbye—but He promised presence. “I am with you” wasn’t a pep talk; it was the breath of Immanuel. The Greek “pasas tas hemeras” pressed into their fears: all the days. Every. Single. One. [01:24:05]

We disciple others from His presence, not our perfection. Failure doesn’t forfeit His nearness—He walks through botched conversations and awkward attempts.

When did you last sense Jesus’ presence while sharing your faith? What makes you forget He’s in the room?

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

Prayer: Thank Jesus for three moments this week when His presence sustained you.
Challenge: Memorize Matthew 28:20b and whisper it before any difficult interaction today.

Sermon Summary

We gather around the tomb, and we stand between last words and first words. We watch women who seek the crucified Jesus and meet an angel who rolls back a stone. We take in the trembling guards, the angelic proclamation that he is not here, and the rush of fear mixed with great joy as the women run to tell the disciples. We hold the image of worshipers touching his feet and the hard note that some still doubted. We consider the contrast between cover ups that bribe and spin and the simple, life changing reality of resurrection truth.

We hear a clear claim of authority: all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Christ. We receive a single imperative centered on one verb: make disciples. We parse three simple actions that shape disciple making. We go with purpose into our neighborhoods and workplaces, praying and building relationships so gospel conversations arise from love and proximity. We baptize not as ritual only but as the full gospel process that marks dying to self and rising to new life. We teach so new followers learn to obey, study scripture, pray, live in fellowship, and witness.

We name five essentials for disciple formation: placing Christ first, knowing and quoting scripture, persistent and humble prayer, real fellowship and unity, and bold witness that seeks the lost. We confess that disciple making feels large, but we refuse to carry it in our own strength. We act from the authority given to Christ and from his abiding presence with us until the end of the age. We commit to practical next steps: ask who we see regularly, pray for them, invest time in relationship, share the gospel clearly, baptize as an entry into the new life, and teach obedience to Jesus’ commands. We expect doubt at times, but we return to worship, keep our eyes on Jesus, and press into the relational work of making disciples. We leave resolved that the task belongs to Christ’s authority and to our steady, humble obedience in the everyday places where people live and long for hope.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ possesses all authority now We anchor every disciple-making step in the truth that Christ reigns over heaven and earth. That authority grounds mission, removes uncertainty about legitimacy, and calls us to obedience that mirrors his rule. Recognizing his supremacy shifts our confidence from methods to his power and purpose. [60:49]
2. Make disciples through three practices We center disciple making on going, baptizing, and teaching as integrated actions that form new followers. Going creates access, baptizing marks conversion and new identity, and teaching shapes obedience to Christ. This triplet keeps evangelism connected to spiritual formation rather than isolated events. [65:25]
3. Go with relational intentionality We commit to purposeful presence where people live and work, asking names, praying, and building trust over time. Intentional relationships open space for gospel clarity and sustained discipleship. Relational going expects slow fruit and relies on prayerful consistency, not charisma. [71:01]
4. Baptize and teach new believers We treat baptism as the visible entry into Christ’s death and resurrection, paired with ongoing instruction in scripture, prayer, fellowship, and obedience. Baptism signals communal reception and a life turned toward Jesus, not merely a ceremony. Teaching then nurtures the new life into mature faith and witness. [76:04]
5. Christ promises presence until the end We launch disciple-making in the confidence that Christ remains with us always, supplying authority and perseverance. His presence reorients fear into faithful action and makes our obedience fruit-bearing. We work in dependence, not in isolation, trusting his constant companionship. [83:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:39] - Last words reflection
[34:33] - The empty tomb revealed
[38:02] - Angelic appearance and guards
[39:11] - Angelic radiance described
[40:51] - Women instructed to go
[44:23] - Fear and great joy
[46:13] - Soldiers and the cover-up
[48:55] - The call to Galilee
[60:49] - All authority declared
[64:58] - The command to make disciples
[71:01] - Going with purpose
[76:04] - Baptism and gospel making
[78:30] - Teaching to observe commands
[83:50] - Presence until the end

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

What two contrasting reactions did the disciples have when they saw Jesus after His resurrection (v. 17)?
According to verses 18-20, what three actions are tied to the command to “make disciples”?
How does the sermon describe the connection between baptism and discipleship? [01:16:04]
What example was given in the sermon about “going with relational intentionality” in everyday life? [01:11:01]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus emphasized His authority (v. 18) before giving the command to make disciples? How does this order shape our understanding of mission?
The sermon mentions that doubt and worship can coexist (v. 17). How might doubt actually deepen or challenge genuine faith rather than negate it?
Baptism is described as “marking a new identity” rather than just a ritual. What does this imply about the relationship between baptism and daily obedience to Christ? [01:16:04]
The phrase “teaching them to observe all I have commanded” includes both instruction and action. How does this differ from merely teaching information?

Application questions

Who are 1-2 people in your daily life (neighborhood, workplace, etc.) that you could intentionally pray for and build relational bridges with this week? [01:11:01]
When sharing your faith, do you tend to focus more on “methods” or on Christ’s authority and presence? What practical step could help you rely less on your own efforts?
Baptism signifies dying to self and rising to new life. What old habit or mindset do you need to “die to” this month to live more fully in your identity as a disciple?
Think of a time you felt doubt while still trying to follow Jesus. How can you lean into worship (like the disciples did) even when uncertainty lingers?
The sermon highlights five essentials for disciples: prioritizing Christ, Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and witness. Which of these needs intentional growth in your life? What’s one small action to start?
How could you intentionally “teach obedience” to someone newer in faith—not just share knowledge, but model what it looks like to follow Jesus daily? [01:18:30]

Sermon Clips

57s

#RootedInTheWord

“We cannot make disciples without being people of the word. We have to be in the word. Third thing, prayer. I'm amazed at what Jesus says about prayer. There's a a ton of commands here. He talks about being humble when you pray. He talks about praying in secret. He talks about praying in faith. He talks about being persistent. He talks about praying for our enemies, for his kingdom to come, for his will to be done, for forgiveness, for victory over temptation. He asks us he commands us, not asks us, to pray for harvesters, for the harvest. Alright? So he asks us to pray.”

68s

#AuthorityOfChrist

“What he is gonna say here is not optional. It's not, conditional. It's the truth. The authority is all his. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Now he's saying this to his disciples, but he's also saying it to us. K? Because he wants us to know that he is overall. Philippians two, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess. You there's Ephesians one sixteen twenty through 23. Colossians one fifteen through 20, he is over all. All things are under him, including us.”

62s

#ExceedingAbundance

“And we need to understand we have a god who is abundant. He's beyond abundant. He can do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we think or ask. And here he's saying, all authority. He's saying, I am supreme in heaven and on earth. This has been given to me. All authority in heaven, all author authority on earth has been given to me. Many scripture verses we could look at here, but the key thing for us to understand is he is our head. He is supreme overall.”

62s

#KnowHisLove

“And you have to love our master, our savior. You have to love Jesus. You know, they didn't deserve for Jesus to speak to them. He could have said, you know, maybe I should start over and do it another way or something like that. But no, You know, we need that picture of Jesus. We need to take out of our heads. We need to understand how deep his love and his commitment is to us. So in spite of all of this, how long it took them to get to Galilee and the fact that they were still doubting, verse 18 says, and Jesus came and said to them, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

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Make Disciples: Go, Baptize, Teach in His Authority

Devotional

Day 1: Empty Tomb and Running Feet

Day 2: Worship and Wavering Hearts

Day 3: All Authority, Every Inch

Day 4: Go Where You’re Sent

Day 5: The With-You Promise

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Make Disciples: Go, Baptize, Teach in His Authority

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