Matthew 28:19-20 “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.”

Go2020 is focused on mobilizing every believer into 100% Participation in the lifestyle of Jesus to fulfill the Great Commission. In this new era it is about all of us activating together – we can all reach someone! 

The world is filled with uncertainty and fear in the midst of covid-19 but God is moving in powerful ways. Now is the time to JOIN believers from around the globe in the largest effort of everyday believers to pray, care, and share the message: there is hope beyond fear.

In May 2020, as ONE CHURCH from many nations and denominations, we will all collaborate together so we can multiply our impact. This is not about a stage driven Christianity, this is about the Kingdom of God moving forward through each of our lives to reach people lovingly and authentically. 

In the first week of the Let’s Go Guide we will discover barriers that stop us from fulfilling God’s desire for us to share the hope he has given us. We will study Scriptures that help us identify these barriers, and ask God to give us breakthrough in our own lives!  

We pray our study will teach us not only to know the Word, but to obey it, let it change us and share it with others. Our hope is that our time spent together in Scripture will also equip us to lead others to discover the Triune God through His Word. 

Jesus calls us to humble ourselves and to put our trust in Him. It takes a lot of courage to humble yourself in that way and fully depend on Jesus, but the second we do, everything comes into alignment again. 

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God says, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

We need Jesus to heal our land. Part of pushing pride aside and humbling ourselves is turning away from our sin and healing our land. That is to say, if we ask God to remove pride from our lives, we will be much more inspired and empowered to reach and help heal the people around us who are hurting. 

Download the My 5 card and commit to praying for the salvation of 5 people in your life in the month of May.

Acts 1:8 “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.”

We are going to start off by talking about a number of common barriers that keep us from sharing our faith. None of these are intended to make you feel shame or judgement, but we hope to encourage and inspire you to look beyond your current circumstances and realize that you have tremendous potential to reach people for Jesus Christ right where you are! 

The first barrier is comfort. 

Jesus called his followers to go. He told them to step out in faith and bring the Gospel to all the nations– to places where it will likely not be welcome.  Think of someone that is close to you personally, or that you are often in close proximity to, who is far from God.  That is where we are first called to go.  This will potentially come with some risk, both emotionally and relationally.  But, by keeping conversations “safe” and avoiding stepping out of our comfort zone, we are missing out…

There are degrees of comfort that are intended for human flourishing. God is good and He is the Creator of all good things. Comfort itself is a gift but an addiction to comfort can keep us from being challenged to grow: when we are challenged, we are changed. If you live in the Western world, it’s likely that you live a very comfortable life compared to the standard of living for many people globally. 

This week, starting TODAY, we encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone. Say no to letting comfort impede your growth because it feels safe. Step out and use your voice. Remember the God who created all things and comforts you with his presence is with you always. Allow yourself to be challenged and changed and, in turn, change the world around you! 

The more we share the Gospel the more comfortable we will be.  We talk about the things we love.  We love Jesus and what he has done in our lives. The Gospel is the most important thing to us: without it, we have no hope or true peace…  Sharing the Gospel can be uncomfortable because it can make people uncomfortable.  It is like bright headlights on a dark, deserted road; you want to turn your head away because it is nearly painful.  That is why we take a genuine interest in others, pray for them, show we care, and lovingly and appropriately get uncomfortable and share the life-changing message of the Gospel. 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…”

Are you looking forward to these as much as we are? LET’S GO! How awesome to be receiving so much breakthrough in such a massive community of people from all across the world together! We love seeing the shares and testimonies pouring in! 

Today our barrier is a very common one: pride. 

What is most important in our lives? Pride can blind us to what really matters and make us think more highly than we ought. We lose focus on what is of first importance, which is the Gospel. Salvation is about surrender, letting go of our rights and trusting in Jesus to lead and guide our lives. Jesus calls us to humble ourselves and to put our trust in Him. It takes a lot of courage to humble yourself in that way and fully depend on Jesus, but the second we do, everything comes into alignment again. 

