Go! Make Disciples—all nations, every day
Daily Scripture
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Pelé: “Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string.”
Pelé saw enthusiasm as vital to winning soccer. How much more vital is it in sharing the world-changing message of Jesus? As CEB Study Bible scholars noted, “The central task given Jesus’ followers is to make disciples, with going, baptizing, and teaching serving that central task.” * Resurrection’s purpose statement, based on Jesus’ commission, is “to build a Christian community where non-religious and nominally religious people are becoming deeply committed Christians.” Revelation 2:4 warned early Christians not to lose “the love you had at first.” You’re called to be part of the greatest cause ever. That’s something to be enthusiastic about—and Jesus will be with you every day!
NOTE: We don’t go on our own authority or in our own strength. We go because Jesus, who has “all authority,” sends us. And Matthew said, “Some doubted,” yet Jesus commissioned them anyway. That’s right—Jesus sends doubters too.
- As you go about the daily rhythms of ordinary life, Jesus said, prioritize disciple-making. To “make disciples” is to guide people to accept Christ’s claims. People become disciples by joining the community of believers and submitting to Christ as Lord of their life. Teaching disciples means leading them toward obedience to Jesus, not just intellectually teaching doctrine. ** Jesus said, “Go.” How’s your “going,” anyway? Is Christ Lord of your life? How is your Lord leading you to make disciple-making a priority, from conversations with someone you see every day to more formal, planned outreach activities?
- If your enthusiasm is lagging, remember how Jesus ended his commission: “I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” What Matthew taught at the start of his gospel wasn’t just for Christmas: “Jesus is ‘Emmanuel,’ ‘God with us’ (see Matthew 1:23).” *** How will you and Jesus continue or expand your disciple-making through the rest of 2026?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to glorify you with my faithful, enthusiastic commitment to make disciples. Help me remember that you are always present with me as I live out your commission. Amen.
GPS Insights
Joshua Clough
Joshua Clough, who serves as the Lead Director of Adult Discipleship, Kids, and Family Ministries, wrote today’s Insights. He is passionate about helping people grow in faith, developing leaders, and creating meaningful pathways for discipleship across the church. Joshua says the best part of his life includes his wife, Claire, and being a girl dad to two young daughters.
Today we celebrate two-hundred and fifty years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On this day, we celebrate the founding principles of our nation. Ideals, albeit imperfectly lived out, such as liberty, equality, justice and the grand experiment of democracy.
One question has bounced around my brain the past couple weeks. Is today, the fourth of July, a birthday or anniversary?
I recently attended a panel discussion on the Declaration of Independence and one of the panelists, a professor of law suggested, “Think of [today] as an anniversary, instead of a birthday. While birthdays are important celebrations, anniversaries invite us into a moment of reflection and even recommitment.” To reflect on the anniversary of our nation’s founding invites a recommitment to the principles and ideals we value. This invites honest assessment of the ways we fall short, sometimes even soul searching, and an important recommitment to what’s important. It’s an opportunity to assess how we’re doing, and like in marriage, recommit to the hopes and dreams we aspire.
Allow me to make a simple connection between what we commemorate today as a nation, and the invitation Jesus gave his disciples on a mountain in Galilee.
There are visions for the life of a community that challenge us to live differently, change our lives, and remind us that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.
Jesus gave the disciples a vision that compelled the disciples and changed their lives. He invited people into the message of God’s unfailing, never-ending, and unconditional love. It was not a vision of nationhood; in fact, Matthew captures an important note–this vision was meant for everyone! Jesus gave a vision of belonging that transcends boundaries, not in a way that suggests difference doesn’t exist, but in a way that reminds us we are part of something beyond ourselves–the kingdom of God.
Jesus not only draws us into the greatest cause ever, but he also sends us. What we do is recommit, even daily, to following Christ.
© 2026 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Eugene Eung-Chun Park and Joel B. Green, study note on Matthew 28:19-20 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 63 NT.
** NIV Bible Commentary, Volume 2. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994, page 134.
*** Park and Green, ibid.
