Prepared by: Joey Arles O. Vergara | July 2026
Theme: Opening and Operating Branches of Christ's Kingdom
Framework: RECHARGE
R – Reference Verse
Primary Text: Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'"
E – Entry Point (Modern-day importance)
In our culture, we often hear the phrase, "Bahala na si Lord" (Leave it to the Lord). We use it when we are overwhelmed, unprepared, or when we simply want to surrender a situation. While it sounds like a statement of deep faith and surrender, it can sometimes be a mask for fatalism—a passive resignation.
Imagine you are given the chance to have a free franchise of a highly successful fast-food like Jollibee. Once the business starts operating, you open the doors on your first day, and then go to sleep in the back room saying, "Bahala na si Lord, naa bitaw daghan mopalit" (Leave it to the Lord if someone buys). It is absurd! A franchise requires intense, active management.
When it comes to sharing our faith, the "Bahala na si Lord" mindset is dangerous. We look at unsaved family members or coworkers and say, "Bahala na si Lord sa ilang kinabuhi" (Let the Lord handle their lives). But true biblical faith is not a passive waiting game; it is an active obedience. The Great Commission is Jesus handing us the franchise rights to the Kingdom of Heaven. He provided the capital and the brand, but He requires us to open the doors and run the daily operations.
C – Context (at the time of writing)
Matthew 28 contains the final words of Jesus in this Gospel. He is speaking to His eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee. These men were ordinary, likely feeling inadequate for the massive task of reaching the world. Jesus didn't just tell them, "I have conquered death, so sit back and watch Me work." Instead, He established His supreme brand power ("All authority has been given to Me") as the foundation for their active business operation ("Go therefore"). He gave them the operations manual: Go, make disciples, baptize, and teach.
H – Honor (Celebrating Truth Seekers)
We honor those among us who do not settle for a passive faith. We see you—the Sunday school teachers, the small group leaders, the parents intentionally discipling their children, and the individuals courageously inviting coworkers to church. You are the active, diligent franchisees of the Kingdom. You understand that faith is a verb and that God uses us to open new branches of His Kingdom in the hearts of others.
A – Admonish (A Call to the Errant)
However, we must gently but firmly admonish the mindset that treats evangelism and discipleship as "someone else's job." "Bahala na si Lord" is not an excuse for a closed storefront in ministry.
If we truly believe people need Jesus, how can we withhold the product? James 2:17 reminds us, "Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." A faith that says, "God will save them," but refuses to share the Gospel, is a bankrupt, dead franchise. We must repent of the times we have used "surrender" as a synonym for "giving up" on the people God has placed in our lives.
R – Reteach (Key Points)
To truly understand this mandate, look at the central command in the Greek text: mathēteúsate (from mathēteúō), which means "make disciples." In the original grammar, "going," "baptizing," and "teaching" are all actions supporting this one main goal. Making disciples is opening a new branch of the Kingdom; it requires intentional, ongoing effort. Let us reteach the biblical balance of faith and action in our Kingdom Franchise:
The Franchise is Built on His Authority, Not Our Invention: In franchising, the franchisee does not need to invent a new recipe or design a new logo. The mother company has already established the brand. Jesus said, "All authority has been given to Me." We don't need to reinvent the message or rely on our own cleverness. The King has given us the ultimate, authoritative brand; our job is simply to execute His proven system faithfully.
Cross-Reference: Colossians 2:9-10 says, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete..." He is the head of the enterprise, and His authority is our complete backing.
The Mandate is Active Operations (Instant yeast NOT active dry yeast): The commands in Matthew 28 require initiative. Think of a bakery franchise: active dry yeast has to sit in warm water and wait to be "activated" before it can do anything. Instant yeast, however, is ready to be mixed directly into the dough to go to work immediately. We shouldn't sit around in the pews waiting for perfect conditions to activate our faith; we are called to be instant, mixing into the world and causing growth immediately.
Cross-Reference: Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses..." You don't receive power to sit still; you receive power to operate actively.
We Carry a Value-Driven, Disruptive Brand: We don't just use a generic, copycat method to promote our faith. Our King’s brand is value-driven. Furthermore, a truly value-driven brand is disruptive in the market. When we share the Gospel, we aren't destroying people; rather, our franchise disrupts the evil norms, toxic cultures, and sinful patterns of the world with the unmatched value of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Cross-Reference: 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us." We are the authorized representatives bringing this disruptive, life-saving value to the streets.
Trust the CEO with the Results, But We Do the Hustle: We cannot save anyone; only the Holy Spirit can change a heart. The "CEO" guarantees the quality of the product and the ultimate success of the enterprise. But as local operators, our job is the daily hustle—communicating truth, loving people, and investing time. We do the working; God does the saving.
Cross-Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 illustrates this: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth." We are responsible for the active labor (planting/watering), but we trust the CEO completely for the growth.
G – Generalize
The principle of the Kingdom Franchise applies to every aspect of our Christian walk. True faith means we roll up our sleeves and open for business. It means having that awkward conversation about Jesus. It means waking up early to pray for someone by name. It means being patient with a new believer who is struggling. We replace "Bahala na si Lord" with "Ginoo, ania ako, ipadala ako" (Lord, here I am, send me).
E – Encourage (The Final Charge)
Church, do not be discouraged if a new "branch" doesn't boom on the first day. The task of discipling others is great, but look at the promise our CEO attached to the franchise agreement: "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
You are not doing this alone. The very authority and presence of Jesus Christ manage this enterprise with you. Let us leave this place not just as attendees, but as active Franchisees in the harvest field. Let us commit to intentional evangelism and discipleship this week, knowing that our labor in the King's business is never in vain.
Soli deo Gloria!