The Great Commission: Our Mission to a Dying World

Imagine you held the cure for a global pandemic in your hand. You knew exactly how to stop the suffering, how to heal the sick, and how to prevent future deaths. Would you keep it to yourself? Would you hide the formula in a drawer, or would you shout it from the rooftops?

The Gospel—the "Good News" of Jesus Christ—is the only cure for the spiritual pandemic of sin. Every person we pass on the street, every coworker in the next cubicle, and every neighbor across the fence is facing an eternal reality. I am a member of the church of Christ because we take the "Great Commission" not as a suggestion for a few "professionals," but as a marching order for every believer.

The Command of the King

Before Jesus ascended back to His Father, He left His followers with a clear, unequivocal mission. This command is recorded at the end of the Gospels and at the beginning of the book of Acts, emphasizing its vital importance. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you..." Notice the progression: we are to go, we are to make disciples (which involves teaching the Gospel), we are to baptize them, and then we are to continue teaching them. This is the "cycle of salvation" that ensures the church continues from one generation to the next.

The Power is in the Message

Many people feel intimidated by the idea of "evangelism." They worry they don't know enough Greek, or they won't be able to answer every difficult philosophical question. But the Great Commission doesn't depend on our eloquence or our intellectual prowess. It depends on the power of the message itself. Paul, one of the greatest missionaries in history, wrote: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16). Our job is simply to be the "seed-planters." In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13), the growth depended on the quality of the soil, not the technique of the sower. When we share the Word, we are planting the "incorruptible seed" (I Peter 1:23) that has the power to change a human heart.

More Than Handing Out a Bible

While technology has given us incredible tools—from social media to printed Bibles—sharing the Gospel is ultimately a personal endeavor. The Great Commission is about "making disciples," which implies relationship and mentorship. Paul told the young preacher Timothy: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2). True evangelism is multi-generational. It is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. It involves sitting across a kitchen table with an open Bible, studying with a friend who is hurting, or explaining the "hope that is in you" to a curious coworker (I Peter 3:15). It isn't just about handing someone a book; it's about walking them toward the Savior.

A Sense of Urgency

Why must we be so committed to this mission? Because time is short and the stakes are high. Jesus warned that the "harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37). We preach because we believe that "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). If we truly love our neighbors as ourselves, we cannot remain silent while they wander in darkness. The Great Commission is the ultimate act of love—offering someone the chance to be reconciled with their Creator.

Conclusion

The church of Christ is a "missionary" body by its very nature. We don't just exist to serve our own members; we exist to seek and save the lost, just as our Master did (Luke 19:10). Whether it’s supporting mission work in foreign lands or teaching a Bible study in our own living rooms, our goal is to ensure the message of the Cross reaches every ear. Will you join us in this mission? There is no greater joy than seeing a soul emerge from the waters of baptism, knowing they have been rescued from darkness and brought into the kingdom of God's dear Son.

You are loved.

Ray Reynolds

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