God's Mission for the Church -- The Great Commission

The Great Commission
Jesus' words in Matthew 28:18-20 have come to be known as the Great Commission.
 
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
As a church leader, part of your responsibility is to support and promote God's mission for the church.

Cradle of Authority Seen in the Great Commission

Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." We go out in His power and authority, not our own. If church leaders don't get this issue of authority settled, they might hinder the Body from doing their part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Click below for how leadership tendencies could have this effect. After reading some thoughts on that answer, use your back button and continue on this page.
  1. feel my position as a leader gives me authority
  2. find myself picking and choosing what I put under His authority and what I hold in control
     

Charge of Responsibility Given in the Great Commission

Jesus exhorted His disciples to make disciples. Notice the qualifying factors.
 
"Go and make disciples." - While you are going (whatever you do, wherever you go), make Christ-followers. ... Be proactive or intentional in this at all times.
 
"Make disciples of all nations." - Think big when it comes to making disciples (all). ... Be outward focused, always looking at the big picture.
 
How seriously you take this charge will be seen in how much you steer the church toward these qualifying factors. Click below on which, if any, of these attitudes fits how you feel about this charge and your leadership role. After reading some thoughts on that answer, use your back button and continue on this page.
  1. I don't see outreach as my primary responsibility. Other people are more qualified to make disciples.
  2. Evangelism is almost an obsession. Everything I do is about making disciples.
     

Center of Focus

Throughout the entire discipleship process, attention should go to the Lord. The Great Commission takes people beyond salvation in the Lord Jesus to:
  1. publically identifying with God ("baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit")
     
  2. learning to let Him be Lord and not simply Savior ("teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you")
Click below on struggles you might have that tend to put the focus elsewhere. After reading some thoughts on that answer, use your back button and continue on this page.
  1. struggle to keep programs or my agenda from becoming the focal point
  2. struggle to keep myself as the leader from becoming the focal point
     

Case for Confidence Found in the Great Commission

How easily insecurities can set in as we seek to reach out and disciple others. Leaders are not exempt from fear of failure, concerns about what people will think, and other uncertainties about the process. Fears and insecurities do not have to immobilize if we pay careful attention to the reason we can move forward with confidence to fulfill the Great Commission. -- Jesus said, "surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
 
Click below on what tends to make you feel insecure. After reading some thoughts on that answer, use your back button and continue on this page.
  1. get to feeling like I'm alone in this, that others don't see it
  2. get to feeling like I'm inadequate for the task
     

Challenge to Make Discipleship Important in All Leadership Tasks

The Practicum on this site shows leaders how to be proactive in helping the Church implement God's mission to make fully devoted followers of Jesus. Click on leadership tasks below to read how discipleship infiltrates all of a leader's responsibilities.


The points on this page form the outline for the Steering the Church Toward Discipleship Leadership Guide.
 
 
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