Make Disciples
Opening Story from History
In the mid-1800s, Edward Kimball was an ordinary Sunday school teacher who worried that his students were not truly listening. One teenager named Dwight stood out – quiet, unsure, and easily overlooked. Kimball felt a nudge to visit him at the shoe store where he worked. After much hesitation, Kimball decided to visit Moody at the shoe store where he worked. Nervous and unsure, he spoke honestly about Jesus and his concern for Moody’s faith. Years later, that young shoe clerk, Dwight L. Moody, became an evangelist who led thousands to Christ, but it all began with one disciple making another disciple.
Scripture Overview (Matthew 28:18–20)
After His resurrection, Jesus gathers His disciples and speaks with authority, reminding them that all power in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Then He gives them a mission: to be disciples that make disciples. They are to baptize people into a new life and teach them to obey what Jesus taught. This calling is not limited to pastors or missionaries. It is meant to multiply through relationships, as disciples help others learn to follow Jesus. Jesus ends with a promise, not a demand: He will be with them always. His presence turns ordinary obedience into lasting impact.
Things to Ponder
Who has quietly helped shape your faith over time?
What everyday spaces might be places to make disciples?
How does knowing Jesus is always with us change our fear of speaking or acting?
What small, repeatable habits help faith grow in a family?
Who might God be inviting you to walk alongside right now?
Application Challenge
This week, look for one person God has already placed in your life. It could be a co-worker, a friend, or someone who simply needs attention and a listening ear. What would it look like to listen, pray, and speak about your relationship with Christ to that person?
Prayer Prompt
Jesus, thank You for calling us to follow You and to help others follow You too. We often feel unsure or afraid, but You promise to be with us. Use our words, actions, and love to point others toward You, even when it feels small. Give us courage to be faithful and make disciples who make disciples. In Jesus name, Amen.
