Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read Matthew 28:18-20. Consider where this message falls in the gospel of Matthew. What has transpired? How does this align with the message of Matthew as a whole?
• Why does Jesus emphasize his authority here? How would this have encouraged these disciples?
• Describe how the “therefore” in v. 19 in functioning. What imperatives, or words functioning as imperatives, do you see in vv. 19-20? Consider how each of these functions as a part of this whole commission.
• Consider the singular nature of “the name” in v. 19. Consider the plural nature of “the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”. How do these fit together? How does this describe the nature of God? Why is this absolutely crucial for making disciples?
• Why does Jesus end this instruction with a reminder of his presence? What does Jesus mean here since we know he bodily ascended shortly after this? How would this have been a comfort to these disciples?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Describe in totality what Jesus is instructing his disciples to do. Upon what basis does he give these instructions? What hope does he give for the ability to carry out these instructions?
• Describe the relationship of the church to these instructions that were given by Jesus to his disciples. How does this commission apply to you?
• Consider the global and totalitarian nature of the commands here. Is there anyone we are not to seek to make disciples of? Is any other religious following acceptable to Jesus based on this command?
• Consider the Trinitarian basis for disciple making. Why is this significant?
• How do Jesus’ authority and presence impact how we make disciples?