The Great Commission

A couple of things you should know about me before we start.

First, today is a very special day — my wife and I are celebrating eighteen years of marriage. Eighteen years, with many more to come. About five years ago we moved back up to Waverly, and our family has been part of Riverwood ever since.

Second, education is my vocation. I’ve been a teacher, an administrator, and now I work at a university. As I was joking with one of our college students last week, today’s message might come across a little like a college lecture. You’re getting the professor today, not the preacher. But the professor is going to do his best to act like a preacher.

Third, I have a pretty boring life.

You know those afternoon conversations at work or at school where somebody asks, “How was your weekend?” My answer is usually, “Eh, not much. Just another weekend.” The boring stuff that’s typical of me.

But a couple weeks ago I actually had something to talk about.

The Shot

A couple Sundays ago I zoomed out of here right after the message and drove with my two sons to Iowa City for the University of Iowa women’s basketball game. My parents have season tickets, so we went with my dad.

And we just happened to go to the game where Iowa was playing Indiana.

Anybody catch that game? Indiana was ranked number two. Iowa was also in the top ten. Carver-Hawkeye Arena — which has hardly ever sold out for a women’s basketball game — was completely sold out. ESPN was there. College GameDay. It was a massive deal.

If you didn’t catch the highlights: it was back and forth the entire way, right down to the last ten seconds. Then a questionable call. Indiana goes to the free throw line on a call that — and we Iowa fans all know this — should have been traveling. But it wasn’t. She goes to the line, makes her shots, and Indiana takes the lead.

Coach Bluder calls a timeout and sets up the play. Everybody in that sold-out arena is on their feet, and everybody knows exactly where the ball is going. If you follow Iowa women’s basketball, you know the play is being drawn up for Caitlin Clark.

Sure enough, they come out of the timeout and run this old Hoosiers picket-fence type of thing. She runs all the way around, comes off multiple screens, catches the ball, and shoots at the buzzer.

Hawks win.

The place goes absolutely bonkers. An unbelievable scene. And for the first time in years I had something to talk about on Monday morning.

It was that big of a deal. It’s such a big deal I’m still telling you about it. It’s fun to hop on YouTube and watch the clip — but my boys and I were there. We watched it happen. And it was loud. When that place erupted, it was really loud.

It was memorable. It was worth sharing about.

In today’s passage we’re going to see a similar situation. A group of people who witnessed something absolutely unbelievable — and as a result, they were compelled to tell others about it.

Matthew 28

Open your Bible or your Bible app to Matthew 28, verses 16 through 20.

If you’ve been with us the past few weeks, we’ve been in a series in the book of Acts. We’re going to pause that series for a moment and go back in time a little, to the event that really sets up the entire book of Acts and everything we’ve been learning about the early church.

We’re picking up with Jesus reunited with His disciples after the Easter event.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16–20)

Will you pray with me?

Dear God, what a pleasure it is to gather today — to be reminded of what You’ve done for us on the cross and what that means for us now. As we think back to the history of Riverwood Church, we’re thankful for the couple who answered Your call to start a new church here in Waverly about a dozen years ago, centered on that very same Easter message. And as we consider our recent study of the book of Acts and how the gospel was on the move in the early church, I pray the gospel would be on the move here at Riverwood. In the days and weeks and months to come, help us be so enthralled with what You’ve done in our lives that we simply cannot wait to tell others about it. Be with me today, and may the words I share come straight from You. In Jesus’s name we pray, amen.

Here’s where we’re headed. First, I want to set the stage for what’s actually going on. Second, I want to highlight the doubt the disciples express. Third, I want to look at the proclamation in verse 18. And I want to finish with the mandate in the final two verses.

Setting the Stage: A Told-You-So Moment

I jumped in at verse 16, but look at the first seven verses of Matthew 28. There you catch the Easter story about halfway through. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb. Jesus has died, and they’re wondering what’s going on and why He isn’t there. There’s an earthquake. The guards have no idea what’s happening. And then an angel appears and tells the women: don’t be afraid, Jesus is risen. Tell the disciples He has risen, and that they’ll see Him in Galilee.

If I can frame this in a few words: this is a told-you-so moment.

Look at the parallel passage in Luke:

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24:1–7)

“Remember how He told you.” That’s a told-you-so moment.

And this is bigger than a buzzer beater. All of us in Carver-Hawkeye thought and hoped Caitlin Clark was going to hit that shot — but we didn’t know until the ball left her hands whether it was going in.

The difference in this story is that Jesus had been telling them exactly what was going to happen. It’s like they’d seen the instant replay before it even happened.

Back in verse 10 of Matthew 28, Jesus appears again to the disciples and says, “Here I am. Go to Galilee. I’ll see you soon.” And that’s where our text picks up.

The Doubt

But what happens in Galilee isn’t quite what you’d expect in the middle of a told-you-so moment.

It’s easy to skim past verse 17: “And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.”

Some worshiped. Others doubted.

