Disciple-making church – Part 1
Sermon Series: Who We are
Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20
John Son
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[a] 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.”
Introduction
Discipleship as the mission of the Church
The passage we read today is often called the Great Commission. If you don't know what "commission" means, it refers to a special assignment or mission given to a person or group on behalf of another. So when we look at the Great Commission, we see a special assignment that Jesus gave to His church. And this assignment is not simply one of many things the church is called to do; but it points to the very purpose of the church's existence.
So in our text today, Jesus gives His disciples a clear command: V19-20 - 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] 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.”
In the original Greek, the expression “make disciples” is in the imperative form, which make it the central command of the Great Commission. The words “go,” “baptizing,” and “teaching” are written in the participle form, which describe how this mission is to be carried out. So in other words, Jesus has commissioned His church to make disciples by going into the world, baptizing those who come to faith in Christ, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded.
This is not just one ministry of the church; it is the mission of the church. Everything else we do serve this greater purpose.
But to understand why this mission matters, we need to understand the bigger story God has been telling throughout the Bible.
One helpful way to understand the Bible is through four movements: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation. From beginning to end, the Bible tells the story of God's purpose to redeem a people for himself and restore all things under the reign of Jesus Christ.
The story begins with Creation—when God made all things good and created humanity to know Him, reflect His character, and live under His good rule. But through the Fall, sin entered the world, breaking our relationship with God and bringing corruption into His creation.
And yet, God did not abandon what He had made. Throughout the Old Testament, He unfolded His plan of redemption, promising a Savior who would deliver His people from sin. And these promises were ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whom God sent to save sinners through His life, death, and resurrection.
Now, For many of us who grew up in the church, we are quite familiar with this salvation story. We know how Jesus came to save us from our sins, how through faith in Him we receive forgiveness, and how we are reconciled to God. And rightly so, because the gospel of Jesus Christ is at the very heart of our Christian faith. But sometimes, we become so familiar with the story of our salvation that we forget that our salvation is not the end of God's redemptive story, but it is the beginning of a new life in Christ.
Jesus didn't simply come to save us from our sins so that we could spend the rest of our lives waiting to go to heaven. Yes, through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has secured our forgiveness and reconciled us to God. And that is wonderful news! But God saves us NOT only from something, but also for something. He saves us so that we might be transformed into the likeness of Christ and take part in His ongoing work in the world.
And we see this as God’s story continues beyond Jesus' resurrection. Jesus ascends to heaven, pours out His Holy Spirit, and sends His disciples into the world to bear witness to Him. The church is born, the gospel begins spreading from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, and people from every nation are being gathered into God's family. The story of God's redemption continues, and this mission continues today.
In other words, God has not finished His work in the world, and He has not called His people simply to sit on the sidelines and watch. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been saved by grace and given a new identity as God's people. And as His people, we have also been given a new purpose: to participate together in His ongoing mission in the world.
As we follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit works in us to transform our hearts, our character, and the way we live. He makes us more like Christ, and this is what it means to be a disciple—to follow Jesus and continually grow to become more like Him. But discipleship doesn't stop with our own growth. As the church, we are also called to help others come to know Jesus and grow to become more like Him. This is what it means to make disciples—not only growing together to become more like Jesus, but also to help others follow Him and grow in their relationship with Him. In this way, we participate together in the mission Jesus has entrusted to His church.
Now, If I were to ask Christians why they come to church, or what the purpose of the church is, I’d get a lot of different answers. And in my conversations, three seem to come up most often:
Many say they come for community: a community where they are accepted and loved, and where they can pray, serve, and care for one another alongside others who share their beliefs.
Another is the teaching of Scripture: the church exists to strengthen believers’ knowledge of God’s truth through preaching, teaching, and Bible study.
I also hear people say the purpose of the church is Worship - that the church is to be a community of people that can come together, lift up, exalt, and praise our God out of holy reverence.
Now, I obviously agree with what they are saying. I think community, teaching of the Word, and Worship are all significantly vital to who we are as a church. But as much as these things are vital to the life of church, these things are not the purpose of the church. Community, the knowledge of Scriptures, worship - they are not the end; they are a means to an end. They are to lead us towards fulfilling our purpose as a church – which is for ourselves to be growing as disciples of Jesus who go on to make disciples.
