Sent With Resurrection Authority
OPENING PRAYER:
Sending God, fill me with the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, and send me into the world as Your witness. Give me boldness to share what You've done and compassion to care about those who don't yet know You.
"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
This is known as the Great Commission, Jesus's final instructions to His disciples before ascending to heaven. It was given on a mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to meet Him. Matthew notes that when they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Even in that moment, doubt and faith coexisted. Yet Jesus commissioned them all.
REFLECT:
Pastor Carter's message ended with an invitation, an urgent call to seize the moment, to make this Easter your Easter, to let this be the moment that changes everything. Pastor Carter shared the story of a man who had passed over the moment so many times before, but last Easter he let go of the pew, walked to the back, and said, "This is my moment. Let's go." He came out of the baptismal water with both fists raised because he had seized resurrection power.
Jesus's final words to His disciples weren't "Hide until you feel ready" or "Wait until you have all the answers." His words were "Go." Go and make disciples. Go and baptize. Go and teach. The Great Commission is built on the foundation of the Great Resurrection. Jesus has all authority because He conquered death. And because He has all authority, He can send us into the world with confidence. We're not going in our own strength or our own wisdom, we're going in the power of the One who walked out of the tomb.
Notice what Jesus commanded: make disciples and baptize them. Baptism isn't optional or secondary, it's central to the commission. It's the public declaration that someone has moved from death to life, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. And Jesus doesn't send us out alone. His last promise is, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." The same Jesus who walked through locked doors, who appeared on the Emmaus road, who cooked breakfast on the beach, that Jesus walks with us as we go. Resurrection power isn't just for Sunday celebration; it's for Monday mission.
APPLY:
Jesus said "go and make disciples." That starts with telling your story. Who in your life needs to hear about the resurrection power you've experienced? This week, identify one person, a family member, coworker, neighbor, or friend, who doesn't know Jesus or has walked away from faith. Pray for them by name every day this week. Then look for an opportunity to share what Jesus has done in your life. You don't need to have all the answers or be a theological expert. Just tell them about your moment, when Jesus met you, what changed, why it matters. Your story, combined with the power of the resurrection, can change someone's eternity.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Jesus, You have all authority in heaven and on earth, and You've chosen to send me as Your witness. Give me courage to go, wisdom to speak, and compassion to care about those who are far from You. Thank You for the promise that You'll be with me always. Help me live sent.
PRAYER REQUEST:
Share your prayer request and pray for others.
CONTINUED READING:
Baptism as Your Next Step
The Great Commission includes baptism because it's the first act of obedience for a new disciple. If you've decided to follow Jesus but haven't been baptized, you're missing the step Jesus specifically commanded. Todd's message made it clear: baptism is your response to the resurrection. It's how you declare that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is now at work in you. Don't wait until you feel perfect or fully prepared. The disciples Jesus commissioned still had doubts, but He sent them anyway. If you're ready to obey Jesus's command and take this step, you can connect with us at pathwaychurch.com/contact or speak with your campus pastor. This could be your moment, the one you look back on and say, "That's when everything changed."