Despite the fact that Jesus had told them this was going to happen — despite the fact that these same disciples had been with Him just days earlier, had seen Him, had heard Him say, “Guys, I’m going to die, and on the third day I’m going to rise again” — some doubted.

That’s a wild story.

If you’ve been around church a while, you’ve probably heard of the guy who captures this best:

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24–29)

As I think about the disciples’ reaction, I see two different types of doubters. As I describe them, you may find yourself relating to one.

The Daily Doubter

The daily doubter hears Thomas’s story and thinks, I’ve been to church a lot. I’ve been coming a long time. But I’m not really sure this Jesus guy is real. I’m not sure what He did is all that important. I hear about Him constantly and I just don’t get that excited.

If that’s you, I want you to know you are welcome here. We are genuinely glad you chose to come today, and glad you keep coming. Riverwood exists to help people exactly like you — people who are doubting and feel a little disconnected from Jesus. Keep coming. Keep asking those questions. Keep exploring who Jesus is and what He can do in your life.

But don’t take my word for it. If you’re a daily doubter, I’d encourage you not to take my word but to dig into God’s Word. Keep asking. Is God real? Is Jesus real? Is there actually significance to this Easter story? Dig into Scripture, and pray honestly: If You’re real, Jesus — if You really did die on the cross for my sins — what does that mean for me?

The Circumstantial Doubter

Maybe you’re not a daily doubter. Maybe you’re what I’d call a circumstantial doubter. This kind of doubt comes and goes. You know Jesus is real — but based on what’s happening in your life right now, you just don’t know.

I don’t know where God is right now. I’m not sure where the next paycheck is coming from. I don’t know how we’re going to handle this situation in our family. I’m not sure how I’m going to stay in school. I have no idea how I’m going to handle my in-laws.

If that’s you, Riverwood exists for you too. We’re so glad you keep coming back and keep asking those questions. And my hope is that today — as you hear Thomas’s reaction, as we take communion in a little bit, as we hear the proclamation in verse 18 — your response is exactly Thomas’s response: My Lord and my God.

The Proclamation: He’s Got This

Regardless of which kind of doubt you’re carrying today, I want you to take a few things from verse 18.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

How many of you have been in that moment where you’re about to apply for the job, or take the big test, or make a major move in life — and someone says, “Hey. You got this.”

You know what I’m talking about. And it feels good, temporarily. Oh, I do got this. That’s me. I got it. Yes, I can do it.

I’ve got bad news for all of us. That is not what verse 18 is about.

Verse 18 doesn’t say all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, Matt. It says all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus.

And if you’re anything like me, that can be a hard one to swallow.

When the next state or federal election rolls around — if only that one person gets elected, our world will be a better place. Or when you’re making a decision about your kid’s life, which school they should attend, which friends they should make — if only they go to this school, if only they make this friend.

That’s the “I’ve got this” mentality.

What verse 18 teaches us is that He’s got this.

Do me a favor. Turn to the person next to you. Don’t tell them they’ve got it. Tell them: He’s got this.

If you need further confirmation, this really spoke to me as I studied this week:

For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. (Psalm 135:5–6)

Without this proclamation — without all authority being given to God — all of our Christianity, everything it means to be a Jesus follower, absolutely falls apart.

Have you ever thought about this? The only reason we can trust God is that He has all the authority. Not some of it. Not most of it. All of it. And not just sometimes — all the time.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1–2)

If Jesus is the Creator — if He existed from the beginning — then today’s passage reminds us that He has all authority. We can rest assured that He does indeed have this.

And that should give us enormous comfort. But as we’re about to see, it should also compel us into action.

The Mandate: Make Disciples

All authority has been given to Jesus — and as a result, we are to make disciples of all nations.

So if we’re being told to make disciples, it’s probably worth knowing what a disciple actually is.

Here’s a working definition: a disciple is someone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, intentionally learns from Him, and strives to live more like Him.

Or, if I can summarize it in the phrase our lead pastor uses all the time — and those of you who’ve been at Riverwood a while have heard it many times — our aim is to help people live like Jesus lived and love like Jesus loved.

That’s a disciple.

But if you’re anything like me, when you read “Go therefore and make disciples,” you immediately think: that’s for the missionaries. The full-time people. The ones whose photos are on the wall as you walk into our worship space.

Our Missionary Partners

I do want to take a moment to highlight them.

First, a couple planting a church in North Minneapolis — about a three-and-a-half hour drive north of here. They’ve been partners with Riverwood a long time, starting a new church not to accumulate a bunch of people but to genuinely reach the people of their neighborhood.

Second, a couple serving in Southeast Asia, doing the very same work half a world away.

And third, a partner serving in West Africa.

Three partnerships around the world. Three couples and individuals who have dedicated their lives to this work alongside us.

And a Friend of Mine

I want to tell you about one more person.