God’s presence is like a river, it always flows at the lowest point. So, if you still find yourself looking for God, try going lower. You will find so much of God’s presence and power in the place of humility. Let’s remove pride from our lives and find freedom in the promises that God will hear. Forgive and heal! When this is of first importance in our lives we see how important it is to tell others.  It will bring an urgency…

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Great work yesterday! It was awesome to see your stories and to hear how you plan to take growth-oriented action every day this month. Remember, May is a month of MOVEMENT and thousands of believers from around the world are with you in this together! 

As we move into day four, we are going to talk about insecurity. 

When we are insecure about something, we often don’t talk about it. There are a number of reasons you might be insecure about your faith. Perhaps you just don’t feel qualified to answer someone else’s questions about God since you don’t have all the answers yourself. In Luke 12:12, we are reminded that The Holy Spirit will give us the words as we need them, therefore, we can have security in relying on God because it’s not about having all the answers on our own. NO ONE will ever be able to truthfully say they understand an infinite God (and that’s a really good thing)! That being said, let’s remove that excuse today. The fact that you don’t know it all is the essence of the excitement of our life with God–there is, and always will be, so much more to discover.  

Search out answers to the questions you don’t feel “qualified” to answer.  Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know the answer to something.  Sometimes, someone who asks a question is not necessarily looking for an answer, but rather for someone to care about them. Do not let insecurity rob you or those you love from being able to connect with the love of God! Insecurity has no place, since Jesus makes His home in you by His Spirit. The truth is, in Jesus, you are perfectly loved, no matter what. Now, let this truth fuel boldness in you so others can experience the same security, love, and freedom that you have. 

John 7:11-13 “The Jews were looking for him at the feast and saying, “Where is he?”  And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.”  Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.”

Day 5, LET’S GO! We have been so encouraged to hear reports from all around the world about people’s lives being rocked by the goodness of God! Everyone can reach someone, and together we can reach the world. This week we are continuing to talk about barriers that may be  keeping us from reaching the world around us with the message of hope that we have found in Jesus. 

Today we are going to challenge you to rise above the fear of man. 

Many people are looking for Jesus. They might not know that they are specifically looking for Him, but they are yearning for something. They are desperate for hope, financial freedom, better relationships, answers, purpose for their life, the list goes on.  Whatever their need may be, they are searching. Especially in this pandemic season, people are asking deep spiritual questions and are very open to talk about God. We have seen an increased hunger in people to understand the Gospel and God’s heart in the midst of this time, but how can we reach people if we allow the fear of man to remain a barrier in our lives?

It’s been said that fear of man can be one of the greatest evangelism road blocks, which is so unfortunate because it is a false assumption that people don’t want to hear about God. The truth is that a relationship with God is what every human is longing for. 

So, then, what do we do? Well, you may already know the first step: repent of fear of man. Second, declare God’s truth over fear! Memorize those scriptures. Third, resolve not to let fear of man steal your joy and let it rob others from having their lives changed by the message of hope that you carry! It’s GO TIME. Today is the day you take a stand against the fear of man controlling your life. 

Matthew 9:35-36, “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

What a week it has been so far as we break down barriers that have held us back! Share today’s devotional on social media and invite your friends to get involved in this month of movement.

Today, we are challenging you to break through the barrier of apathy.

The Scripture for today tells a story of Jesus teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom throughout cities and villages. His ministry was what we might call holistic: caring for both the spiritual and physical needs of people. He had compassion for weary people in their time of need.

It is in times of pain or struggle that people feel their need for Jesus. But let’s be honest, it can feel so hard to lean into these hard moments with people. 

An antidote to our apathy is to remember Jesus’ compassion. Ask God to remind you of his love for you. Then ask Him to empower you to see others as He sees them. What would it look like to take a step towards someone in your life to show the love and compassion of God today? 

Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Can you imagine the day when the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will fill the Earth? God has called us to share God with the world through Jesus Christ so that people from every tribe, tongue, and nation might come to know Him as their Lord and Savior. How, though, can God fill the Earth with his glory during seasons of trial and chaos?

