“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 (ESV)

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OVERVIEW

The resurrection narrative and the Great Commission (Matthew 28) provide a powerful framework for Christian leadership at all levels. Just as Jesus moved from the grave to glory, effective leaders guide themselves and others through transformative journeys. This resurrection-centered leadership model begins with Christ's ultimate authority (Matt 28:18), flows through intentional disciple-making (Matt 28:19), and rests on the promise of His abiding presence (Matt 28:20). When leaders embrace these principles, they foster environments where doubt transforms into faith, fear gives way to boldness, and individual efforts culminate in collective mission—mirroring the disciples' transformation from scattered followers to commissioned world-changers.

KEY CONCEPTS

LEADING SELF: Authority & Submission

• Recognizing Ultimate Authority: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matt 28:18). Leadership begins with submission to Christ's authority before exercising any authority over others.

• Moving Through Doubt: "When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted" (Matt 28:17). Authentic leadership acknowledges doubts while continuing to worship and follow.

• Empty Tomb Leadership: Like the stone rolled away (Matt 28:2), leaders must identify and remove barriers to their own spiritual growth.

• First Resurrection Response: "Go quickly and tell" (Matt 28:7). Personal encounter with resurrection truth creates responsibility to share.

LEADING FAMILY: Witnessing & Discipleship

• Family as First Disciples: The Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20) begins in the home, where family members are our primary disciples.

• Modeling Worship Despite Uncertainty: Children learn faith by watching parents worship even amid questions (Matt 28:17).

• Creating Resurrection Culture: Families thrive when resurrection power, not fear or death, shapes their identity (Matt 28:5-6).

• Intentional Teaching: "Teaching them to observe all I have commanded" (Matt 28:20) requires deliberate family spiritual formation.

LEADING OTHERS: Mission & Promise

• Commission-Centered Leadership: The Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20) provides the purpose and parameters for Christian leadership.

• Empowering Unexpected Messengers: Jesus entrusted the resurrection message first to women (Matt 28:5-7), challenging leaders to recognize and elevate overlooked voices.

• Presence-Based Leadership: "I am with you always" (Matt 28:20) forms the foundation for courageous, mission-focused leadership.

• Geographical Expansion: "Make disciples of all nations" (Matt 28:19) calls leaders to think beyond comfortable boundaries.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Resurrection Leadership Timeline

• Pre-Dawn Preparation: The women prepared spices (Luke 24:1), demonstrating leadership foresight and preparation.

• First Witnesses: Women, not prominent disciples, received the first commission (Matt 28:7), illustrating God's pattern of using the overlooked.

• Galilee Gathering: Jesus directed followers to Galilee (Matt 28:7,16), showing how leadership creates strategic gathering points for vision-casting.

• Final Instructions: The Great Commission was given before ascension (Matt 28:16-20), highlighting the importance of clear direction before leadership transitions.

Leadership Contrasts in the Easter Story

• Guards vs. Women: Guards became "like dead men" while women received a life-giving mission (Matt 28:4-7), illustrating how worldly authority crumbles before divine authority.

• Fear vs. Joy: The women's journey from fear to "great joy" (Matt 28:8) parallels the emotional transformation effective leadership facilitates.

• Hiding vs. Going: Disciples moved from locked rooms (John 20:19) to global mission (Matt 28:19), demonstrating leadership's role in mobilization.

• Doubt vs. Worship: Some doubted yet still worshiped (Matt 28:17), showing how authentic leadership creates space for both questions and adoration.

BENEFITS & IMPLICATIONS

For Self-Leadership

• Clarity of ultimate purpose derived from the Great Commission

• Freedom from performance anxiety through Christ's promised presence

• Courage to face leadership challenges through resurrection power

• Permission to acknowledge doubts while maintaining forward momentum

• Identity rooted in commission rather than comparison to others

For Family Leadership

• Unified family mission aligned with Christ's global purpose

• Modeling authentic faith that acknowledges questions while pursuing truth

• Intentional discipleship patterns are established through regular teaching

• Family culture is shaped by hope rather than fear

• Legacy-minded leadership that spans generations

For Organizational Leadership

• Mission clarity that prevents program drift

• Leadership pipeline development through intentional disciple-making

• Authority exercised with appropriate humility and submission to Christ

• Inclusive leadership that values diverse voices and gifts

• Courage to expand beyond comfortable territories and demographics

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Self-Leadership Practices

• Begin each day acknowledging Christ's authority over your leadership (Matt 28:18)

