Missions

Missions is Obedience to the Great Commission

After Christ’s death and resurrection, He commissioned the disciples to go and share the Gospel to every people group on the planet. We call this the Great Commision and it is found in Matthew 28:19-20. This responsibility is shared by every person who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This mission that we have can happen across the street, across the city, and across the globe. Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is the ministry that God has entrusted to us, the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).

Missions is Sharing Christ

Our mission is proclaiming Christ as the only way to abundant, eternal life. Whom do we tell? Jesus made it clear that Christians are to reach out to “all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Instead of countries, he was referring to people groups, those ethnic cultures without a Gospel witness. Although, the Great Commission deals with every people group, we see in Acts 1:8 that there is also a geographic component to our mission.

Missions, however, is not limited to overseas ministry. While believers should faithfully support those who go to the unreached, all of us have the mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ on the with family, friends, coworkers, and the community. 

The mission of sharing Christ does not end with a sinner’s salvation. The commission was to make disciples – not immature and disengaged believers. Missions involves not only evangelism but also discipleship.

Missions is Relying on Christ

There is a reason why this is called a commission and not just a mission. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus tells them, "and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." This co-mission is one that is completely reliant on our Lord. Without Him it would be impossible, but with Him and according to His power, reaching the world is within reach.

Sharing the Gospel humbly, boldly, and passionately is our Christian mission. But we cannot do it alone. While our mission is sharing Christ, the power and results come from the Lord. He gives us the wisdom, strength, and desire to witness! Through our witness, He works repentance and faith in the sinner’s heart (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Although it is God's work, we are responsible to understand the Gospel and have a strong relationship with Christ. Such a relationship guards us from hypocrisy (1 Peter 3:15-16). Jesus assured that suffering would accompany missions, but God uses it for good.