Taking Ground | Week 1
Day 2
“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 28:19–20
The Great Commission is one of those passages that almost feels like a wake-up call. Jesus doesn’t ease into it. He doesn’t say, “Take a few days to think this over.” He just says one powerful word:
“Go.”
It’s a word that doesn’t allow passivity. It doesn’t leave room for coasting through our faith. And it certainly doesn’t sound anything like playing it safe. In Sunday’s message, it was clearly said:
“We don’t play defense and just hold the fort for Jesus. We take ground.”
And Jesus agrees. When He says go, He’s not just calling pastors or missionaries. He’s speaking to every follower—ordinary people with ordinary lives who carry extraordinary purpose.
What’s beautiful is that Jesus doesn’t tell us to go out and make admirers or spectators. He says, “make disciples.” A disciple is someone who actually follows Jesus in real life, not just on Sundays, not just when it’s convenient, but daily, consistently, intentionally.
And the way disciples are made is surprisingly simple:
We teach what Jesus taught.
We share what Jesus has done in us.
We help people follow Him in their everyday lives.
Discipleship is not a classroom, it’s a lifestyle. It happens through conversations, invitations, small groups, text messages, shared meals, prayers in the car, moments at work, and the rhythms of your own spiritual habits.
This is where Coastal’s heartbeat lines up perfectly with Jesus’ command. Sunday’s message reminded us, “Jesus has called us, equipped us and commissioned us to go into the world.”That means the Great Commission isn’t a guilt trip, it’s an invitation into the life you were created for.
One of the most reassuring things about this passage is how human these disciples were. These men weren’t polished leaders or trained theologians. Many had never traveled far from home. Yet Jesus looked at them, right in the middle of their uncertainties, and said, “Go to all nations.”
That had to feel overwhelming. But Jesus immediately gives them the very thing that makes the mission possible:
“I am with you always.”
That one promise is enough to fuel a lifetime of courage.
When you walk into your workplace, He’s with you.
When you’re raising your kids, He’s with you.
When you’re unsure how to share your faith, He’s with you.
When you’re stepping into new ground, new obedience, new territory, He’s there before you arrive.
Taking ground is never about being bold in your own strength; it’s about being aware of His presence in your next step.
What if “going” for you today doesn’t look like boarding a plane or preaching a sermon? What if it looks more like slowing down enough to care about someone? What if it’s sending an encouraging text? What if it’s inviting a coworker to church? What if it’s sharing something God taught you? What if it’s simply being available?
God has given us the Gulf Coast, and we are going to take more ground for Jesus in 2026.
And the way that happens is not just through big moments or big events—it happens through the everyday obedience of people who believe Jesus meant what He said:
Go. Make disciples. Teach them. And remember—I’m with you.
So take a deep breath today. You don’t have to change the world in a moment. You just have to take the next faithful step. Look around. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of someone who needs encouragement, love, or truth.
That’s where taking ground begins—not with loudness or pressure, but with willingness.
