We tend to narrow the Great Commission down to going and making disciples of all nations. So, it’s fairly easy to look at our missions’ budget or how many missionaries have gone out from our midst to determine how well we’re doing. We might also include what programs we have to reach out to our own community. If that’s all there is to the Great Commission, we could arrive at conclusions about how well we’re doing without a formal assessment. But, if we look at the all-encompassing nature seen in Matthew 28:18-20, we might see the value of an assessment.
The Great Commission is Encompassing
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.” (Matt. 28:18-20)
From these verses we learn about the encompassing nature of the Great Commission. It includes:
- what everyone is doing, not just what leaders or select ministries of the church are doing
v. 18 – Jesus spoke these words to His disciples. Nowhere does it limit this responsibility to church leaders or select members responsible for the outreach ministry of the Church. How are we going to determine if everyone is fulfilling this responsibility?
- what agenda we’re following, not just doing what’s right in our own eyes
v. 18 – The One who gave this mission has ALL authority over everything. Consequently, we need to make sure we’re truly on mission with Him and not merely promoting our own personal agendas or following the ways of the world. How are we going to make sure we’re on track with Him?
- what’s happening in all of our programs or strategies, not just outreach
v. 19 – Making disciples involves more than people getting saved. It also involves the spiritual growth of believers so Christ not only is their Savior but also their Lord. How are we going to get such a coordinated view of the full-orbed ministry of the church?
- how evident the Lord’s presence is in all we do, not just what we look like as a Church
v. 20 – Jesus promised to always be with us. Do people see Him or do they see our programs, certain personalities, etc.? How are we going to get below the surface to determine if people truly are encountering Jesus?
To get a good picture of how well we are accomplishing this mission, we might consider doing an assessment, not because it’s complicated but because it’s encompassing.
You’ll find the above in the Steering the Church Toward Discipleship Leadership Guide with a few more thoughts about how assessments can be helpful, not because the Great Commission is complicated but rather because of human tendencies to be shortsighted and not keep it as encompassing as Jesus intended.
For More on These Topics, Go To:
All Posts about Assessments
- The Right Standard for Assessments
- Using Assessment Results in Ways that Line Up
- Guard Body Life When Doing Assessments
- Great Commission: Encompassing or Complicated?
- Assessment Questions from the Great Commission
- Christ-like Standard in Assessments
- Assessing Christ-like Character
- Assessing Christ-like Conduct & Conversation
- Assessments Leading to Eternal Results?
- Involvement of the Holy Spirit in the Assessment Process
- Pulling on Spiritual Gifting in the Assessment Process
- Alignment with the Gospel in the Assessment Process
- Prayer in the Assessment Process
- Do Assessments Really Fit into God’s Character and Ways?
- Concerned with His Name in the Assessment Process?
- Use of Spiritual Weapons in the Assessment Process
- Need for Grace in the Assessment Process
- Guide the Assessment Process
- A Leader’s Roles in Assessments
- Don’t Like the Results of an Assessment?