”Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they 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 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
Our Second Mile People series looks at the life of the early church, where disciples of Jesus were called followers of the Way. These believers went from cringing in fear to proclaiming the gospel in power, from isolating in loneliness to being sent out to make disciples. The good news transformed the early church into a people who went above and beyond by the power of the Spirit. This Sunday, Pastor Kevin unpacks how the authority of Jesus impacts us as followers of His way.
Accept Jesus’ Authority
- Living in Roman occupied land, the disciples didn’t know what to do next or what came after Jesus’ resurrection.
- In response to the doubts and anxieties of the disciples, Jesus focuses on his eternal authority.
- What do you doubt that God has authority over in your life?
- When we accept the authority of Jesus we are welcomed into the reality of God’s dominion over sin in our life.
Obey Jesus’ Authority
- Baptism is an immersion in water, and we are called to be immersed in the life of God, not just sprinkled in a little of this and that.
- When Jesus sends the disciples to all nations, he’s sending them to people with cultural differences.
- Where is Jesus sending you? To your family, to your workplace?
- God wants to teach you and make you more like him—not for you to stay stagnant.
- As disciples, we are called to accept all of Jesus' commands and to teach others.
Remember Jesus’ Authority
- You have the Holy Spirit, willing to walk with you every day so that you don’t have to journey alone.
- When you’re going through tough times, remember Jesus’ authority. The challenges we face will fade, but we will live eternally with Jesus.
- In Christ, even death is not the end and the grave must submit to the authority of Jesus.
