All In: All Authority | Digging Deeper

Summary

This sermon launches a three-part series on the Great Commission by focusing on the foundational claim of Matthew 28:18—that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. The preacher connects this declaration to the prophecy of Daniel 7:13-14, showing that the risen Christ is the Son of Man who has received everlasting dominion. Because Jesus possesses absolute authority, the church’s mission is not self-invented but received: to make disciples of all nations through going, baptizing, teaching, and faithfully proclaiming the gospel.

Key Points from the Sermon

Christ’s absolute authority over heaven and earth is the foundation of the Great Commission—we go because He commands, not because we decide (Matthew 28:18).
The primary imperative of the Great Commission is ‘make disciples,’ not merely ‘go’—going, baptizing, and teaching are participial actions that describe how we fulfill the central command (Matthew 28:19-20).
Jesus’ claim to all authority fulfills Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man receives everlasting dominion from the Ancient of Days, a title Jesus applied to Himself throughout His ministry.
The gospel must be both proclaimed and invested in through discipleship—evangelism without discipleship leaves people without the roots to grow and bear fruit (Romans 10:14-17; Parable of the Soils).
The structure of the local church is what Christ ordained to facilitate disciple-making; the concept of a healthy ‘free agent’ Christian disconnected from the body of Christ does not exist in Scripture.
We are not responsible for the results of our mission—Christ has the authority to ensure outcomes—but we are responsible to be faithful and obedient to His command.

Scripture Readings

Matthew 28:18-20 - The Great Commission itself—Jesus’ final charge to His disciples before His ascension, establishing His authority as the basis for the church’s mission.

Daniel 7:13-14 - The Old Testament prophecy of the Son of Man receiving everlasting dominion from the Ancient of Days, which Jesus claims to fulfill in Matthew 28:18.

Romans 10:9-17 - Paul’s explanation of how salvation comes through faith, confession, hearing, and preaching—showing the chain of mission that flows from the Great Commission.

Discussion Questions

Read Matthew 28:18-20

What specific claims does Jesus make in these verses? List everything He says about Himself, what He commands, and what He promises. What stands out to you about the order in which He says these things?

Now read Daniel 7:13-14

How does this Old Testament prophecy help us understand what Jesus means when He says ‘all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’? Why would it have been shocking—even blasphemous to some—for Jesus to call Himself the ‘Son of Man’? (See also Mark 14:61-62)
The sermon pointed out that the central command in the Great Commission is ‘make disciples’—not simply ‘go.’ The going, baptizing, and teaching are participial actions describing how we make disciples. Why is this distinction important? What happens when we emphasize going and telling without the investment of discipleship?

Read Romans 10:9-17

Paul traces a chain backwards: calling on Christ requires believing, believing requires hearing, hearing requires preaching, and preaching requires being sent. How does this passage shape your understanding of your personal role in the Great Commission? note that this sequence is centered on Christ and His willingness to give us the faith needed to believe. See Ephesians 2:8-9
The sermon directly pointed us to Gods authority and dominion over all things. This begs the question: ‘Where does my heart resist God’s authority and what does scripture have to say about that?’ How would you honestly answer that question? How does our reading of Daniel 7 and Mark 14 inform our response?
The Great Commission is a command, not a suggestion. Yet many believers admire it without obeying it. In what ways can we as a church (or as a small group) be working together to fulfill this command? What is one practical step you could take this week to move from admiring the mission to actively participating in it—whether through sharing the gospel, investing in someone’s spiritual growth, or both?

Application

This Week’s Challenge: This week, obey the command of the great commission. Identify one person in your life who does not know Christ or who is a young believer needing to grow. Commit to one intentional action toward that person: invite them to coffee, share your testimony, and offer to read Scripture together. Write their name down and pray for them daily this week. Remember, your success rests on Christ’s authority, not your eloquence.

Prayer Focus: Ascribe glory to God, praising Him for His dominion over all things and His kingdom that will not pass away. Confess areas where you have not been yielding properly to God’s authority. Pray that He would open your eyes to the people He has placed around you who need to hear the gospel and be discipled. Pray that we as a church would cooperate fully with one another in the mission He has given us. Ask God to give you boldness and faithfulness to obey the Great Commission, not in your own strength, but under Christ’s authority and for His Glory.

Memory Verse

“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 28:18-20

Resources

The Great Commission: Fulfilling God’s Mandate by Thomas Schreiner
The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman
Daniel (Reformed Expository Commentary) by Iain Duguid