Before you start · for whoever is leading
Somebody will bring up “preach the gospel at all times, use words if necessary,” because the saying is everywhere, and they will usually mean they do not have to say anything.
Francis never said it, no biography written within two hundred years of his death contains the line, and he preached constantly.
The claim this study actually makes is stronger: the gospel is spoken and lived, and neither half stands in for the other, so the real question is not whether you have to speak but whether your life would make anyone want to listen.
“Let the splendor of your life be a prelude to the words you speak. By your deeds, let all see that you are a citizen of heaven.”
Eleven men climb a mountain to meet someone they watched die.
Read what they do when they see Him, and then read the words Matthew adds right after.
Then read what He sends them to do anyway.
Matthew 28:16-20 · NIV
Tap a tool, then tap words. Highlight what gets your attention · underline what God is doing or saying · circle a repeated or unfamiliar word.
Read it aloud, then give everyone two minutes to mark it in silence.
16
17
18
19
20
NIV The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. www.biblica.com
What stood out?
Go around the room. Each person reads one thing they marked. If you know why it stood out, say so. If you don’t, “it just stood out” is a complete answer. Nobody explains, nobody corrects.
Your markings are saved on this device and will be here when you come back.
Jesus is King
Jesus announces the Good News that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” His kingship changes everything; discipleship isn’t just about knowing His commands but yielding to His reign in our lives.
- Jesus’ authority changes everything; when we yield to His leadership, our lives become a witness to His Kingdom.
- Worship and doubt can coexist. The disciples worshiped Jesus, yet some doubted. Trusting Jesus means stepping out even when we have questions.
- Saying “yes” to Jesus is where transformation begins. It’s through our surrender that His Kingdom moves forward in and through us.
Read this one out loud.
Discussion questions
- How is God inviting you to say “yes” to His leading?
- Where is He calling you to trust Him more?
- What’s one step of radical obedience you can take this week?
Write it out.
Write freely. Your words are saved in this browser only, on this device, as you type. Nothing you write is sent to us.
Email opens your mail app. We do not store your notes.
Let’s pray together
Pray for the courage to surrender fully to Jesus’ authority.
Ask God to help you take bold steps of obedience in your daily life.
Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where you need to say “yes” to God’s leading.
Leave space for silence, listening, and Spirit-led prayer. If someone senses a word, a Scripture, or a picture for another, offer it gently and pray into it.
Let’s pray
Breakthrough is when God's Kingdom breaks into your reality: His healing where there is pain, His freedom where there is bondage, His presence where there is loneliness. Jesus is King; His freedom, peace and purpose are available now. Pray from that Kingdom, not toward it.
Be still for a moment. Open your hands and simply pray: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Ask: “What do You want me to know right now? What were You highlighting when I marked the passage?” Stay open to a word, a Scripture, a picture, or a prompting.
Pray boldly into what He shows you. Ask for His Kingdom in the specific places this session touched:
- Pray these on your own: for the courage to surrender fully to Jesus’ authority, for help to take bold steps of obedience in your daily life, and for the Holy Spirit to show you where you still need to say “yes.” Write down whatever comes up on the last one.
You can pray more than once. Stay present, and trust that God is at work. Take your time; there is no hurry.
Choose one. Say it out loud so someone else hears it.
Next time you gather, share what you practiced and how God used it, not for pressure but for encouragement.
The reminder downloads as a calendar event. Open it and it lands on your calendar for tomorrow morning.
Done.
Jesus is King, and discipleship begins with surrendering to His authority. When we embrace His rulership, we live out the Good News in every area of life.