Take a moment to recall some of your past ‘resolutions.’ These may be new year’s resolutions or just important life goals you set for yourself at some other point in time. Did you accomplish the goals you set? If you did, what impact did that accomplishment have on your life? What do these particular resolutions say about you, your strengths and weaknesses, and your notion of ‘the good life’?

Read Matthew 28:18-20. What activities come to mind when you think about ‘making disciples’? How do those activities compare or contrast with the three participles (Going, Baptizing, and Teaching) Jesus uses in the passage?

Think of concrete examples from your own experience that illustrate going, baptizing, and teaching. Where have you seen these commands obeyed faithfully? What was the result?

Read Matthew 1:23 and Matthew 28:20 together. These two verses form an inclusio, a literary bracket in Matthew’s gospel that frames his message. In your own words, what is the message being conveyed? Why is it significant that Jesus finishes with this message, rather than with the commands? What does it say about Jesus’ notion of ‘the good life’?

Take time to share with one another how God may be leading you to obey the great commission in 2021. Where might you go, who might you baptize/enfold, and how can you teach? Pray together for the Lord’s leading, empowerment, and joy for the year ahead.