• Establish regular "empty tomb" visits through contemplative prayer

• Journal both doubts and worship experiences, following the disciples' example (Matt 28:17)

• Create a personal discipleship plan aligned with Great Commission values

Family Leadership Strategies

• Institute family devotions that connect everyday experiences to resurrection truth

• Create a family mission statement based on the Great Commission principles

• Establish regular "commissioning" moments, blessing family members as they enter new seasons

• Model transparency about questions while maintaining steadfast faith, like the disciples in Matt 28:17

Organizational Leadership Approaches

• Evaluate all programs and initiatives against the Great Commission criteria

• Develop a leadership pipeline explicitly modeled on Jesus's disciple-making pattern

• Create organizational rhythms that celebrate "empty tomb" moments—testimonies of transformation

• Implement strategic "Galilee gatherings" where vision is renewed and mission is clarified

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Self-Leadership: Where in your leadership are you still standing at the tomb instead of proclaiming resurrection? What "stone" needs to be rolled away in your personal leadership?

2. Family Leadership: How are you intentionally creating a culture of resurrection hope in your home? In what ways might you be modeling doubt without the balance of worship?

3. Organizational Leadership: How does the Great Commission shape your leadership decisions? Where might you be overlooking potential messengers, as the disciples initially overlooked the women's testimony?

4. Where do you most need to experience Christ's promised presence (Matt 28:20) in your leadership right now?

5. How might embracing the fullness of Christ's authority (Matt 28:18) change your approach to a current leadership challenge?

6. In what territory is God calling you to expand your leadership influence, and what fears are holding you back?

ACTION PLAN

For Self-Leadership Growth

1. Establish daily "authority alignment" prayer, submitting to Christ's authority (Matt 28:18)

2. Identify one "stone" blocking your leadership effectiveness and create a removal strategy

3. Schedule a weekly personal retreat for leadership reflection and worship

4. Memorize Matthew 28:18-20, meditating on a different phrase each day

5. Find an accountability partner for regular leadership check-ins

For Family Leadership Development

1. Create a weekly family worship centering on biblical leadership stories

2. Develop individual discipleship plans for each family member based on Matt 28:19-20

3. Institute monthly family mission activities, starting locally and expanding outward

4. Establish "testimony time" where the family celebrates resurrections in daily life

5. Pray daily for each family member's development as a disciple-maker

For Organizational Leadership Enhancement

1. Audit all programs against the Great Commission effectiveness

2. Identify three potential leaders others have overlooked (like the women at the tomb)

3. Develop a clear discipleship pathway for your organization

4. Create a leadership development program explicitly based on Jesus's methods

5. Establish a prayer team focused on organizational expansion to new "nations" (demographics, territories)

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Biblical Leadership Studies

• Matthew 28 (The Great Commission)

• John 20-21 (Additional resurrection appearances and commissioning)

• Acts 1:1-11 (Leadership transition and commission reinforcement)

• 1 Corinthians 15 (Theological implications of resurrection for leadership)

• Ephesians 4:1-16 (Leadership gifts in resurrection community)

Recommended Reading

• "The Emotionally Healthy Leader" (Peter Scazzero)

• "Center Church" (Timothy Keller)

• "Lead Like Jesus" (Ken Blanchard)

• "Spiritual Leadership" (J. Oswald Sanders)

• "Creating a Discipleship Pathway" (Discipleship.org resources)

Development Opportunities

• Great Commission Leadership Retreat (discipleship.org)

• Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Courses

• Exponential Conference (church multiplication)

• Global Leadership Summit

SUMMARY

Resurrection leadership transforms death into life, fear into boldness, and individual followers into commissioned communities. By embracing Christ's authority (Matt 28:18), implementing intentional disciple-making (Matt 28:19), and relying on His abiding presence (Matt 28:20), leaders create environments where transformation flourishes. This leadership paradigm applies seamlessly across personal development, family dynamics, and organizational leadership. The journey from grave to glory isn't just the story of Easter—it's the pattern for Christian leadership at every level. As we lead from resurrection reality, we participate in Christ's ongoing work of making all things new, starting with ourselves, extending to our families, and ultimately impacting the nations.

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