Home is Where the Mission Starts

When I was a kid, my parents used to tell me, “Don’t forget where you came from.” At the time, I thought it was just about remembering my hometown or my family name. But the older I get, the more I realize—they were teaching me something deeper: that the biggest things in life often start in the smallest, closest places.

Think about it—every great journey begins at home. A young athlete first learns to play in the backyard. A musician strums their first notes in their bedroom. A leader learns their values around the family table. And faith—it’s usually first passed on not in a stadium, but in a living room, with someone praying, teaching, or simply living it out.

That’s exactly what Jesus was showing us in Matthew 28:18–20. He gave His disciples this massive assignment: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” But you know where they started? Right where they were. With the people closest to them. The mission to reach the world began at home.

And that’s true for us too. Sometimes we dream about “doing big things for God,” but we forget that the mission doesn’t start on the other side of the world—it starts at your kitchen table, in your neighborhood, at your workplace. Home is where the mission begins.

Before we get to our text this morning, go with me to John chapter 16. I want to read one verse, verse 7.

John 16:7 NIV

7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

The word Advocate here is used for The Holy Spirit. If you look up the word advocate you will find this definition.

advocate - a person who acts as a spokesperson or representative of someone else’s policy, purpose, or cause; especially before a judge in a court of law.

The Holy Spirit is continuing what Jesus started many years ago.

Now look at our text in Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Look first at what Jesus says in verse 18. He lets His disciples know that He has been given all the authority in heaven and on earth.

The Greek word for authority is exousia (ex-oo-see’-ah) - State of Control over something

It can refer to a state of control over something. It can also indicate a potential to command, control, or govern. Further, it can point to a right to control or command. The word can also refer to a sphere in which power is exercised or to a means of exercising power.

So, Jesus had been given full power to tell them what He was about to tell them. He wanted them to do three things when He left. He wanted them to

Go and Make Disciples

Baptize them

Teach Them to Obey

Now go to Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Greek word for power is dynamis (doo’-nam-is). Same word we use in English for Dynamite.

This is the same word that we get our English word dynamite. It is that kind of power. Jesus gave them the authority to go and the Holy Spirit is going to provide them with the power to go.

Jesus has given us the authority to go just like His disciples and that same power that lived in the disciples is living in us today.

And where did that power take them?

1. Jerusalem

Jerusalem was their home. That would’ve included their neighbors, their local bakery, butcher shop, their banker, you get the picture. Jesus was getting personal with them. These would be the people that they would come in contact with on a daily basis. The people they associated with on a regular basis. But it didn’t stop there. Next He told them Judea and Samaria.

2. Judea and Samaria

Judea was the region surrounding Jerusalem, it might have even included Galilee. Samaria was Judea’s hostile next-door neighbor, a more difficult but equally important place to take the gospel. These places were a days journey, maybe more or less, away from Jerusalem. It might be like us traveling to Little Rock or Tulsa. Maybe even up to Fayetteville.

3. The Ends of the Earth

This probably referred to Rome or the Roman Empire, the world power at that time. So, it would represent the rest of the world. And you can see that they did it.

If you look at the book of Acts and you look at each of the chapters you can see them spreading the Gospel message in this order. Acts chapters 1-7 they are making disciples in Jerusalem. In Acts chapters 8-12 they are making disciples in Judea and Samaria. And then in Acts Chapter 13-28 they are going to the rest of the world. They were fulfilling the calling that Jesus had placed on them. And the Holy Spirit was giving them the power to go and do what Jesus had given them the authority to do.

Maybe you are asking, Pastor, I can probably reach my neighborhood and my family and even people that I run into in town, but how am I going to reach the other parts, like Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth. My answer to you is missions. That is why it is so important that we give to missions. We may not be able to physically go but I can give so that someone else can go. Sure, there may be opportunities to go on a short term missions trip, but if not I can give money so that God’s Word goes to the ends of the earth.

Everyone of us are very different in our passions and the causes that move us to action. Our differences are wonderful and God given, but it’s also important to remember we have the same goal. We are all to participate in the spreading of the gospel.

I believe all of us would agree that this job is way too big and too difficult for any one of us to try and accomplish this alone. The good news is we have Jesus Christ interceding for us, we have the Holy Spirit walking with us and we have each other working with each of us. Look again at verse 20 of our text.

Matthew 28:20 NIV

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Look at that last sentence. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus never leaves us. He ascended that day into Heaven, but before He did, He reminded them that He was going to always be with them.

I want to show you something real quickly. Go to Matthew chapter 1.

