Time to Go? Red Letter Challenge Week 6
- Aug 18, 2025
- 8 min read
INTRODUCTION:
If you’ve been tracking with us over these last few weeks, you know we have been in a 40 Day Red Letter Challenge. We’ve been challenged to focus on BEING with God before doing for God and what it means to just enjoy our relationship with the Creator. We then focused on FORGIVENESS, followed by SERVING and GIVING last week.
Today we kick off our last week in the Red Letter Challenge and we are focusing on GOING. What does that mean? Well, it's simply an action, right? A "verb". To Go.
If we apply a biblical definition to GOING, we can say, Going means stepping out in obedience to God’s call, participating in His mission, and trusting Him with the unknown. It is an act of surrender and faith that moves you toward His promises and purposes.
After His resurrection and before His ascension, He gathered His followers and gave them His final marching orders. These weren’t suggestions, nice ideas, or “optional extras” for the super-spiritual. They were His heartbeat for the Church—clear, urgent, and non-negotiable: “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
The world has changed a lot since that hillside in Galilee, but His command hasn’t. The need is still great, the harvest is still plentiful, and the mission is still ours. Whether we are across the ocean or across the street, God calls each of us to step out in obedience.
In today’s message, we’re going to see three truths:
The Great Commission is not a suggestion—it’s a command backed by the authority of the King.
Discipleship isn’t an event—it’s life-on-life, walking the road together.
We’re not sent in our own strength—we’re empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The question for us today is simple: When the King says, “Go,” will we say “Yes”?
Let’s dive in.
POINT 1 – The Great Commission Is Not a Suggestion
Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
These are not just the fading farewell words of Jesus; they are the final command of the risen King—a command that carries the weight of eternity. Before Jesus told His disciples what to do, He reminded them why they could do it: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (v. 18). That means He is not just giving advice—He is issuing orders backed by His absolute, universal authority.
When a king speaks, subjects respond. There is no middle ground. To obey is to embrace His mission; to ignore it is to reject His lordship.
A. It’s Our First Priority
The early church didn’t have buildings, budgets, or a book of bylaws. But they did have a burning mission. Acts 1:8 records Jesus telling them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem (home), Judea and Samaria (nearby but uncomfortable), and to the ends of the earth (far away and unfamiliar). They didn’t wait for ideal circumstances. They didn’t wait until they felt ready. They didn’t wait until the political climate was favorable. They went—often at great personal cost.
The apostles faced persecution, imprisonment, and even death, but the mission mattered more than their comfort or safety. The question for us is: Have we allowed convenience, fear, or busyness to take priority over Christ’s command?
B. It’s More Than Evangelism
Jesus didn’t say, “Go and make converts.” He said, “Go and make disciples.” Evangelism—sharing the gospel so people can believe—is vital, but it’s only the starting point. Discipleship means walking with people until they are grounded in truth, growing in maturity, and living in obedience to all that Christ commanded (Matthew 28:20).
Paul modeled this in Colossians 1:28 when he said, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” That’s the goal—not just decisions, but transformation. It’s easy to count raised hands; it’s harder to walk with someone until Christ is formed in them. But that’s the mission.
C. It’s Empowered and Urgent
Jesus closed the Great Commission with this promise: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). We do not go alone—He goes with us. And yet, this promise doesn’t remove the urgency. In Matthew 9:37–38, Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Every day that passes is another day someone lives without the hope of Christ. Delay is not neutral—it’s disobedience. We cannot say “Later, Lord” when the King has said “Now.”
Protip - When the King says, “Go,” the only faithful answer is, “Yes, Lord.” The Great Commission is not an optional ministry program—it is the core mission of every believer and every church. We don’t need more permission to go; we’ve already been sent. The question is whether we will step into the authority and urgency Jesus has placed in our hands.
POINT 2 – Discipleship Is Life-on-Life
Matthew 28:19–20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
When Jesus said “make disciples,” He wasn’t calling for a program, a class, or a one-time meeting. He was calling for a way of life. The word “disciple” means learner or follower, but in Jesus’ day, it meant far more than just a student. A disciple didn’t just learn information—they patterned their whole life after the one they followed.
That’s why Jesus didn’t build a school; He built relationships. For three years, He lived with His disciples. They saw how He prayed, how He forgave, how He endured hardship, how He loved the unlovable. They didn’t just hear His sermons; they saw His example.
A. Jesus Modeled It
In John 13:15, Jesus told them, “I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” Discipleship is as much caught as it is taught. You can’t microwave discipleship—it takes time, proximity, and consistency.
The most powerful lessons in the Christian life are often learned over coffee, in living rooms, on road trips, in times of crisis, or in moments of joy—not just in a lecture or a sermon.
B. It’s About Relationships, Not Just Information
Paul told the Thessalonians, “We were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). That’s the heartbeat of true discipleship. You can hand someone a book, but you can’t replace walking with them through their doubts, struggles, and questions.