Habakkuk was given a prophetic word by God in a chaotic time where people did as they pleased and did not trust in God. They were confident in their own ability to get out of trouble and mistrusted God’s incredible promises. It can seem incredibly difficult to share Jesus with people who are confident in their own strength and worldview. In the face of opposition, we can lose confidence in the Gospel, which is God’s power unto salvation.  When we don’t see God intervening in the way we would like Him to during difficult times, our confidence in the promises of God can get shaken.

God reminded Habakkuk, and also us, that His plans are unchangeable and His promises unshakable – no matter what’s happening around us! We are called to live by faith! (Hab. 2:4b “the righteous shall live by faith.”) When we respond in faith, we will be like the moon on a cloudless night, reflecting the sun’s light.  When the barriers of mistrust are removed from our lives, our lives will reflect the knowable, loving God: the only One who is trustworthy. No matter how hard life gets, trusting God is where the joy will be. Habakkuk discovered this during a time of incredible challenge for his nation, we can have the same hope! Hab. 3:17-19 “…though the fig tree should not blossom. YET I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

Revelation 2:4-5 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

Today’s Go Guide could be the most challenging yet. We want people to know the love of Jesus Christ, but we may find a barrier of lost love that is hidden by neglect and familiarity.

Think back to when you first surrendered your life to Christ: the excitement and joy, the love and gratefulness you felt…compare then with how you feel now. Are there any differences? The people in the church at Ephesus were guilty of having lost their “first love.” They no longer had the joy and the love that made them dynamic and infectious witnesses for Christ. When we love someone, we talk about them! It is as simple as that. 

If you find that your love for Christ has grown cold, in His grace, Christ invites you to respond to him. Take time today to remember how much you loved him at the beginning. Remind yourself of His amazing grace and loving mercy by remembering your testimony and the Gospel. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and marvel at His love for you! Then, ask the Lord to help you identify what could be causing you to abandon your first love.  As he reveals these barriers, repent and return to those first things: renew your love for God daily, surrender completely to His will, and share His love with others.

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Mark 1:14b-15: “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’”

We need heroes.  They inspire and encourage us to transform ourselves for the better. This week, we will look at some biblical heroes and how their stories can help us in sharing the Gospel. 

Our first Hero of the faith is the Greatest Hero of all time: Jesus Christ. His public ministry began when he started calling people to turn from sin and come to God. Jesus didn’t just proclaim the message: He lived it and died for it.  Jesus invited others (the disciples) along with him to share the Gospel and He also invites us to do the same.  We may feel overwhelmed when we think, “I’m called to be like Jesus!” Remember, God doesn’t call the equipped; he equips the called!

He empowers us with the very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. He gets all the glory when ordinary people like us are empowered to be faithful witnesses of His goodness and His Kingdom. We can be like our hero, Jesus, when we share the hope of the Gospel. let’s step out in faith and proclaim the Good News today!

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

John 12:3: “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

What is your favorite smell? We like to smell pleasant and for our surroundings to smell good. There are a lot of nice fragrances out there, but a quality perfume is distinct: it lingers and will be expensive. Real perfume is used sparingly by most, but not by Mary of Bethany.  Today’s hero will encourage us to be the aroma of Christ in our relationships and conversations. 

Mary of Bethany expressed her heart of love in an extravagant way. She took a perfumed ointment worth 300 days’ wages (at $15/hour, that would be $36,000!) and poured it on the feet of Jesus to anoint him prior to His death. What she did showed incredible love for her Lord. She didn’t seem to think twice about other things she could have done with what she spent to purchase the ointment, though it was probably her life savings. Once this perfume was opened, it had to be used, therefore, her decision was final. She was highly criticized by Judas, but Jesus could see right through his empty criticism. 

What do you think Mary was expressing in her overwhelming display toward Jesus? Why are we so restrictive in our devotion to Christ? Mary lavished her love on Christ with reckless abandon. She didn’t worry about the cost or what others would think or say. Oh, may God, by his Spirit, give us the same reckless love for Christ. May the fragrance of our surrendered lives fill our homes, relationships, and conversations today so that others may smell the aroma of Christ and want to know more about Him!