Matthew 1:23 NIV

23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Jesus came to this earth, was given the name Immanuel which means “God with us” and He is leaving this earth telling us that even though He is not physically seen with us He is still here with us. We are not alone. We have everything we need. We just have to go.

For the last several weeks we have talked about the church as a home. Church is a special home. It is where you belong, you’re loved, you grow and it is where the mission starts.

The mission starts when God births a vision inside each of us and we begin to fulfill the Great Commission.

What is God birthing inside you? Who is God wanting you to reach out to? Is there someone that God is laying on your mind to reach out to?

I’m not giving you this message this morning so that our church gets bigger. I’m giving you this message so that you will answer the call to discipleship.

Whether anyone else comes to our church or not, the point is God is calling each of us to be His disciples. It’s in the last words that Jesus spoke to us.

Matthew 28:19 NIV

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

We don’t have to even worry about the nations today. Just look at your neighborhood or your circle of influence. Are you making disciples with the people that you are given.

Over the last few weeks, I have been doing some soul searching. I could probably go back even a year. I believe that God has been dealing with me. I have struggled with the fact that our church hasn’t added many people over the last year. As a matter of fact, we have lost more than we have added. I’ve struggled with this and for the last few weeks God has been dealing with me.

The question that keeps coming back to me is what about the ones you have. Are you discipling the ones that are here? Are they growing in their faith? Do they love Jesus more today than they did yesterday? This church is a part of my circle of influence. My job as your shepherd or Pastor is to spiritually tend, feed, guide and protect you, just as a shepherd does with sheep.

Right now, each of you is a part of my assignment. If no more come, you are the ones I am to take care of. That is my job.

I’m reminded of the story in John 21. After the resurrection, some of the disciples went back to what they knew—fishing. They fished all night and caught nothing. But as the sun rose, Jesus stood on the shore, though they didn’t recognize Him. He called out, “Friends, have you caught anything?” When they answered no, He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat.” The moment they obeyed, the nets filled with fish.

When they came to shore, Jesus already had a fire going with breakfast waiting. He invited them to bring some of their fish and eat with Him. Around that fire, He had a very personal conversation with Peter—the disciple who had denied Him three times. Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” And Jesus replied, “Feed my lambs.”

Not once, but three times, Jesus asked the same question. Each time Peter said, “Lord, you know that I love you.” And each time Jesus gave the same response: “Feed my sheep.”

What was Jesus doing? He was restoring Peter, yes—but also showing him that love for Jesus is proven by caring for people. It’s not enough to say, “I love you, Lord.” Real love overflows into mission—feeding, serving, reaching, discipling.

And here’s what’s so powerful: that moment didn’t happen in a temple, or on a stage, or in some distant land. It happened at home, on the familiar shore where Peter had grown up fishing. That’s where Jesus met him, loved him, restored him, and sent him on mission.

The same is true for us. The mission doesn’t start “out there.” It starts right here—where we live, where we work, where we sit around the table with family, where we meet neighbors. Home is where the mission starts.

Romans 5:8 NIV

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Calvary itself stands as His witness. Do you remember the words hurled at Jesus while He hung on the cross? The unbelievers mocked Him, saying, “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself.” What they meant as ridicule was actually the deepest truth. Of course, He could have saved Himself—but He would not. Because the whole point of the cross was not self-preservation, but our salvation. He didn’t come to rescue Himself; He came to rescue us.

Luke 19:10 NIV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Matthew 20:28 NIV

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

And just as He was sent into the world, now He sends us.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NIV

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Jesus has finished His mission—He gave His life, He rose again, and now He hands the mission to us. He calls us to care for the very people He died for. Without Him, they are like sheep without a shepherd—wandering, lost, and hopeless. But through us, they can hear the gospel, find hope, and be brought into His fold.

That’s why the Great Commission is not optional—it’s our assignment. We are called to go, to make disciples, to baptize, and to teach. And it doesn’t begin in some far-off land. It begins here. It begins now. It begins at home.

So today, I want us to make this personal. In just a moment, I’m going to invite you to gather in groups—families together, friends together, or just a few people around you—and begin to pray for one another. Pray that God will use your home as a launchpad for His mission. Pray for boldness to share Christ with neighbors and co-workers. Pray that God will open doors and give you divine appointments this week.

Let’s not just talk about the mission—let’s commit to it, together. Because home is where the mission starts.

So right now, would you step out, gather in groups, and let’s begin to pray that God would use us to reach our homes, our city, and our world.

I have included 3 prayer prompts for you to pray for as a group. Each of you should have received one when you came. Can we get in our groups and pray over these three things? Please no one left out. I want everyone in a group.

When you are finished praying for each other, take these prayer prompts home with you and prayer over these this week.