Scripture on the Great Commission

“The Lord Jesus Christ gave His church clear instructions after His resurrection and before He was taken up to heaven.

The Evangelistic Challenge: Mark 16:15-“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” and “Luke 24:47-“…that repentance and forgiveness of our sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.”

The Discipling Challenge: Matthew 28:19-20-“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

The Missiological Challenge: John 17:18-“As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” and John 20:21- “As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.”

The Global Challenge: Acts 1:8- “You will receive power and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

This encompasses the task before us; it is vast in scope. John P. Jones wrote in 1912, “This enterprise is not only the greatest that the world has ever known; it is also the most difficult to achieve.” Yet, we believe that the Great Commission is not merely an ideal to aspire toward, but an achievable command given by the Lord. In each of the passages referenced above, the commissioning of the Church was accompanied by assurances of God’s power and authority and the very real presence of the Holy Spirit. The scale of the task before us is matched only by the greatness of the God who promises to accompany and empower us!”

Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide To Every Nation (7th Edition) p. 27