We’ve been looking at how what we do, our mission, should grow out of our purpose. We should always have a good reason for why we do what we do. Once we know our purpose and mission, we need to determine how we’re going to get there — vision. We then set specific goals for accomplishing that vision.
We find a good example of this flow in what has come to be known as Jesus’ Great Commission. Often we look at this mandate merely as a mission He gave to us. However, if we analyze it, we’ll determine that it grows out of our purpose and includes a vision for how to accomplish it, requiring goals to get there.
- As we’ll see in the next post, Jesus clearly states the mission, what we’re to do — “Go and make disciples of all nations.” And He tells us how to do it, what we might term vision — “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.”
- Specific goals aren’t included but provisions to set and accomplish goals can be found within the context — a topic for a future post.
- Neither is the purpose provided but John 3:16 must be behind it — the topic of this post.
What’s Behind the Great Commission: The Reason Jesus Wants Disciples of All Nations
To determine why Jesus wants disciples of all nations, we must go back to John 3:16. — For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God has taken great measures to bring rebellious, sinful people to Himself (Matt. 18:14), and patiently waits for more to turn to Him (2 Pet. 3:9). Why? — LOVE!
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 Jn. 4:9-10)
The Steering the Church Toward Discipleship Leadership Guide includes this content with a reminder of how His purpose behind the Great Commission becomes our purpose.
All Posts about Vision Casting & Goal-Setting:
- Have a Vision that Expresses Your Purpose?
- Have a Vision That Clarifies Your Purpose?
- Have a Vision Challenging Enough to Reach Your Purpose?
- Who Sets the Vision?
- Behind the Great Commission
- Good Example of Mission & Vision
- No Specific Examples of Goals in the Great Commission?
- Christ-like Intent in Vision & Goal-Setting
- Christ-like Pursuit of Vision & Goals
- Christ as the Focus, Not the Vision & Goals
- Power to Grasp and Implement a New Vision for the Church
- Vision and Goals Born Out of Prayer
- Vision and Goals Grounded in the Gospel
- Vision and Goals Enveloped by Grace
- Vision and Goals Guided by the Holy Spirit
- Vision and Goals Pursued Through Spiritual Gifting
- Where Might God Want to Take Your Church?
- Vision Casting That Engages People
- Goal-Setting to Reach Our Vision
- Vision and Goals Protected by Spiritual Means
- Vision Problems Solved
Very rich.
Thank you so much such a wonderful material you gave. May God bless you in all your works.
Really i appreciate your post on the topic.Thank you so much.
Awesome take on why and how we should follow Jesus Christ and undertake His great commission.
I love these materials. Very helpful. Thank you
You are welcome. Glory to God it’s been so helpful.
very powerful information that you provided may God bless you