“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...”

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.”

Jesus gave us this great commission: to go, to be a disciple, or follower of him, to make disciples of all nations, to baptize into his name, to teach, and then to build others up. Today many people think all this means is to go to church. One of my favorite teachers says that church makes a really bad hobby, that we have a much higher calling. Jesus calls to us to have a personal relationship with him as a follower, and then to be one who makes disciples, by being in relationship with others. It takes more than sitting for a few hours on a Sunday morning to engage others, it takes a commitment to community, to build others up in his name. And we can’t do this on our own, but only by his authority and his power!

Use us by your authority to build others up in your name; thank you that you are with us always.

ESV Lectionary