What is the Great Commission?

The Great Commission is the foundational purpose of the church and the Christian life. It is the reason that we spread the Gospel. It is God's plan and method for the church to carry the Gospel to the world.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:19–20

Notice the simple plan that Jesus gave:

Go

The Great Commission mindset is this, "I do not expect people to come and find Jesus; we must take Jesus to them." We are here to go to others, meet them, know them, and give them the Gospel.

"Go" is why we share the Gospel, send missionaries, and invite people to church. Just like Jesus came to seek and save the lost, we find people who need Jesus and share the good news with them.

Teach

The first "teach" is evangelism & witnessing. People need the salvation and hope that is found in Jesus Christ. However, they cannot know Jesus if someone doesn't tell them! We carry the Gospel to all nations & teach people about Jesus. But the work doesn't end once the Gospel is shared, and a person believes in Jesus.

Baptize

When a person gets saved, their first step of obedience is baptism. Baptism is the act of publicly identifying with Christ and stating that "I have decided to follow Jesus." This event takes place in the context of a body of Christians.

Teach

The second "teach" is more than teaching the Gospel; it is "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded." When a person gets saved, our responsibility to them has not ended.

Salvation is where a person becomes born again. From that point, they enter into a life-long process of spiritual maturity. God intends for the church to be the place where new Christians develop into mature Christians.

Does that make me a teacher?

Yes! But don't let the word "teach" scare you! This "teaching" is not so much about preparing a lesson. Consider those in your life who helped you get saved, grow, and follow Jesus. They were doing the Great Commission. They were not always preparing an outline and teaching a lesson, but you learned from them.

As a Great Commission teacher, I am the lesson. I understand that my words and life help others follow Jesus.