Robby Gallaty, who is a Christian author and a preacher, says it this way –
“When the church becomes an end in itself, it ends. When Sunday school, as great as it is, becomes an end in itself, it ends. When small groups ministry becomes an end in itself, it ends. When the worship service becomes an end in itself, it ends. What we need is for discipleship to become the goal, and then the process never ends. The process is fluid. It is moving. It is active. It is a living thing. It must continue to go on. Every disciple must make disciples.”
he reason the church exists, and the reason Jesus has given us these opportunities to build community, teach the Word of God, and gather for worship, is to make disciples who will follow in the footsteps of Jesus and participate in God’s redemptive mission of seeking and saving the lost.
And when someone comes to Christ, the church’s role doesn’t end there. We are called to help them grow to become more like Jesus, so that they, too, can join us in this mission of reaching others with the gospel.
That’s why we exist as a church: to become disciples of Jesus who grow in His likeness and make more disciples who also grow to become like Christ. And those disciples go out and make even more disciples, who in turn make more disciples. Until when? Until the gospel reaches the ends of the earth!
And so everything that we do and offer as a church has a bigger reason for it other than just the particular program or event.
When we gather every Sunday for worship, we intentionally center our time on the gospel through our songs, prayers, and the preaching of God's Word. As we are reminded of His grace and renewed by His truth, we grow in Christlikeness and return to our everyday lives ready to reflect Jesus and share His love with others.
When we offer Alpha and Christianity 101, we create spaces where seekers and new believers can explore the Christian faith, ask honest questions, and encounter Jesus. Our goal is to help them understand the gospel, put their faith in Christ, and begin their journey as His disciples.
When we gather in Life Groups, we intentionally center our relationships on Jesus and His work in our lives. As we share our lives, pray, and encourage one another, we learn to apply the gospel to our everyday struggles and grow together in Christlikeness.
When we offer discipleship courses, such as Hermeneutics and the Beatitudes, we help people understand God's Word more deeply and apply it to their lives. Our goal is not simply to gain biblical knowledge, but to be shaped by the gospel and become more like Jesus.
When we offer ministry programs and special events, whether through partnerships with organizations like Good Shepherd, or having Saturday Morning Devo, workshops, or conferences, we seek to make Jesus and the gospel central. These are opportunities to grow in faith, serve others, and become more mature disciples who help others follow Jesus.
Even when we gather for fellowship—through sporting events, newcomers' dinners, or our Thanksgiving and Christmas luncheons—we want our relationships to reflect the love and grace of Jesus. As we welcome and care for one another, we learn to love as Christ has loved us and grow together as His disciples.
And through all these experiences, as you grow closer to Jesus and become more like Him in your character, you are also being equipped to relate to the people around you in the way of Jesus—not just within the church with your brothers and sisters in Christ, but also among the people you encounter in your everyday life who do not yet know Him.
That’s part of what it means to “make disciples of all nations.” In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples, “You will be my witnesses … to the end of the earth.” This doesn’t mean that everyone must travel to a faraway country to participate in missions. It also means being His witnesses right where He has placed us—in our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and other places where we naturally interact with people who don’t know Jesus.
As disciples of Jesus, we are called to be intentional about how we live among them. We want to reflect the love of Christ, care for the people around us, and look for opportunities to share the gospel so that they, too, may come to know His saving grace.
So whether it’s your neighborhood, workplace, school, sports team, online gaming community, or social media, don’t simply be present among people. Take an interest in their lives. Ask how they’re doing, listen to what they’re going through, offer to pray for them, and look for ways to serve and care for them. Because through these simple acts of love, people can begin to see and experience the love of Jesus through you.
And so, this brings us back to the purpose of the church: to make disciples. We help people come to Christ and find new life in Him, grow in the character and likeness of Jesus, and then go out into the world to help others follow Him. That is how we grow as disciples and participate together in making disciples of all nations.
2 Things we need to do to be a part of disciple-making mission
Now, when we look at Matthew 28 from this perspective, there are two things we need to focus on as a church if we're going to participate in the disciple-making mission Jesus has given us.
The first thing that we need to do to be a part of this disciple-making mission is:
We need to make ourselves available.
When we look in verse 16, it says, 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
You see, when Jesus was in Jerusalem, both before and after His resurrection, He told the disciples to meet Him in Galilee. Now, what's significant about this is that Galilee was not just around the corner. Going to Galilee was a three-day walk which required their time and effort to get there. They had to make sacrifices with their time and effort. They had to leave things behind to be at Galilee.
