Scripture Passage: Matthew 28:16-20

1. Jesus Has All Authority

In verse 18, Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Everything we do flows from this truth. Jesus is the King with authority over everything — life, death, and even the hearts of people. That should give us confidence as we go about His mission.

2. Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him

Before we talk about making disciples, we need to recognize that we are first called to be disciples. Following Jesus means receiving a new identity — we belong to Him. Our lives no longer belong to us; they are His. This is symbolized in baptism, where we are named in the triune name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3. Jesus Sends Us to Make Disciples

The central command in this passage is to “make disciples of all nations.” We are not here just for ourselves — we are here to go out and make Christ known, both locally and globally. This means we need to be intentional about reaching people who don’t yet know Jesus, not just moving Christians from one church to another.

4. Jesus Is Always With Us

Finally, Jesus promises, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” As we step out in obedience to His call, we don’t do so in our own strength. We are accompanied by the One who holds all authority and who has promised never to leave us.