Dick Dowsett gave us all a treat last Sunday with his refreshing look at Matthew 28:16-20 - The Great Commission.  I took notes.  Here they are:

Mission begins when you get excited about Jesus.  Verse 18 says that he has all authority; he calls the shots in heaven and on earth, so we can expect God to work.  We are threatened today with gradual erosion of our freedom to share the Word of God, but the first Christians met such threats with boldness.  "Jesus put his name on this cheque, let's cash it!"

Look at the people he uses for the job (in verse 17).  A disciple is an apprentice - someone who learns on the job.  Matthew tells us that some of them doubted - interesting;  we would weed out the doubters, but Jesus didn't.  Thomas is part of the gang!

"As you go", Jesus says, "Make disciples".  You are going anyway, so make disciples as you go. Develop an intentional mindset - and don't be too ethnocentric.

Look at the depth of ministry.  In verse 19 (We are baptised into the reality of all that God is: Father, Son and Holy Spirit).  "Teach them everything" he said.

Jesus is with us always. "I'm not going to watch you make idiots of yourselves, I am coming too!"