The Great Commission: What Jesus Really Told Us to Do

Foundation Text: Matthew 28:19–20

Introduction

If someone asked you, "What is the mission of the church?" how would you answer?

Many Christians would say:

Win souls

Evangelize

Preach the Gospel

Reach the lost

Those are all important. But when Jesus gave His final instructions before returning to heaven, He gave one central command that ties all those things together.

Most Christians know the Great Commission. Fewer have slowed down and asked what Jesus actually commanded.

When we look carefully at Matthew 28:19–20, we discover something important:

Jesus did not tell us simply to make converts.

He told us to make disciples.

And there is a big difference.

Read the Text

Matthew 28:19–20 (LEB)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age."

I. The Main Thing Jesus Told Us to Do

When Jesus spoke these words, He gave one primary command.

Not ten commands.

Not five commands.

One command.

Make disciples.

A disciple is more than someone who believes a few facts about Jesus.

A disciple is a disciplined follower.

A learner.

An apprentice.

Someone who is becoming more like Jesus.

In the modern church, we often celebrate decisions.

Jesus celebrated disciples.

A decision may happen in a moment.

Discipleship takes a lifetime.

Ask the congregation:

Ask yourself:

If every member of our church became exactly like me spiritually, what kind of church would we have?

That question gets to the heart of discipleship.

II. Disciples Are Made As We Go

Jesus begins by saying:

"Go..."

Many Christians read this as a command to become a missionary.

Certainly some people are called to travel to distant places.

But Jesus' point is broader.

The idea is:

As you go through life, make disciples.

Where?

At work

At school

In your neighborhood

At the grocery store

In your family

In your friendships

Too many Christians think ministry happens only in church buildings.

Jesus says ministry happens wherever His people go.

The mission field begins the moment you walk out the church doors.

Application

You do not need a passport to be part of the Great Commission.

You simply need to be willing to represent Jesus wherever He places you, with whomever He places you.

III. Disciples Publicly Identify With Jesus

Jesus then says:

"Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."

Baptism is a public declaration of allegiance to Jesus.

It tells the world:

"I belong to Him."

Think of a wedding ring.

The ring does not create the marriage.

It announces the marriage.

Baptism

Baptism does not save us.

It publicly identifies us with Christ.

Important Point

Many churches have treated baptism as the finish line.

Jesus treated it as the starting line.

The Christian life begins after baptism, not before it.

IV. Disciples Learn to Obey Jesus

Jesus continues:

"Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

Notice what He does not say.

He does not say:

Teach them information.

He says:

Teach them to obey.

There is a difference.

Many Christians know Bible stories.

Many know doctrine.

Many know Christian jargon or vocabulary.

But knowledge alone does not produce spiritual maturity or Christlikeness.

Jesus is not looking for people who simply know His commands.

Jesus is not looking for people who simply believe (mentally assent to) His commands.

He is looking for people who live them.

Illustration

A doctor can tell you everything there is to know about exercise.

But if he himself never exercises, his knowledge has little value.

In the same way, knowing Scripture and obeying Scripture are not the same thing.

Christian maturity (Christlikeness) happens when truth moves from our heads into our lives.

V. The Church Has Often Settled for Less Than God Is Offering

Many churches have become very good at attracting people.

Some are very good at entertaining people.

Some are very good at educating people.

But Jesus did not command us to gather crowds.

He commanded us to make disciples.

A crowd can fill a room.

Only disciples can change a world.

The early church did not have:

Large buildings

Social media

Professional sound systems

Large budgets

But what they did have was something that most modern churches do not have.

They had disciples.

And those disciples turned the Roman world upside down.

VI. We Are Not Called to Do This Alone

The Great Commission ends with a promise.

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

This may be the most encouraging part of the entire passage.

Jesus never asks us to accomplish His mission in our own strength.

He promises His Presence.

When you share your faith:

He is with you.

When you pray for someone:

He is with you.

When you encourage another believer:

He is with you.

When you feel inadequate:

He is with you.

The Great Commission is not simply a command.

It is a partnership between the risen King and His people.

Mark 16:19–20 LEB

Then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord was working together with them and confirming the message through the accompanying signs.⟧

Bringing It Home

When we put everything together, the message is surprisingly simple.

Jesus tells us:

As you go through life,

Make disciples.

Help people publicly identify with Christ.

Teach them to obey Jesus.

Trust that Jesus is with you every step of the way.

WII-FM ("What's In It For Me?")

Many believers feel stuck in their Christian walk.

They attend church.

They listen to sermons.

They know Bible verses.

Yet something seems missing.

Often what is missing is purpose.

Jesus never intended Christianity to be something we merely consume.

He intended it to be something we live.

Philippians 2:12–13 LEB

Therefore my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure, is God.

The greatest joy in the Christian life is not simply learning about Jesus.

It is helping someone else follow Him.

When you begin investing in others, praying for others, encouraging others, and helping others grow, your own faith grows as well.

That is how discipleship works.

As we help others follow Jesus, we become more like Jesus ourselves.

Closing Challenge

This week, ask yourself three questions:

Who is helping me grow as a disciple?

Who am I helping grow as a disciple?

What is one step of obedience Jesus is asking me to take right now?

Because the Great Commission is not merely the mission of the church.

It is the vocation (calling) of every follower of Jesus.