And what's interesting is that they did this even though they were still struggling with doubts. See what it says in v.17 - 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
In other words, they didn't have everything figured out. They didn't have all the answers. But they showed up. They made themselves available to Jesus.
And it was there, on that mountain, that Jesus entrusted them with the Great Commission.
My brothers and sisters, this is where our participation in the disciple-making mission begins. We need to make ourselves available—not simply to be involved in church activities, but to invest in people and help them follow Jesus.
Some of you might be thinking, "I don't know where to start. I don't know what to say. I don't feel equipped to help someone else grow in their faith."
But you don't have to have everything figured out before you begin. Start by making yourself available to the people God has placed around you. Be intentional about building relationships, encouraging someone in their faith, sharing what you're learning from God's Word, or walking alongside someone who is taking their first steps toward Jesus.
You may not know exactly where those relationships will lead, but you can take the first step.
Don't wait until you feel completely ready. Make yourself available, and trust God to work through your willingness to help others follow Jesus.
The second thing that we need to do to be a part of this mission is:
We must Trust in the Complete Authority and Presence of Jesus
even when we are willing to make ourselves available and invest in the lives of others, we may still feel inadequate for the task. We may wonder whether we know enough, whether we are equipped to help someone grow in faith, or whether we will know what to say when difficult questions arise. Sometimes, we look at the people around us and wonder whether they will ever come to know Jesus. And when we consider the responsibility of helping others follow Him, we can easily become discouraged or hesitant.
So where do we find the confidence to move forward, even when the mission feels daunting?
Listen to how Jesus begins the Great Commission in verse 18:“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Notice the word all. Jesus does not say that some authority has been given to Him, or that His authority extends only to certain people or circumstances. All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus. He has authority over all creation, over every nation, and over every circumstance we may face as we carry out His mission.
Think about what that means for us. When we share the gospel with someone who seems uninterested, Jesus is still Lord. When we walk alongside someone whose spiritual journey is slow and difficult, Jesus is still Lord. When we feel inadequate, unsure of what to say, or afraid of getting things wrong, Jesus is still Lord. Our confidence does not rest on how capable we feel, how receptive others may be, or whether we can see immediate results. It rests on the authority of Jesus Christ.
And this is important because Jesus does not ask us to accomplish His mission through our own strength. He calls us to participate in what He is doing. We are responsible for faithfully making disciples—sharing His Word, teaching others to obey His commands, and walking alongside them in faith. But we are not the Savior. We cannot change a person's heart by our own knowledge or convincing words. We depend on the Lord who has all authority and who is able to work in ways we cannot see.
Then, at the end of verse 20, Jesus gives us another promise: V.20b - “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The One who sends us is the One who has all authority, and He promises that He will never leave us. We are not sent out alone; Our Lord Jesus is with us every step of the way!
So, church, we don't need to wait until we feel confident enough, knowledgeable enough, or capable enough before we begin making disciples. Our confidence comes from Christ, not from ourselves.
Because Jesus reigns, we can take the next step of faith. Because Jesus is with us, we can persevere when the work is difficult. His presence will sustain us and His Spirit will strengthen us as we follow Him.
So, my brothers and sisters, let us go forward—not trusting in ourselves, but trusting in Jesus, who has all authority and has promised to be with us always, to the end of the age.
Reflection and Response
So, in light of this message, let’s take a moment to reflect and respond.
My brothers and sisters, the mission Jesus has given us is to be His disciples who make disciples. We are called to be a disciple-making church, and God is calling every one of us to be part of this mission.
For some of you, perhaps the Lord is calling you to begin this journey by coming to know Jesus personally—to encounter His grace, receive His forgiveness, and experience the new life He offers you.
For others, perhaps the Lord is calling you to grow in your discipleship—to make yourself available to His Word, to be shaped by His Spirit, and to grow in the character and likeness of Jesus.
And for those who have been walking with the Lord for many years, perhaps He is calling you to be more intentional in helping others follow Jesus, whether they are growing in their faith within the church or are still coming to know Him.
Wherever you find yourself today, the Lord is calling you to keep growing as His disciple and to help others become His disciples.
So, let me leave you with a few questions to reflect on:
Am I making myself available to Jesus to continue growing as His disciple? What is one area of my life where I need to grow in my knowledge, love, or obedience to Him?
Who has God placed in my life that I can intentionally walk alongside and help grow in their faith?
What fears or hesitations might be holding me back from participating in Jesus’ disciple-making mission, and how can I trust more deeply in His authority and presence?