A friend of mine was a sixth grader back when my wife and I were helping with youth group at our former church in Cedar Rapids. And if you can imagine, sixth grade boys are a challenge to wrangle into focusing on God’s Word at youth group.

I’m really proud to say that he and his wife — much older now — are full-time missionaries with a campus ministry organization. They’ve dedicated their lives to reaching young people, and they currently serve at a university campus in Nebraska.

Here’s what he wrote me this past week about the work of making disciples on campus:

“I’ve had the privilege of meeting with an agnostic student I met sharing the gospel in December. This student has a religious background but doesn’t currently know if God exists — though he likes talking about God, Jesus, and the Bible. This week he asked if he could film my job for a school project. So he came to our big student gathering, started filming, and then sat quietly in the back for almost an hour. Afterward I went and chatted with him, and he shared that he longed for the hope and community our students have. I invited him to come back as a participant next week and to read the Bible with me — and I’m proud to say he told me he’d really enjoy that. I’m praying God will soften his heart to the gospel, and that he’ll acknowledge his sin and his need for a Savior.”

An agnostic student. Someone who outwardly says God isn’t for him. Not a lukewarm person who grew up in church — someone who says he doesn’t want anything to do with Jesus.

And my friend says: I’m a disciple maker. That’s my aim.

But It’s Not Just for Them

As you may already be thinking, this mandate isn’t just for the partners on our wall. It isn’t just for my friend on a Nebraska campus.

This mandate is for you and for me.

We don’t live in North Minneapolis. We don’t live in West Africa or Southeast Asia. But we do have opportunities to interact with coworkers and neighbors and friends.

The mandate is this: if we call ourselves Jesus followers, we are called to be disciple makers. And if we act on that, it happens in our neighborhoods, in our dorms, at the workplace, in the McDonald’s drive-through — wherever we find ourselves. That’s where we’re called to make disciples.

A Coach Who Gets It

I want to share something with you. The Aurora University football team had just been beaten by the Wartburg Knights in the 2022 Division III playoffs. What follows is an excerpt from the postgame press conference.

A player named Cam was answering a question about what making it this far means for the entire program. And his answer — giving glory to God — is maybe a little surprising, but not too surprising:

“First, thank you Lord Jesus Christ. I forgot to say that at Whitewater last time and I had to say it right now. But building on what they said — it’s just a standard. We want to let everybody in that locker room know that they’re building on this, and they’re going to go even further next year. They’re going to win the national championship next year. We just want to keep doing greatness on and off the field. That’s all we wanted to show.”

That’s pretty cool on its own. But watch how his coach responds:

“I’ll just add this. Football’s a lot like life — there’s a lot of wins and losses in life, and how you handle it is how you build your character. And I thought what Cam said was very apropos to our whole year. Our greatest victory wasn’t any of the eleven. Our greatest victory was our first Bible study, when twenty kids gave their heart to Christ and sixteen of them got baptized two weeks later in the Fox River. That’s victory. And thank you for reminding your coach of that.”

Twenty professions of faith. Sixteen baptisms. That’s the entire offense plus more — or the entire defense plus more — turning their lives over to Jesus.

God is using that coach in an amazing way. He understands that Jesus’s mandate to make disciples is part of his daily life.

So What Do I Do?

If you’re thinking, “Okay, I get it — what are my first steps?” here are a few entry points.

First, dig back into God’s Word. I’m guessing that before that coach could lead a Bible study, he had to know God’s Word himself. You can’t share what you don’t know. So a simple first step today is getting back into Scripture so you’re able to share it with others.

Second, pursue biblical community. If we want to be built up and develop the confidence to share God’s Word with others, we need to be in community where we can grow in our own faith journey. If you’re not in a growth group yet, check one out.

Third, spend quality time with people who don’t yet know Jesus. I don’t know if you’re like me, but I feel most comfortable hanging out with like-minded people. If we’re going to live out this mandate, we have to intentionally spend real time with those who aren’t yet followers of Jesus.

One Hard Question

Can I ask you a genuinely tough question today?

How excited are you to tell others about Jesus?

Remember how excited I was to tell you about a buzzer beater? That pales in comparison to the proclamation we’ve looked at today.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:7–8)

Riverwood friends — is Jesus your everything?

Are you so overjoyed with what He’s done in your life that you cannot wait to tell others about it?

Are you willing to put your reputation on the line — as a student, as an athlete, as an employee, as a neighbor, as a coworker — for the sake of telling others about Jesus?

This isn’t optional. It’s a mandate.

And the good news is right there in verse 20: He will be with us as we do it.

A Prayer

Father, I thank You today for what You’ve done for us on the cross. As we set the stage today, we remember that You died on the cross for us and You rose again just as You said You would — and as a result, all of our sins are washed away. We remember You today, and we thank You.

Lord, I pray that You would compel me, and compel each person here, to act on the mandate You gave Your disciples and give to us today — to share the good news in our workplaces, in our dorms, in our neighborhoods, so that others may come to know You. In Jesus’s name we pray, amen.