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Acts 9:20-22: “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.  All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’  Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.”

Are there people from your past that would be surprised to hear you testify to who Jesus is?  Sometimes our past can be a challenge to overcome.  But, as we discover in today’s passage, staying true to our calling–not what people say–our testimony can be powerful. 

Today’s hero, Paul, referred to in the reading as Saul, had been a persecutor of the church of Jesus Christ. He was responsible for the arrests and deaths of numerous people who followed the way of Jesus. Suddenly, his life was changed after an encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus and he was blinded for several days. After regaining his sight and being baptized, Paul was expeditious in getting to the synagogues and declaring that he now believed that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. His proclamation confounded those present and his former allies, who were now enemies, plotted to kill him. The threats were serious, but they didn’t deter Paul from declaring that Jesus was the Messiah! He “grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews”. 2000 years later, Paul is considered one of the strongest heroes of the faith. It is amazing how God can transform our lives! It astonishes people and God gets all the glory! The same Holy Spirit that filled Paul’s life can fill our hearts today and give us the courage and strength to declare that Jesus is Lord! 

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Daniel 6:10: “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

Have you ever been confronted with the choice of obedience to God or culture?  Choosing godly obedience is a strong testimony.  In our devotion, we will see how Daniel’s resolve can encourage ours. 

Today’s hero, Daniel, was confronted with a law that made prayer to anyone other than the king punishable by death for a 30 day period. Daniel could have taken a month off from his prayers or practiced his faith in secret, but he didn’t. He continued his practice of praying three times a day, kneeling before open windows that faced Jerusalem. His faithfulness to God got him arrested and thrown into a den full of lions. 

Daniel refused to cave in to external pressure. He was oppressed by his peers and was punished directly by King Darius! He decided it was more important to obey God than to obey ungodly laws, even if it meant death. How important is prayer to us, really? Are we willing to obey Jesus’ call to preach the Gospel, even if it means trials and suffering? Read ahead (Daniel 6:25-28) to find out what happened as a result of Daniel’s confident action.

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020.

John 1:40-42: “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah (that is, the Christ).’  And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas (which, when translated, is Peter).’”

Are you ready for your love for Jesus to be let loose?  Today’s devotional will inspire us to point others to Jesus.

Today’s hero, Andrew, is not as well-known as his brother Peter, yet it was Andrew who brought Peter to Jesus and introduced him to the Messiah. We are well aware of all that Peter did, especially with his leadership role in the church; still, it all began with Andrew’s heart for Jesus and his desire that Peter know Jesus, too. In another place in John’s Gospel, we see Andrew introducing people to Jesus. Check out John 12:20-22. It is really amazing that this largely unknown hero went about quietly introducing people to Christ and God did the rest! We are not responsible for the results; all we are called to do is to proclaim that Jesus is King and let the Holy Spirit do everything else. We are like field planters: we sow Kingdom seeds of truth wherever we go and God will use them as he wills. This really takes the pressure off of us. Let’s be Andrews today and introduce our family and friends and those we meet to Jesus today!

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020.

Jonah 3:4-5: “Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”  The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.”

Today we have a reluctant hero—Jonah.  Have you ever thought, “I could never share Jesus with that person”.  Maybe they intimidate you or you really don’t care for their personality.  Next thing you know, the door opens to share and all you want to do is run. Today’s Go Guide will help us trust and not take off.  

The whole book of the prophet Jonah is a clear witness that God loves people and wants to save them from their sin. God also chooses to use people to communicate the message of His love to others. In the case of Jonah, God used an imperfect person to share that message! This is boldly demonstrated throughout the book. 

Jonah didn’t want to participate in God’s mission. He made his distaste for Nineveh and everyone in it . There was some “fishy” business involved in his disobedience. Finally, Jonah begrudgingly obeyed God; the sinful people heard the message and repented. An entire city that was doomed for destruction was spared because of God’s mercy and Jonah’s obedience. 

