Focus 2020 – The Great Commission: Perspectives from LeadersSample

The Task of the Great Commission—Raising Up Followers of Jesus 

Bible passage: 

“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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20) 

Devotional: 

Often the first thing we think of in fulfilling the Great Commission is witnessing. That is not wrong, but it certainly is not the total picture.  

Consider the most often quoted passage defining the Great Commission: Matthew 28:19, “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. The main verb is not “go” or “baptizing,” it is “make disciples”—raise up learners who apply and imitate. Matthew 28:20 adds to that understanding, “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (i.e., to follow what Jesus says to do). In Jesus’ earthly ministry He made “following” Him very clearly the priority for His disciples (e.g., Mark 8:34). 

So, if following Christ is the goal, what are some key elements to make that happen? There are many, but to be brief, let me feature three: application, relationship, ownership. 

Application 

It is not enough to know a biblical truth. God wants us to apply it to our lives. How can we say we are following Christ if we don’t obey Him? Obvious, right? But that perspective dramatically affects how we disciple people. If we overload them each week with many Biblical lessons, their head-knowledge grows. But if, due to the overload, they don’t actually follow even one lesson, they are not moving toward becoming a follower. 

Relationship 

In the Gospels this point was obvious. Jesus’ disciples literally followed Him around and learned from Him together. As He taught, He illustrated by His life and walk with the Father. Today, however, we have to be more conscious that to follow Jesus we must grow in relationship and walk with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “pray continually.” Frequent conversations are key to building relationships with people. So it is in building a relationship with God.  

Ownership 

Over time, as we disciple people, we need to wean them from dependence on us and our knowledge and practice. We need to move them toward owning the things they must do in order to have their own walk and ministry as a follower of Jesus. If we are used by God to raise up such followers of Jesus, we are raising up people who can similarly raise up more followers. That multiplication process is central both to engaging in the task of the Great Commission and ultimately helping to see it fulfilled. 

Summary 

The task of the Great Commission goes beyond just witnessing; it involves raising up disciples/followers of Jesus. Three of the important elements in doing that are application of biblical truth, strengthening of relationship with God, and development of personal ownership of growth and ministry.  

Quote: Former Dallas Theological Seminary professor Dr. Howard Hendricks said, “The Bible was not given to satisfy your curiosity, but to overhaul your life.” 

Question: How might what you have read alter how you disciple people? 

Steve Douglass 

CEO, Campus Crusade for Christ