In this Episode:

1. What is the Great Commission?

• Generally speaking, the North American church is lacking knowledge about the Great Commission.
• Usually the Great Commission is assigned to the Matthew 28:18-20 passage where Jesus says that He has been given all authority and sends Christ-followers to the nations. He asks them to teach peoples to obey all things He has taught, and He promises His followers that He will be with them always in the process of making disciples.
• The Great Commission is the theme Jesus talked about in his final days on earth. Other Bible passages that include the Great Commission are Mark 16, Luke 24, Acts 1:8, and John 20:21.

2. What are some of the key elements of the Great Commission?

• Look at the 4 superlatives in Matthew 28:18-20. All authority is given to Jesus as He’s conquered death. He asks Christ-followers to go and make disciples of all nations. He wants us to teach people to obey all that He’s commanded. He promises to be with us always.
• It’s helpful to look at the way that Jesus structures his language in Matthew 28:18-20. This passage includes participles followed by an imperative. As you are going, as you are teaching, and as you are baptizing – make disciples. The whole process of discipleship is going, teaching people to obey, and baptizing (conscious identification with the Christian community).
• The Greek language for “all nations” refers to all ethnic groups. Jesus commands Christ-followers to take the gospel across all the ethnic groups of the earth.
• Check out Joshua Project to learn more about unreached ethnic people groups.

3. What does “Making Disciples” look like? What is discipleship?

• Discipleship is a lifelong process! A disciple is a 24/7 fully-devoted follower who aims to make Christ the priority in every part of their life (Col.1:28). A disciple is in the process of growing into Christ-likeness.
• There is a great description of discipleship in the book My Heart Christ’s Home – Robert Boyd Munger
• All Christ-followers are in the process of growing in Christ-likeness

4. What does The Great Commission mean to the average person at a local church?

• People often envision Great Commission work being fulfilled by a long-term missionary in the remotest part of the earth. But the Great Commission is for all believers every day until Jesus returns!
• We don’t need to ask God if we are sent. We should ask God where we are sent! The Great Commission is for all believers to all peoples!
• Scriptures about the Great Commission have an emphasis on taking the gospel cross-culturally. This could mean across the street, across the hall, or across the world – sharing the gospel with someone who’s never heard it before! Christ-followers are to live the Great Commission every day!

5. What are some examples you have seen of Christ-followers participating in the Great Commission today?

• A couple is working amongst international Chinese students in the US.
• Hospitality for refugees and newcomers and engaging new neighbors can help in building relationships that can grow into discipleship.
• God asks us to reach out in the place we are living at this moment.

6. Most unreached people groups are not in North America. Can you please give us examples of some of the Goers who will participate in the Great Commission outside of North America?

• A person who, to the best of their ability, gets involved in the culture and lives the Christian life among them. People can see Jesus before they hear about Him. This is a long-term process and investment.
• A short-term mission should have a distinct goal. Short-term mission can be helpful in creating vision and fostering prayer. People on short-term mission often have a story to tell when they get back that can open conversations about faith.
• Long-term mission is needed for peoples to be reached. It can take years to build relationships and friendships before individuals become followers of Jesus.

7. What would you say to a missions committee if you had the opportunity to address them?

• Global missions starts in our own communities.
• Be “Go and Tell” Christians rather than “Come and See” Christians.
• Make sure that some of your mission workers or missions partners are going to unreached ethnic groups!
• Make sure there are mission workers on your roster who don’t look like the culture of your local church! Make sure your missions family is broader than only North Americans.

Resources:

• Great Commission, Great Compassion – Following Jesus and Loving the World – Paul Borthwick
• The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ – Bill Hull
• Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions – Winfried Corduan

Connect with Paul at www.paulborthwick.com