This story gives us hope today. We are often reluctant to share about Jesus for a variety of reasons, but God is faithful in using our faltering, stumbling efforts and words. Why? Because he loves to save people! In fact, Jesus said this was why he came to seek and save the lost and call sinners to repentance (Luke 19:10). Let’s speak about Jesus and his Kingdom, even when we don’t feel like it and watch God do what he wants to do–save people! 

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020.

2 Kings 5:2-3: “Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’”

Today, we’re going to consider the hidden heroes that do beautiful things for others while they are personally suffering.  

Sometimes heroes don’t have “qualifications”, in fact, this is the case most of the time! Today’s hero is a young girl in the book of II Kings whose name we are not told. She was stolen from her homeland and was serving in the home of a rich and powerful man and his wife. Her master was the commander of the army of Syria, but he had contracted a horrible case of leprosy. The young girl had compassion on the man who had taken her captive and told him about someone who could help him with his incurable disease. 

Naaman the leper traveled all the way to the girl’s homeland and met the prophet of God, who told him to bathe seven times in the Jordan River. When Naaman did so, his flesh was completely restored, but, more importantly, he put his faith in the true God of Israel. This is so cool! God used a young girl in very sad and difficult circumstances to help someone who had wronged her. She shared what she knew of God and God did the rest of the work! Why not follow the example of this young girl today? Simply share what you know of God–you don’t have to be an expert on theology– and share how good God has been to you and you will be surprised what He will do! 

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020.

1 Thessalonians 2:4: “On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”

This is truly a month of movement!  Through our daily Go Guide, we have been inspired and challenged to overcome barriers and have reflected on the stories of faith.  How has this helped you to step out in faith to share the love of Jesus? Do you know other followers of Jesus that can join you? This week, we learn about our wonderful, God-given responsibility and we will be encouraged to live it out. 

Go2020 is focused on mobilizing every believer to be a witness of Jesus Christ. Part of being mobilized is understanding the incredible responsibility God has entrusted to us—the good news of the Kingdom! God has approved us for this task. You may have said at some point, “God could never use me!” and yet, he has chosen you to be his ambassador! Approved and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can overcome the fear of man and speak boldly the words of God. We are privileged, not just to know God, but to speak of Him to others and we speak to please God.  Let’s do that every day in the month of May!

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 “This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

Did you know that one of the primary words used to describe Christ-followers in the New Testament is servant or bondservant?  This may not seem like a great title, but our God given job description is a high calling! Are you ready servants of Christ?  

Christian servanthood can be defined as, “Loving acts performed in the power of the Holy Spirit to meet the temporal and spiritual needs of those around us, while leaving the results to God.”  There are often more needs around us than we can meet, so it is important to ask our Lord how He would like us to serve. As His servants, we are responsible to do what Christ asks us to do and then do it faithfully for His glory! 

Remember our chief task is to be a steward of the mysteries of God – the Good News. We have been charged to make known the Good News of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. Just like any good servant, we don’t take this lightly.  Jesus warns us in the Gospels about unworthy or unjust stewards (e.g., Luke 16:1-13). As stewards of the Good News, how can you be lovingly faithful with what you have been entrusted today?   

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Matthew 10:32-33 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

Have you ever had a significant person in your life (teacher, boss, pastor, celebrity) acknowledge you before others? Wow! Can you imagine Jesus being proud you before his Father in heaven? Our reading tells us that Jesus will acknowledge us if we acknowledge him before those we know here on earth. How do we acknowledge Jesus in that way?

Have you ever denied knowing Jesus? It might not get headlines like Peter’s denial did, but it still is equally harmful when we don’t acknowledge Jesus’s place in our lives. What does Jesus say he will do if we deny him? 

Let’s ask God today to give us courage and boldness to acknowledge Jesus to those around us today. Not in some cheesy forceful way, but let’s plead with God to give us holy, love-filled hearts that long to see lost people come to know Jesus. Let’s ask for God’s love to overflow through us so acknowledging Him before others would be natural and instinctive. 

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Philemon 1:6: “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.”

