God Led

Pete Kersker - May 04, 2026

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:18-20 NIV).

Jesus instructed his disciples (students) to go and make more disciples (students) who would learn what Jesus taught and obey it. The result is that small group of followers, dozens and hundreds, grew into the number we see today (billions). How did this growth take place?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8 NIV).

It didn't happen because of good short-term sales tactics or even strategic long-term marketing and business plans. It happened the way God said it would happen with events that nobody else predicted. The growth in Jerusalem, as we've already seen this year, took place with miraculous signs, a simple sermon, and people responding to the message. Growth moved to Judea and Samaria because persecution broke out in Jerusalem after Stephen's death. This week, we will start to see how the disciples reached "the ends of the earth."

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza" (Acts 8:26 NIV).

Did you know that the number of disciples (students)
increased in a way that God led, but the disciples (students)
did not completely understand?

Do you let God lead, even when you don't understand the whole plan?