Focus 2020 – The Great Commission: Perspectives from LeadersSample

The Great Commission - How to Accomplish the Task? 

Bible passage: 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:2–6) 

Devotion:  

As we prayerfully reflect these 40 days on the task of the Great Commission, the scriptures remind us that how we accomplish the task is just as important as what we do.  

In John 17, Jesus prayed “that all of them may be one … so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” 

Numerous passages remind us that God designed the Body of Christ to function as one body, with all parts working in unity to accomplish His mission in the world. 

Over the centuries, one of the most significant barriers to completion of the Great Commission has been division and lack of cooperation in the Church. Far too many ministries have not worked together. The result has been duplication of effort in some areas and major gaps in outreach in other areas. The right hand often isn’t aware of what the left hand is doing. 

David Barrett and James Reapsome, in their book, Seven Hundred Plans to Evangelize the World, identified lack of collaboration between Christian organizations as the major hindrance to world evangelization. They write that two-thirds of all global evangelization plans are standalone, self-sufficient plans, each viewing itself as at the center of world evangelization. More recently, Gordon Conwell’s 2020 report on the Status of Global Christianity lists the number of world evangelization plans since 30 CE is now 2,600! 

There was a reason why Jesus’ prayer for His disciples in John 17 was not for great faith, or courage, or even sound theology, but it was for unity. Jesus knew that our ability to love one another and work together would be the greatest challenge to the credibility of our witness and the completion of the Great Commission. But what does this call to unity practically mean for us today? It’s been my experience that unity in the Body of Christ begins with cultivating a humble spirit of cooperation and a commitment to continually look out for the interests of others in all spheres of our lives (Philippians 2:4). 

Our training ground for learning to “be one” begins closest to home, in our own families: How can you intentionally choose to “be one” with your spouse, “seeking that which is good for one another?” (1 Thessalonians 5:15) 

Within our own ministries there are abundant opportunities to cultivate unity: Is there a broken relationship that needs your attention or forgiveness? Is there division between teams that needs resolution? Is there a like-minded organization you could explore partnering with to accomplish more together? 

May God give us the grace to reach across whatever divides exist in our lives to be one with those with whom He has called us to be on mission. 

Quote: You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of competing and fighting. That is when you will discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. (Matthew 5:9, The Message) 

Question: In what way may the Lord be prompting you to lay aside your ego or your logo to “be one” with others so that the world may believe? 

Kärin Butler Primuth 

CEO, VisionSynergy