One of the amazing things about Go2020 is that we are partnering with people all over the world to share our faith for the sake of Christ. There are thousands and thousands of churches who are partnering this month to encourage and activate ordinary believers to share the extraordinary news of Jesus! #LetsGo!

In this verse, Paul encouraged his friend Philemon. He wanted Philemon to know as they partnered in making Jesus known, Philemon’s understanding of all the good things he had in Christ would grow. Isn’t that incredible? We are doing that this month: partnering with Christians all over the world to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to grow in our knowledge of God! 

Paul’s promise is so encouraging to us today. It tells us that as we partner together around the world, proclaiming Christ, our faith is strengthened. We will get to know Jesus with deeper understanding. Then, as our understanding of God increases, our desire to share Christ with others increases too! Let us spur one another on to keep sharing Jesus with not-yet believers. It will strengthen our understanding so that we can share Jesus even more in the future! Let’s do it together. One Church sharing One Message with One World, all for the glory of King Jesus! 

 A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Jesus says that the Gospel will be proclaimed to the whole world. That is an immense task.  How would you measure the success of that agenda?

All is a big word, but imagine if ALL of God’s people everywhere accepted this mission. Imagine if every tribe, tongue, and nation heard the Gospel in our lifetime.  This could actually happen in our lifetime.  In the most recent history of the church, the majority of the proclaiming has come from the “professionals”: missionaries, pastors, and people of influence. God’s plan, however, is that every believer is a witness. God is moving! You are part of this movement!  

Jesus has invited all of us into his agenda of bringing the message of His Kingdom to all people. You are reading this today because you are taking this calling seriously.  You want to be part of God’s agenda: a messenger of the greatest message on the planet. 

There are so many things to accomplish, but, by making a commitment and by being intentional, we can see progress start through each of our lives and we will feel confident that we can answer His calling right where He has placed us.  We are seeing the world changing and believers from 150 nations are part of this month of movement.  Our hope is in the Gospel of the Kingdom. This is what Jesus longs for! It was his idea to entrust us with the Gospel and it was His command to send us to the nations.  Everyone can reach someone.  Who is someone today that needs to hear this message? Imagine the day when, together, we reach the world. 

 A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

2 Timothy 4:1-2: “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

In today’s passage, Paul challenges his disciple Timothy to “preach the word”. Now, most of us won’t have the opportunity to step up to a pulpit and preach the Word in a church service, however, we have the opportunity to share the Word of God every day in our day-to-day lives.

What is the “word” you can preach? It is the Gospel: the Good News of God’s love for the world, His incredible sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection, which defeated death, hell, and sin, and His sending the Holy Spirit to His Church to give them power to be witnesses. It is intriguing that Paul says to do this “in season and out of season”, which means that, even when we don’t feel comfortable, when there might be opposition, or when we are a lone voice or witness, we can share boldly. Yet, let’s share with patience, recognizing that it is God’s work to change the hearts of our hearers.

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

2 Timothy 4:5: “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

We started the month talking about breaking out of our comfort zones, but sometimes our responsibility can be burdensome. Today, we can be encouraged by God’s word to endure.

As we alluded to yesterday, sharing our faith can be difficult. It could bring us into a period of suffering when people resist us, scorn us, or reject our Lord Jesus Christ. We are not given the luxury of going into hiding or giving up. In this passage, Paul’s charge to Timothy also reminds us to always fulfill our calling to evangelize, no matter what it may cost us.

When we obey this charge, God will use us in more ways than we can imagine. We are like the ancient farmer: we scatter Gospel seeds wherever we go and leave the results up to God. God has promised that we will be blessed when we obey Him. We are called to be doers of the word and not just hearers, and, as we obey God, He will use His Word to change people’s lives. So, no matter what happens or what we have to endure, let’s evangelize! 

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

This week, we will discover God’s plan to mobilize us together in community. In the book of Acts, we see that God’s people were devoted to one another; they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, they broke bread together, and they prayed and shared the Gospel together. Thousands of lives were changed by this communal Gospel witnessing! 

