Go Make Disciples: Living On Mission Every Day

Jesus’ call to “follow me” never ends with somebody sitting quietly and waiting for heaven. Matthew 28 picks up after the cross, the empty tomb, and forty days of Jesus walking alive among His people. The eleven disciples come to the mountain as ordinary, messed-up men. They have argued, run away, fallen asleep, denied Jesus, and even now, “they worshiped, but some doubted.” Yet Jesus puts the most important mission in the world in their hands.

Jesus does not tell them to come back when they have it all figured out. Jesus does not require a theology degree, a perfect past, or a fearless heart. Jesus is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for available people. The question is not whether somebody knows enough or feels ready. The question is whether somebody will make himself available for Jesus to use him.

Jesus begins the Great Commission with the truth that “all authority” in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. This is not a good suggestion for outgoing people, preachers, or those who feel especially gifted in evangelism. Jesus gives an order as the King of kings: “Go therefore and make disciples.” The command lands on every follower of Jesus.

The word “go” means more than taking an occasional trip somewhere far away. The call is to live life on mission as life is already being lived: at work, at school, in the neighborhood, around the dinner table, in the bleachers, at the grocery store, and with friends. A coworker, neighbor, classmate, teammate, or kid sitting alone may be the very person God has placed within somebody’s reach. Sometimes going starts with listening, offering prayer, sharing a story, making an invitation, or simply noticing somebody who is hurting.

Jesus commands His people not merely to collect decisions but to make disciples. Baptism publicly identifies a believer with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, while teaching leads believers to observe and obey everything Jesus commanded. Information without transformation is not discipleship. A disciple learns to live like Jesus, forgive in hard moments, worship, apologize, serve, and give God the glory. That kind of discipleship requires relationship: “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

Jesus ends the commission with the promise that makes the assignment possible: “I am with you always.” His authority starts the mission, and His presence carries it to the end. Fear may still be present, but faithfulness must move. The gospel was never meant to stop with the people who received it. Jesus calls every believer to think of one person, pray, invite, tell the story, and go make heaven crowded.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus seeks available, not perfect people. Jesus entrusted doubting and failing disciples with His mission because His work has never depended on human perfection. Availability puts a life in the hands of the One who has all authority. A shaky voice and an unfinished story do not disqualify somebody from being used by Christ. The real issue is whether somebody will answer when Jesus says go. [27:20]
• 2. Going happens in ordinary places. The call to go begins in the places already occupied every week: homes, workplaces, schools, teams, and neighborhoods. Mission does not always require a microphone, a passport, or a polished presentation. A genuine question, a patient ear, and an offer to pray can open a door that argument never could. God may have placed a believer near someone precisely because that person needs Jesus. [37:38]
• 3. Discipleship requires more than information. Jesus commands His people to teach others to observe what He commanded, not simply to know biblical facts. A person can win Bible trivia and still never follow Jesus. Christ aims at transformed hearts that forgive, obey, repent, and love differently in real life. Discipleship becomes visible when others can watch somebody follow Jesus up close. [46:42]
• 4. Christ’s presence makes faithfulness possible. Jesus does not send His people out alone with an impossible assignment. His authority stands behind the call, and His presence stays with His people in every hard conversation and every fearful step. Fear does not have to disappear before obedience begins. Faithfulness moves forward because Jesus is already there. [55:36]
• 5. The gospel must not stop here. Somebody prayed, invited, taught, served, or shared the gospel so that others could hear about Jesus. The grace received carries a responsibility to help somebody else follow the same Savior. The question “Who is feeding me?” must eventually become “Who am I feeding?” One name, one invitation, and one faithful step may be part of God changing an eternity.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [17:04] - Now What After Following Jesus?
• [22:24] - The Great Commission
• [24:19] - Imperfect Disciples Sent by Jesus
• [28:52] - All Authority Belongs to Christ
• [31:13] - Go and Live on Mission
• [35:47] - Your Everyday Mission Field
• [37:38] - Simple Ways to Go
• [43:45] - Make Disciples, Not Just Decisions
• [46:42] - Teaching People to Obey Jesus
• [48:28] - Discipleship Happens Through Relationship
• [54:58] - Who Are You Feeding?
• [55:19] - Jesus Sends Nobody Alone
• [59:14] - Go With What You Know
• [60:50] - Who Is Your One?
• [64:16] - Go Make Heaven Crowded

Bible Reading

Matthew 28:16–20
“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘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.’” [00:22:24]

1 Corinthians 11:1
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” [00:48:58]

Ephesians 3:20
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” [01:07:20]

Observation questions

1. What details in Matthew 28:16–17 show that the disciples were not presented as perfect or fearless men when Jesus gave them this mission? [00:24:19]
2. What does Jesus say about Himself before He tells His followers to make disciples, and why might the order of those statements matter? [00:28:52]
3. According to Matthew 28:19–20, what are the parts of making disciples beyond simply helping someone make a decision to follow Jesus? [00:46:42]
4. What ordinary places and simple actions can be part of “going” and living on mission? [00:37:38]

Interpretation questions

1. Why would Jesus entrust the Great Commission to disciples who worshiped Him but still had doubts? What does that show about who can be used by Christ? [00:25:37]
2. Jesus says that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. How does His authority change the way a believer should view the command to make disciples—not as a suggestion, but as a mission? [00:30:29]
3. Jesus commands believers to teach others to observe everything He commanded. What is the difference between knowing biblical information and being transformed into someone who obeys Jesus in everyday life? [00:46:42]
4. Paul says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Why does helping someone follow Jesus require relationships where people can see both faithfulness and repentance up close? [00:51:42]

Application questions

1. Where does feeling unready most often keep you from talking about Jesus—lack of Bible knowledge, fear of questions, a painful past, or fear of rejection? What would it look like to make yourself available to Jesus anyway? [00:27:01]
2. Who is one person already in your daily life—a coworker, neighbor, classmate, teammate, family member, or friend—who may need to hear about Jesus? What is one realistic next step you could take with that person this week? [01:00:50]
3. How could you more intentionally notice people who are hurting, lonely, or overlooked this week? Would it be appropriate to listen longer, invite them to coffee or a meal, sit with them, or ask if you can pray for them? [00:37:38]
4. What part of your story could you share with someone: who you were before Jesus, how you came to know Him, or what He is doing in your life right now? [00:42:51]
5. Is there someone younger in faith who could benefit from seeing how you follow Jesus in real life? What part of your life—your home, work, friendships, worship, forgiveness, generosity, or repentance—could you invite them to see more closely? [00:48:19]
6. When you think about making disciples, do you focus more on “Who is feeding me?” or “Who am I feeding?” What would need to change in your schedule or priorities to help someone else grow in following Christ? [00:55:00]
7. What fearful conversation or faithful step have you been putting off? How does Jesus’ promise, “I am with you always,” give you courage to move forward even if your voice is shaky? [00:57:34]