The Great Commission

1. The Great Commission Revisited

2. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission is Christ-centered. • Christ’s authority is back of it. • The Gospel of Christ is the message of it. • Christ promised to be with those who would carry it out.

3. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ.

4. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

5. Mark 16:14-16 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

6. Luke 24:44-45 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

7. Luke 24:46-47 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

8. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • It is the primary directive in the kingdom of Christ. • It must be carried out. • The gospel is that which saves.

9. Romans 1:15-16 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

10. 1 Corinthians 15:1-3 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

11. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • It is the primary directive in the kingdom of Christ. • It must be carried out. • The gospel is that which saves. • No one can be saved if the gospel is not preached.

12. Romans 10:13-14 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

13. Romans 10:15-17 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,Who bring glad tidings of good things!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

14. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • It is the primary directive in the kingdom of Christ. • It must be carried out. • The gospel is that which saves. • No one can be saved if the gospel is not preached. • Man cannot be saved by philosophy, psychology, sociology, secular education, politics or anything else of human origin.

15. Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

16. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each. • Matthew’s emphasis is on teaching.

17. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

18. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each. • Matthew’s emphasis is on teaching. • Christian discipleship must be taught.

19. John 6:44-45 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me."

20. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each. • Matthew’s emphasis is on teaching. • Christian discipleship must be taught. • Men are products of their teaching.

21. Luke 8:11-13 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. "But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

22. Luke 8:14-15 "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."

23. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each. • Matthew’s emphasis is on teaching. • Mark’s emphasis is on the preacher and hearer. • The preacher must proclaim the gospel.

24. Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

25. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each. • Matthew’s emphasis is on teaching. • Mark’s emphasis is on the preacher and hearer. • The preacher must proclaim the gospel. • The hearer must obey the gospel.

26. Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

27. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each. • Matthew’s emphasis is on teaching. • Mark’s emphasis is on the preacher and hearer. • Luke’s emphasis is on the divine plan.

28. Luke 24:44-45 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

29. Luke 24:46-47 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

30. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each. • Matthew’s emphasis is on teaching. • Mark’s emphasis is on the preacher and hearer. • Luke’s emphasis is on the divine plan. • The gospel message is not an afterthought.

31. 1 Peter 1:10-11 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

32. 1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.

33. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each. • Matthew’s emphasis is on teaching. • Mark’s emphasis is on the preacher and hearer. • Luke’s emphasis is on the divine plan. • The gospel message is not an afterthought. • It was first spoken by Jesus.

34. Hebrews 2:1-4 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

35. THE GREAT COMMISSION REVISITED • The Great Commission was Given by Christ. • Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each. • Matthew’s emphasis is on teaching. • Mark’s emphasis is on the preacher and hearer. • Luke’s emphasis is on the divine plan. • The gospel message is not an afterthought. • It was first spoken by Jesus. • Its enforcement to begin at Jerusalem.