Transformation happens when truth is taught and lived out in community. This means inviting people into your home, letting them see how you handle conflict, and even letting them see your weaknesses—because that’s where God’s grace shines.
C. It’s Intentional and Multiplying
In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul told Timothy, “What you have heard from me… entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Real discipleship is never just about you and the person you’re mentoring—it’s about equipping them to go and disciple others.
Think about it: If you disciple just two people this year, and each of them disciples two people the next year, and that pattern continues, the multiplication is exponential. This is how the gospel spread in the first century, and it’s still how it spreads today.
D. Share Your Story, Walk Together
Your testimony is one of your most powerful tools. In Mark 5:19, Jesus told a man He had just healed, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”
Sometimes discipleship begins with simply telling your story—and then walking with someone toward Jesus. It’s about locking arms and moving forward together, even when you stumble, encouraging one another toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:24–25).
Protip - Discipleship is not just teaching the way—it’s walking the way together. Jesus calls us not to be spectators but participants, not just to deliver information but to share our lives, so that others see Christ in us and follow Him for themselves.
POINT 3 – Empowered by the Spirit
Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”
Jesus never intended for His followers to carry out the Great Commission in their own strength. The mission He gave is impossible without the power He supplies. That’s why, before sending them out, He told them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49).
The Spirit is not just a comforter—He is our power source. Without Him, we burn out. With Him, ordinary people become bold witnesses.
A. You Don’t Go Alone
Matthew 28:20 closes with the promise: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” That presence is made real through the Holy Spirit, who lives within every believer (John 14:16–17). Wherever you go—in the workplace, in your neighborhood, even to the ends of the earth—you are never truly alone.
B. The Spirit Gives Power, Not Just Comfort
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to do what they could never do in their own ability. In Acts 2, Peter—who had denied Jesus just weeks earlier—preached boldly to thousands, and about 3,000 people came to faith. That’s not personality; that’s power from on high.
This same Spirit equips us with spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12) and gives us words when we don’t know what to say (Luke 12:12).
C. Boldness Comes from Purpose, Not Personality
Acts 4:13 says the religious leaders were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, realizing they were “uneducated, common men” who had been with Jesus. Boldness doesn’t come from education or natural charisma—it comes from being filled with the Spirit and consumed with God’s mission.
D. The Spirit Leads, Guides, and Speaks
Acts 16 shows the Spirit directing Paul’s route and closing certain doors while opening others. The Holy Spirit is not a passive passenger—He actively leads. John 15:26–27 reminds us that the Spirit testifies about Jesus through us. Our job is to listen, obey, and trust His leading, even when we don’t understand it fully.
Protip - God never sends you without supply. The same Spirit who empowered Jesus and the apostles now empowers you. The Great Commission is not a burden—it’s an adventure, fueled by the presence and power of the living God inside you.
APPLICATION: Going Starts Right Where You Are
Make your personal “Go” intentional – Identify one person in your life who needs Christ and begin praying daily for an opportunity to share (Colossians 4:3–4).
Share your testimony this week – Tell someone what God has done for you, even briefly, as a way to point them toward Christ (Mark 5:19).
Step out in faith despite fear – Take one bold action for the sake of the gospel this week, trusting God’s Spirit to supply the courage (2 Timothy 1:7).
Stay sensitive to the Spirit’s promptings – If you feel led to speak, serve, or pray, obey immediately (Acts 8:29–30).
Closing:
The Great Commission is not a suggestion—it’s the heartbeat of heaven. Jesus, the King of kings, has all authority, and He has sent us out with a clear command: Go. Make disciples. Teach them to follow Me.
But here’s the truth: We can’t obey that command from a distance, or with a half-hearted effort. Discipleship is life-on-life. It means walking with people, sharing our lives, showing them Jesus not just in our words, but in our ways. It’s messy, it’s personal, and it’s worth it—because eternity is at stake.
And the good news? We don’t do it alone. The same Spirit who set the early church on fire is living inside of you right now. The Spirit who turned fishermen into fearless preachers, who turned doubters into disciple-makers, is the same Spirit who will give you courage, clarity, and boldness today.
So here’s the question: When the King says, “Go,” will you say, “Yes, Lord”? Will you go across the street? Will you go across the office? Will you go across the world if He calls?
Because the mission is urgent, the Spirit is with you, and the time is now. Delay is disobedience. Obedience brings joy. And the King’s command demands our “Yes.”
Let’s be a people who live sent—until every nation, every tribe, and every tongue knows the name of Jesus.
Personal Challenge:
“When the King says, ‘Go,’ the only right answer is, ‘Yes, Lord—wherever, whenever, whatever.’” Go! We’ve got 6 more days of the challenge, friends. Finish Well!