The stories of Peter and Paul in the Bible make me deeply desire to be used by Jesus in extraordinary ways, as they were, in the mission of God.
But the problem is that often I don’t think I am capable of it. I don’t feel special like they were, or important.
If you have thought this way as well, please know that God can use all of us in grand ways as he did with Peter and Paul. And he will, if we are willing and take seriously (as they did) his mandate in the Bible of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.
Doing this is taking part in God’s story… and it’s God’s plan for us to do just that.
What Is God’s Mission?
God’s people are called to participate in his mission; thus, it is imperative that we understand what his mission is and how we are called to take part in it.
Firstly, mission comes from God, as it is his. It requires devotion from us.
God’s mission is a divine mission due to his request, which has been put into place from the beginning of time. It is a command from him that we live out.
It is that all his creation—the whole world—would be redeemed and restored. This is through sharing, with all people, the Gospel message about Jesus, God’s son, who was sent down to earth by him.
We need to tell people about being under the kingdom of God to move it forward. Within doing it, God also has a purpose for you as an individual that fits into advancing his big mission of redemption.
Mission is taking action. We should be engaging in it. We should aim to do this throughout our whole lives, with our words and actions.
We should live differently, obeying his commands to be a light for him as God called the Israelites to.
It’s all for his glory that we do his mission. Glorifying him should motivate us to do it. The church was brought about to live out this mission.
What Was Jesus’ Mission?
Jesus’ holy mission on earth was that all would put their faith in him, believing who he says he is: God, the Messiah, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.
He redeemed all of creation by dying on the cross so that through relationship with him you also have it with the Father.
When you believe and follow him, having a relationship with him, you experience redemption as you are formed into his image. And he wants all to hear the Gospel so they are also redeemed.
Jesus brought others to him by displaying his power via doing miracles, which were signs showing who he was, to enable them to believe in him.
Jesus, who is the Messiah, God, was handed over all authority and power on earth from the Father; this is why he was able to do all he did.
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” (Matthew 28:18, ESV)
This authority, which he always had, is what enabled him to do all his work on earth. He also gives us this authority to do his mission.
We can’t live out his mission without his power and authority. Thus, accomplishing his mission means depending on him… as it is only achieved through him.
What Is the Great Commission in the Bible?
The Great Commission is in Matthew 28:18-20.
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)
This passage provides a summary of the core Christian missions to “make disciples, baptize, teach.” Jesus’ command is that we bring his message to all people, around the world, no matter who they are.
Why Is the Great Commission Important?
Jesus’ Great Commission is for those in the church, God’s people, to share the good news with everyone in the world. God wants all people to be reached.
This is done via the leading and guiding of Jesus’s power. He has given us his Holy Spirit to empower us to live out his mission.
The Holy Spirit is so essential in the mission of God, enabling others to experience Jesus through us, and also directing us. God is with you in this always, forever, and will help you do it.
“… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, ESV)
When you feel like you can’t do it, remember this truth: you can.
You are no different from any of the disciples; no different from Paul. The same Spirit is in you, empowering you.
The Great Commission is important as it gives all an opportunity to come to know the Gospel to be redeemed.
This is the greatest gift a person can receive: to know their creator, the one who deeply loves them and wants to be with them at all times to help them. It restores all people to him, to be made into his image.
It is so important that you take part in this mission to restore mankind. It can’t be done without you. It’s so important, as it is living out the mission of God and there is no better mission to do.
Mission of God
According to the book of Matthew, to do the mission of God is living out the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. This helps accomplish God’s mission of all people, all the world, being redeemed.
Below, you will read about how you can live out the Great Commission to take part in God’s mission. You are needed to do this.
No action for God is too small. You never know what talking to that coworker can lead to, or praying for that family member who doesn’t know Jesus.
Be prayerful and intentional in your relationships. Be in step with the Holy Spirit. We must stay mission-minded at all times.
Living out God’s mission must be central in our lives; we must do it for the right reasons, with the right heart: to glorify him.
1. Make Disciples
Jesus called his disciples to leave Jerusalem to witness to all people in the world and he wants us to do the same.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19, ESV)
The mission of God is not just about simply sharing the Gospel and bringing others to accept Jesus, making a one-time decision for Christ. It is a command to disciple others, which is ushering them into a relationship with Jesus to follow him their whole lives, living as he did.
Help them come to know Christ and then disciple them as he modeled on this earth. We are to mold people to be like Jesus, as we are striving to be ourselves.
Discipleship happens in relationships with others. It happens by spending time with someone, doing activities with them, and talking with them about Jesus. It happens by helping others live for him each day, helping them make the choices he wants them to make.
Read the Bible with them, study it together, pray with them, love them in their time of need, take them to church with you, help them to not live in sin. Help them live as Jesus did, as you model this in your life: living completely under his will.
2. Baptize
Jesus then says to baptize them.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19, ESV)
The sacrament of baptism is a vital aspect to discipleship, as Jesus did it. It’s not what saves us… but Jesus wants us to do it.
It’s often done after accepting Jesus, though different denominations have different views on baptism in general. It shows everyone you are a believer in Jesus and your devotion to him.
When someone puts their faith in Jesus, they are dead to their former life and are resurrected to live a new life in him. Doing this outwardly shows everyone this inward change.
They are buried as Jesus was, which is represented in baptism as one goes under the water, and then are resurrected with him as they come out of it. Believers share by way of his grace in the death of Jesus and him coming back to life.
In our discipleship relationship with others, we should talk to them about being baptized as Jesus did, and the meaning of why they should do it too. This is discipling them well.
Share about your experience being baptized to help them. Show them scriptures on it, and where Jesus did it, so they will do it also.
3. Teach
After this, we are to teach them.
“… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, ESV)
This is not about a person gaining information where they become more intelligent; it’s about instructing them on obeying the will of Jesus, just like he did in his ministry, as well as in his instruction to others.
We need to do what Christ did, as the disciples modeled. This is to live out everything he tells us to do in the Bible, obeying his commandments out of a heart of love for him.
The teaching we give to others is rooted in what Christ taught in his ministry, and we are to instruct them to do what he taught. It is to teach others about Jesus’ truths and what he says, so they can live it out. He holds all authority.
Teach them what is in the Bible. This looks like sitting down and doing Bible studies with others you are discipling. It can look like studying the Gospels together, pointing out truths in regards to Jesus and his commands such as to love others, forgive, etc.
Teach others to live grounded in the Bible and live out what they believe from the Bible with the right heart.
Your part in God’s story is living out the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. This means to make disciples, baptize and teach; this allows you to take part in the mission of God of all being redeemed.
You can do this, as God and his power are with you always. Don’t feel like you can’t. Pray for God to use you and walk out his mission.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. 1st Touchstone Edition. New York, New York: Touchstone, 1995.
Bosch, David Jacobus. Transforming Mission : Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Twentieth anniversary edition. Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis Books, 2011.
Oden, Thomas C. Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry. First edition. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1983.
Osborne, Grant R. Matthew : Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2010.
Wright, Christopher J. H. The Mission of God : Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2006.
