As We Go...

The Church Recapturing the Great Commission

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18 -20, The Message

I believe there is a basic assumption that Jesus made when he gave us the Great Commission. He assumed that as disciples of his, as followers of the Way that we would naturally do what he did.. Make Disciples and that we would be willing to do it wherever we are living whether that is in our own city or in a land far away.

The early disciples took serious this charge. They told others rather boldly about Jesus. I think they did it in their normal every day life. In most cases they did this within the context of their own job and families and friends.

But something unique seemed to happen in Acts 13. As the church was gathered worshiping and praying the Holy Spirit spoke to the church and told them to set a part Barnabus and Saul.

What could even be more unique is that the church obeyed the Spirit and they laid hands on them and sent them on their way. Lately these verses have sparked a renewed vision for me. A vision where the church recaptures the Great Commission.

Obviously at that early point in church history we did not have mission boards or societies. We simply had the church finding a way to send it's own people. How can we recapture that today? How can the church today find creative ways to act globally in world missions?

I may have some ideas. stay tuned.