God wants his people to be united, joy-filled, and loving towards one another in order to demonstrate that the Gospel of the Kingdom is greater than all of our differences. Something powerful happens when we “Go” together, as is evidenced by the many thousands who have come to Christ. Jesus prayed for this very thing before he died: “that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:23 ESV). Let’s Go together so that many would come to know Jesus as their Savior and King in 2020!  

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Luke 10:1: “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.”

Evangelist Greg Stier often says, “awkward is awesome!” It may have been awkward to share our faith in Jesus and it still may feel a bit like that. Today, you will see how awesome God is to not send us to evangelize alone. 

The New Testament presents a pattern of Jesus’ disciples, working in pairs and sharing the Good News of God’s kingdom. In today’s reading, 72 disciples are sent out in groups of two to all the surrounding towns ahead of Jesus’ actual visits. They were the advanced teams who were going and proclaiming the Good News ahead of where Jesus walked. 

We are called to go in the same awkwardly-awesome way. Together, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are to take the Gospel to places where Jesus is not yet known; places where He wants to go! Let’s go together as  representatives of the King and find people of peace. Let’s Go! 

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Acts 6:7: “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

Everyone can reach someone, and together, we can reach the world. 

Let’s say this often and remember that God equips each one of us for what He has called us to do: make disciples.  Our confidence is in the God who multiplies — Isn’t it exciting to think what God might do in our world this month  as we take this to heart and live it out?  

The disciples were ordinary people whose lives had been radically changed by Jesus. Despite their average status, they prayed, cared, and shared with those around them and the number of disciples increased rapidly. In Acts 2:41, we are told that about three thousand people “were added” to the church. By the time we get to Acts 6:7, addition is superseded by multiplication. The evangelism effort expanded as everyone got involved and, together, they told friends, neighbors, and family what Jesus had done in their lives. Even some of the Jewish priests became obedient to the faith! What a radical change Jesus can create in people! 

So, as we go together in this season, let’s pray for multiplication! 

One way to activate multiplication is to immediately train new believers to share their faith. Another way is to introduce entire families to Jesus. One way to do this is to find willing people and invite them to do a Discovery Bible study with their family and friends. 

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Acts 2:1-4: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

A key principle of evangelism is to share the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results up to God.  Sometimes, we can forget what an incredible gift the Holy Spirit is in the life of the believer and how powerful and necessary the Spirit is, in our witness.  Today, we will take a deeper glimpse at the gift of the Holy Spirit given to believers at Pentecost and how this led to thousands coming to faith in Jesus in a single day.  Could God move like this again? 

We must remember that the Holy Spirit came to the followers of Jesus who had obeyed his command to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father (see Acts 1:4). As they persisted in prayer together, they were all filled with the Spirit and had ‘tongues of fire’ descend on them. Suddenly, they were out in the streets, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ in all sorts of languages they didn’t know before. They simply couldn’t help themselves! Thousands of people put their faith in Jesus just that day, with more that came later. With this same liveliness, let’s take time to wait on God together for fresh fillings of His Spirit. We will be amazed with what happens!

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Revelation 3:7-8: “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”

Dave Gibson, U.S. Director for Go2020, invites us to join him to pray for B.O.B. every day: 

• Burden for the lost (Romans 9:1-5) 
• Open doors for the Gospel (Colossians 4:3) 
• Boldness to share (Ephesians 6:19-20)  

We are challenged to not only pray, but also put our feet to our prayers.  Today’s passage will encourage us with the promises and power of God when we take that step. 

Each of us receives a call from God–every follower of Christ, no matter the age or stage of life–yet we are not called alone, but together as the Church, aided by the promises and power of God. God is the one who opens the door in each community for those to hear the Gospel. He opens the hearts of the hearers when we respond in obedience to share the message of salvation. The promise to the church of Philadelphia is God’s promise to us as well: He has set before us an open door that no one is able to shut. God is still faithful to open doors and accomplishes his plans through us.

