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Following Jesus – Go In FAITH! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the September 14, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: Go In Faith!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 28:16-20

 

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  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 28:16-20 (NIV)

As one called by Jesus to “Come, follow me”, Matthew gives us great teaching on what it looks like to live a life which follows Jesus.  Matthew finishes his record of the good news of Jesus with what we often call the “Great Commission” where Jesus gives instructions for all of us to go in . . .

  • Fellowship:  Matthew 28:16-17

    • As Jesus prepares to give instructions to His disciples following His death, burial, and resurrection, they gather in fellowship with one another.  Even while there were elements of doubt present, Jesus prepared them to go in fellowship with Him and with one another. 

  • Authority:  Matthew 28:18

    • While doubt may have existed among the disciples about themselves, and even about the resurrection of Jesus, there was to be no doubt left about who was in charge.  When Jesus comes to them after His resurrection, He makes it clear that they were to go in authority because of who was sending them.

  • Involvement:  Matthew 28:19

    • As I stated in the sermon, sometimes we like to think Jesus said to go and invite people to church so the preacher can baptize them.  In reality, Jesus gave the instructions to His disciples and to all of us who hear His words that we are to be involved in both being a disciple and making disciples.

  • Teaching:  Matthew 28:20a

    • Just as our involvement in being baptized and in baptizing others who come to Jesus in repentance is important, it is also commanded by Jesus that we teach and are taught as we go.  The things we learn and put into practice from God’s Word are to be shared with others so that they too would learn and put such things into practice.

  • Help:  Matthew 28:20b

    • Going in Fellowship, Authority, Involvement, and Teaching may sound like a daunting task if we try to do any of that on our own.  The good news is that we also go in Help because we have the presence of God with us through His Spirit so that we are never alone.

Today, how will you go in FAITH?