When Jesus sent His disciples to minister, various words and phrases were used: teach, heal, cast out demons, baptize, preach, and more. But the most comprehensive of all the action words Jesus gave to His followers at different times is the one found in the Great Commission, given after His resurrection and before His ascension: “Make disciples.”
“Make disciples” is the only imperative command in Matthew 28:19–20. Involved in that process are baptizing and teaching, corollary activities to making disciples. But all these activities assume obedience to “Go therefore.” Having gone, followers of Jesus were to make disciples (additional followers and learners) in all the nations of the world. Making disciples is not the same as making converts. Converts come from decisions; disciples come from dedication. And it takes one to make one.
To obey Jesus’ final commands, we must go and share the Gospel with others so they will also go and “make disciples of all the nations.” We are not saved to sit and contemplate; we are saved to go and share.