The Nature of the Great Commission: A Call to Movement

The Great Commission is a fundamental concept in Christianity, emphasizing the responsibility of believers to spread the message of Jesus Christ. It is a call to movement, urging believers to be witnesses of the transformative power of the gospel. In this article, we will explore the nature of the Great Commission and its significance in the lives of believers.

Understanding the Great Commission
The Great Commission is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the scriptures. According to Luke, Jesus said, "You are witnesses of these things." This statement highlights the role of believers as witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It is a call to action, urging believers to share their faith and proclaim the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations.

The Means of the Great Commission
To understand the nature of the Great Commission, we must first examine its means. The means refer to the resources and abilities that believers have been given to fulfill this mission. Jesus opened the minds of his disciples to understand the Scriptures, which serve as the foundation of their witness.

The Scriptures, including the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, contain prophecies and teachings about the coming of the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled these prophecies through his suffering, death, and resurrection. Believers are called to proclaim this message of redemption and forgiveness, drawing upon the rich heritage of Scripture.

The Movement of the Great Commission
The Great Commission is not confined to a single location but is meant to spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the Earth. This movement is evident in the words of Jesus recorded in Acts 1:8: "You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Earth."

The movement of the Great Commission is not a passive endeavor but an active pursuit. It involves taking the message of the gospel from one place to another and reaching out to people of different cultures, languages, and backgrounds. It is a call to cross boundaries and share the love of Christ with all nations.

The Spread of the Gospel
The Book of Acts provides a blueprint for the movement of the Great Commission. It unfolds in a progressive manner, starting in Jerusalem, spreading to Judea and Samaria, and ultimately reaching the ends of the Earth. This pattern is evident in the accounts of the early church, where believers actively shared the message of Christ.

In Jerusalem, the gospel was proclaimed by the apostles and the early believers. The spread of the gospel then extended to Judea and Samaria, where the disciples took the message beyond the confines of their immediate surroundings. Finally, the gospel reached the ends of the Earth through the missionary journeys of Paul and other early Christian leaders.

The Role of Martyrs
The nature of the Great Commission is closely tied to the concept of martyrdom. Throughout history, many believers have laid down their lives for the sake of the gospel. By their sacrifice, they bore witness to the transformative power of the message they proclaimed.

Martyrs serve as a powerful example of dedication and commitment to the Great Commission. Their willingness to endure persecution and even death for the sake of Christ inspires believers to be bold in their witness. Martyrdom is a testament to the enduring impact of the gospel and the urgency of its proclamation.

The Message of the Great Commission
The Great Commission is not merely a call to movement but also a call to bear witness to a specific message. The message centers around the person of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, and the call to repentance and forgiveness of sins.

The gospel message is universal in scope and meant to be proclaimed to all nations. It is a message of hope, transformation, and salvation. Believers are called to share this message with clarity and conviction, demonstrating through their lives the power of the gospel to change hearts and lives.

Deploying the Great Commission
The Great Commission is not limited to a select few but is the responsibility of the entire church. It is a call to deployment, urging every believer to actively participate in the spread of the gospel. The commission was not given solely to the apostles but to the church as a whole.
Believers are called to be channels through which the gospel flows rather than reservoirs that hoard the message for themselves. The movement of the Great Commission requires the collective effort of the entire body of Christ. Each believer has a part to play in fulfilling this mission, whether locally or globally.

Faithfulness in Jerusalem
While the Great Commission encompasses global missions, believers are also called to be faithful in their local contexts. The challenge is to be as faithful with our neighbors as we are on mission trips. The light of the gospel should shine brightly at home before it can shine farthest.

In Acts, we see the progression of the gospel from Jerusalem to Samaria. It is noteworthy that it was a deacon named Philip who took the gospel to Samaria, not just the apostles or pastors. This highlights the role of every believer in the movement of the Great Commission.

Local and International Missions
The question of whether local or international missions are more important is often raised. However, just like the wings of an airplane, both are crucial for the mission to soar. The New Testament church exemplifies the importance of both local and global missions.

Believers should be actively engaged in both local and international missions, recognizing that the Great Commission is not restricted to a specific location. The gospel is meant to spread from our Jerusalem to the ends of the Earth. Whether it is sharing the message with our neighbors or embarking on mission trips, each act of obedience contributes to the movement of the Great Commission.

Conclusion
The nature of the Great Commission is characterized by movement, as believers are called to be witnesses of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a call to action, urging believers to share the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations.

The Great Commission encompasses the means, movement, martyrs, and message. Believers have been given the resources and understanding of Scripture to fulfill this mission. The movement of the Great Commission extends from Jerusalem to the ends of the Earth, requiring believers to cross boundaries and share the love of Christ with others.

Martyrs serve as a powerful example of dedication and commitment to the Great Commission. Their sacrifice bears witness to the transformative power of the gospel. The message of the Great Commission centers around the person of Jesus Christ and the call to repentance and forgiveness of sins.

Believers are called to actively participate in the deployment of the Great Commission, being faithful in their local contexts and engaging in both local and international missions. Each believer has a part to play in the movement of the Great Commission, contributing to the spread of the gospel throughout the world.

As Christians, let us embrace the call to movement and be faithful witnesses, shining the light of the gospel in our communities and beyond. The Great Commission is not a task reserved for a select few, but a collective responsibility of every believer. Let us be channels through which the transformative power of the gospel flows, impacting lives and bringing hope to the nations.

This recap is from Great Week 3: R-Represent, The Strategy | Luke 24:48. Check out the full sermon below from CityRise Campus Pastor Dr. Mark Edworthy.