Day 1: Under His Authority
Scripture: Matthew 28:18
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Short Thought:
The Great Commission begins with who Jesus is. He is the risen Lord, possessing all authority in heaven and on earth. His command to make disciples carries the authority of the One who died for our sins and conquered the grave.
We do not need to wait until we feel qualified or until following Jesus becomes convenient. Our obedience begins with trusting His authority. The One who sends us has the right to direct our lives and the power to sustain us. Making disciples is a calling we receive from our King.
Action:
Identify one area where fear, convenience, or personal preference has kept you from obeying Jesus. Surrender it to Him and take one practical step of obedience today.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You have all authority over my life. Forgive me for treating Your commands as optional. Help me trust Your leadership and obey You willingly. Give me courage to follow wherever You lead. Amen.
Questions:
- How should Jesus’ authority shape your priorities and daily decisions?
- What excuse do you need to surrender so you can participate in His mission?
Day 2: From Attending to Investing
Scripture: Matthew 28:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
Short Thought:
A person does not become stronger simply by watching someone else exercise. Likewise, spiritual growth involves more than listening to sermons or gathering information. A disciple learns from Jesus, follows Him, and helps others do the same.
Disciple making requires personal investment. It means making room for people, sharing the gospel, opening Scripture together, modeling obedience, and praying faithfully. You do not need to have every answer to begin. You can share what God is teaching you while continuing to grow yourself. Jesus calls every believer to participate in this work.
Action:
Write down two names: one person who needs to know Christ and one believer you can encourage toward maturity. Pray for both and arrange a conversation with one of them this week.
Prayer:
Father, help me make room in my life for people. Open my eyes to someone who needs the gospel and someone who needs encouragement. Teach me to invest patiently and faithfully in their lives. Amen.
Questions:
- Where have you become comfortable receiving spiritual instruction without putting it into practice?
- What change in your schedule would create space to help someone follow Jesus?
Day 3: Across the Street and Around the World
Scripture: Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
Short Thought:
Jesus’ commission reaches every people group. No culture, language, or location lies outside the scope of His mission. The church must care about both the neighbor nearby and the person who has never heard the gospel across the world.
Some believers will cross oceans, but all of us can reach toward the people God places around us. Our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods offer opportunities to share Christ. Parents can teach their children. Friends can read Scripture together. Churches can pray, give, and send. Faithfulness begins where we are while keeping our hearts open to wherever God leads.
Action:
Take one local and one global step today: begin a meaningful conversation with someone nearby, and pray specifically for a missionary or an unreached people group.
Prayer:
Lord, give me love for the people near me and for those far away. Remove indifference and prejudice from my heart. Help me participate in taking Your gospel to every people and place. Amen.
Questions:
- Who in your everyday life needs to hear the hope of the gospel?
- How can you participate more intentionally in making disciples among the nations?
Day 4: Learning That Leads to Obedience
Scripture: Matthew 28:19–20
“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.”
Short Thought:
Jesus gives His church a pattern for making disciples. Baptism publicly identifies a believer with Christ, declaring allegiance to Him. Teaching then helps that believer grow in understanding and obedience.
The goal reaches beyond knowing biblical facts. God’s truth should shape our choices, relationships, attitudes, and character. As we learn to forgive, serve, pray, and share our faith, we can help others practice those same things. This takes patience and a visible example. Discipleship grows as we walk alongside one another and apply God’s Word to ordinary life.
Action:
Choose one command of Jesus you need to practice today. Take a specific step to obey it and discuss what you are learning with another believer. If you have trusted Christ but have not been baptized, speak with a pastor about that step.
Prayer:
Jesus, help me put Your Word into practice. Shape my character through Your truth, and make my life a faithful example. Give me patience and humility as I help others follow You. Amen.
Questions:
- What biblical truth do you understand but struggle to practice?
- How could you help someone obey Jesus through both your words and your example?
Day 5: Never Beyond His Presence
Scripture: Matthew 28:20
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Short Thought:
Jesus closes His commission with a promise: He will be with His people. The Lord who commands the mission accompanies His church as we carry it out.
His presence remains steady when conversations feel awkward, growth seems slow, or people resist the gospel. We depend on Him because we cannot change a heart through our own ability. Our responsibility is to obey faithfully, pray persistently, and trust Him with the results. Making disciples will stretch us beyond our comfort, but it will never take us beyond His presence.
Action:
Return to the two names you wrote down on Day 2. Take a concrete next step with each person—a conversation, an invitation to read Scripture, or a time of prayer—and trust Christ to work.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for promising to be with me. When I feel inadequate or discouraged, help me depend on You. Give me boldness to speak, patience to invest, and faithfulness to continue. Amen.
Questions:
- What fear about making disciples can you entrust to Jesus because He is with you?
- What ongoing commitment will you make to help another person follow Christ?
