The Command of Missions

So far we have seen:

Missions where we are

Missions down the road

Missions where we least expect it

This morning we will actually shift our attention back to the beginning as we look at the Command of Missions

Matthew 28:16–20 “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 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.””

The Great Commission

Mark 16:14–19 “Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”

There are 195 Countries in the World today.

This total comprises 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations and 2 countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine.

54 countries are in Africa

48 in Asia44 in Europe

33 in Latin America and the Caribbean

14 in Oceania

2 in Northern America

The command comes directly from Jesus

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Matthew 4:8–10 “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ””

The command is to “GO”

Matthew 28:19a “Go therefore

Mark 16:15 “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Mark 16:20 “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”

The command is to make Disciples of all nations

Matthew 28:19b make disciples of all nations,

Through scriptural Baptism

Matthew 28:19c baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

Through solid Biblical teaching

Matthew 28:20a “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Matthew 28:20b And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””