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Acts 12:6-12, 16: “ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”

In our day, prayer gatherings have not always been the most eagerly-attended or welcoming, but God is changing things before our eyes. In the same spirit of the early church, people are having prayer gatherings in digital spaces.  In this current time of crisis, there is a vast array of prayer meetings. Some are small, some consist of thousands.  Leaders, children, families, and churches are interceding for people and nations in anticipation of what God will do.  Today, we will increase our vision for corporate prayer as we look at a prayer meeting that saw God move miraculously.  

Earlier in Acts 12, we are told about the martyrdom of James the apostle (the brother of John). Now, we find Peter in prison, also awaiting execution. Peter is well-guarded and he seems to be in an impossible situation—but God! The church joins together in communal prayer, pleading for Peter’s release. What happens next is like something from a thriller movie. God answers His children’s prayers and releases Peter in a supernatural way!

So, as we go together this month to reach our communities for Jesus, we recognize that we need all of our activities to be inspired, empowered, and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. We further recognize that, as we pray and seek God together, it is God who gives us strength: He inspires us, leads us, and guides us. We also acknowledge that we desperately need God to open people’s hearts and give us divine appointments! We see God do all this in us and through us through prayer! Let’s pray before we go, as we go, and after we are done! 

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Philippians 1:3-5: “I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…”

In the months leading up to and throughout May, we have seen the spirit of unity and collaboration among God’s people and the various churches and ministries involved in this global effort.  In today’s passage, we see the joy we have in ministry as we join together in making disciples who make disciples.

Paul expresses thanksgiving and abounding joy as he writes to his fellow believers in Philippi. What is the cause of this? From the day they heard about Jesus from Paul (Acts 16:11-15), up to the present (when Paul wrote this letter), they worked as partners with him in making the Gospel known. Those who shared the Gospel with you have taken great joy as they watched you follow after Jesus and share his love with others. If you haven’t already, you may experience the same joy as you see your “disciples” grow in love and service for Jesus.

How can we better partner together in sharing the Gospel? Well, we can pray for one another, thanking the Lord.  We can go and share the Good News together with fellow believers and families.  We can do our part in reaching our family, neighbors, and friends and inviting new believers to do the same. Let’s Go together! 

A special thanks to the American Bible Society for contributing devotional content for Go2020. 

Acts 2:38-41:“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

What a wonderful message we have been given! We have an excellent opportunity this month to go and share the greatest message in human history with hearts full of love for Jesus and broken with love for the lost. 

The call goes out again and again: “Repent, believe and receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life!” What a reminder that this promise is for us, for our children, even for those who are far off–all whom the Lord will call! 

Let’s herald this message of love and hope wherever we go. This is just the beginning; Go2020 has just begun! We will go, as every believer is a witness, to every lost person around us by praying faithfully, caring lovingly, and sharing the greatest promise ever given to man. There is a God who saves! Let’s keep going and never stop until our King returns! 

Wow – It has been an incredible month! We have been able to share and pray with so many as hearts have been open during this time of crisis. How has it gone for you?  We would love to hear your story.  

As you are aware, GO2020 has focused on mobilizing every believer to be a witness and fulfill the Great Commission given to the church to make disciples of all nations! . Fulfilling the Great Commission does not happen by dropping gospel grenades and walking away. We fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples who we then train and equip to also make disciples! This is multiplication! We teach new believers “to obey all” Jesus commanded. This will take time, commitment, and energy. In fact, this part of the Great Commission is more challenging as it takes effort and long-term commitment to disciple people like Jesus did.

Jesus discipled three, twelve, seventy, and then one hundred twenty people. He ministered to crowds but deeply invested in just a few. He was intentional about teaching, training, equipping and then releasing his followers to live out the Kingdom. He invited them to “come and see” and then empowered them to “go and do!” We must do the same! We are called to make disciples of Jesus—not disciples of ourselves or our favorite preacher. When we make disciples and obey the Great Commission, Jesus will build the church—it’s that simple! Let’s Keep Going!

Prayer:  Keep praying.

Care: Keep caring.

Share: Keep sharing the Gospel, and disciple others to do the same.