The Great Commission, Jesus’ final words to His disciples, is a powerful reminder of our calling to share the message of salvation and make disciples of all nations. We have a responsibility to prioritize this mission and embody it in all that we do in our personal lives, which then should extend to our churches.
What is the Great Commission?
The Great Commission is Jesus Christ’s final instruction to His disciples before He returned to Heaven. As His last words, they must be very significant!
‘Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”’ Matt 28 Vs 17-20
The Great Commission is a call to all Christians to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. It is the message of hope, forgiveness, and salvation for all people.
Embrace the simplicity of the Great Commission
The Great Commission is, at its core, a very simple message – “Go and make disciples”. When we focus on building genuine relationships, making use of everyday discipleship opportunities, empowering others to lead, and cultivating Christ-centered communities, we become embodiments of this message, living and sharing it with authenticity and compassion.
There are three areas in our lives where we are called to live out the Great Commission: our personal lives, our churches, and our broader communities. Let’s unpack each of these to understand how God has designed the Gospel to be shared with the world.
- The Great Commission in our personal lives
Our ability to lead ourselves and others in fulfilling the Great Commission is directly linked to our own spiritual growth and commitment to personal discipleship. We can’t give out what we don’t have, so we need to ensure we are filled with the Spirit ourselves before we can lead others to Him.
Ultimately, it is our passion for Jesus Christ that drives our efforts to share His message with others. We must constantly nurture this passion by seeking a deeper understanding of God’s Word, reflecting on His love and grace, and allowing His presence to guide our lives.
Are you prioritizing your relationship with Jesus? Or have you lost your personal love and passion for seeing the Great Commission fulfilled? We can be so worn out spiritually, physically, and emotionally that, if we are honest, we are just going through the motions.
Are you tired and burnt out? Are you spending all of your time doing and planning things for God that you have forgotten to sit in God’s presence and connect with your Heavenly Father? Are you running so hard that you don’t slow down enough to walk in step with Jesus?
The realization of life’s brevity and our mortality urges us to live each moment with intention and purpose for things that really matter. Don’t waste a moment! Reflect on the shortness of life and let that compel you to live for things of eternal value.
The Great Commission is not merely a task to be accomplished; it is a calling to transform lives, spread the message of salvation, and build a legacy that extends beyond our earthly existence. Let us recognize the urgency of this calling and dedicate ourselves to fulfilling it with unwavering passion and commitment, for the glory of Jesus Christ.
How do we make disciples?
Practically, making disciples begins with an individual who has yet to experience the transformative power of Jesus Christ by encountering the Gospel message and embracing it as the truth. This newfound faith marks the start of their Christian journey, guided by the support and mentorship of other believers. It starts with someone who does not know Jesus, who then becomes His disciple.
As this individual grows in their understanding and relationship with Christ, they are equipped to extend a helping hand to others, walking alongside them on their own paths towards Christ. This is the cycle of discipleship. Each of us plays a vital role in sharing the Gospel and nurturing the faith of others.
Loving the not-yet believer
The Great Commission starts with someone who does not know or love Jesus: a not yet believer in Jesus Christ. I use the words ‘not yet’ because it helps us to live with an expectation of friends, families and strangers coming to faith.
Building friendships with people who don’t know Jesus, having faith conversations with them and inviting them into your home or to your church is a powerful gesture of inclusivity and hospitality. It is very easy for Christ followers to only associate with other Christ followers during the week, but intentionally engaging with not yet believers opens doors for further conversations about faith.
Practical challenge
Ask God to show you three people who don’t know Him whom you can befriend. They may already be an acquaintance or a friend, but you may never have taken some bold steps to seeing them come to faith. They could be someone you regularly see; a waiter at a coffee shop, your child’s sports coach, or a colleague at work. Invite them to a coffee or a dinner at your home. Ask the Lord to open up opportunities for conversations about faith. Ask questions about their lives. Be interested in what they are thinking and feeling, and watch how Jesus will call them to Himself, and be available in that process.
- The church’s role in the Great Commission
Fulfilling the Great Commission is a shared responsibility that requires the active participation of every Christ follower in every Christ-following church. How can we help our churches prioritize the Great Commission? The goal should be for the church to become God’s vehicle to see the lost come to faith.
Inviting not-yet believers to church
How easy is it for you to invite a not-yet believer to your church? There will always be a level of discomfort for people who are not Christ-followers when they visit because they are in God’s presence. He will be drawing them, calling them, challenging them – and that is a good thing. Jesus did the same to everyone He encountered.
When visiting your church, a not yet believer should understand what is being said, and hopefully not be distracted by the decor, the singing, the notices or anything else. However, the Lord can of course work in any setting. We want our churches to be outward-looking. This means avoiding the assumption that people have Bibles, or know where or how to find a verse. How do you care for first time visitors? Do you help them become integrated into church life?
The way the church runs can change and look different, but it is crucial that the message of the gospel stays as the first priority.
Without any encouragement from our church leadership, a number of our retired members invited their friends to church a few weeks ago. Some of these friends said they last set foot in a church at school chapel, and swore they would never return. Many of them have recommitted their lives to Christ, or truly encountered Him for the first time. We pray for many more Great Commission moments like that in our church, and yours.
Practical challenge
Assess the health of your church. You could be a Church leader, or a member. This is a helpful gauge to see how well your church is doing at fulfilling the Great Commission.
Rate each of the following out of 10:
- What do you feel is your church’s passion for Christ? Are people excited and expectant to encounter Jesus? Is there a sense of the Holy Spirit when you meet?
- Are you experiencing growth in people becoming disciples? There are a number of indicators of this: consider numerical growth, number of salvations, baptisms, and people eager to serve in the life of the church.
- Is your church having an impact in the local community? If your church shut down tomorrow, would the community notice? Would they miss you?
Be honest about this, and reflect on why you have given the score you have for each one. Pray and ask the Lord to help you contribute to helping your church live out the Great Commission.
- Serving our communities through the Great Commission
How can we serve our community and nation in such a way that they see Jesus and want to know more about Him? How do we live lives that inspire them to ask us questions about our faith and why we do what we do? Often practical acts of kindness, care, and generosity spark curiosity about why you have done these things. This can lead to many conversations about Jesus.
Practical challenge
Go onto Google Maps and print out a few pages of different areas around your home and your church. Print one of a radius of 1km, then 5km, and then 15km. Place them on the walls of your home, church or office, and bring some colourful markers. With a prayerful heart, ask God to reveal areas of need, people you could befriend, potential partners to serve, and businesses where you can offer your support and prayers. You’ll be amazed at the insights God provides and the ways He starts using you to make a positive impact in your community. Invite other people from your leadership team, staff and congregation to pray into and seek ways to be the practical hands and feet of Jesus on the ground in your area.
As Pastor Morgan Chilulu aptly said during the AIDS pandemic, “A church that confines itself within its own four walls is no church at all.” We want our churches to be an integral part of our communities, a presence that would be sorely missed if we were to disappear.
Final words
The Great Commission is not only a command from Jesus; it is a call to action, a mission that extends into every aspect of our lives. As individuals, we are called to share the Gospel message with those around us, build relationships, engage in faith conversations, and invite people to experience the transformative power of Jesus Christ. As churches, we are called to create environments that are welcoming and inclusive, where not yet believers feel comfortable asking questions and exploring the truth of Christianity.
By prioritizing the Great Commission in both our personal and church lives, we can play a vital role in fulfilling Jesus’s mandate to spread the Gospel and make disciples of all nations.
