The Great Commission is the church’s purpose, and this is not a solo task. Disciple-making belongs to the whole church—sent, supported, and sustained together.
The closing scene of Matthew’s Gospel gives us one of the clearest and most compelling pictures of the church’s purpose. In Matthew 28:16–20, the risen Christ meets His disciples—some worshiping, some still wrestling with doubt—and speaks with unmistakable authority into their uncertainty. What He says not only addresses their doubts, but defines the mission of the church until He returns.
Christ begins with a declaration: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. He is sovereign. There is no place beyond His rule and no people beyond His reach. This truth anchors everything that follows. The mission of the church does not rest on human ability, creativity, or courage, but on the absolute authority of Christ Himself.
Because Christ has all authority, there is something we ought to do.
If we are looking for instructions for the church—for what we are supposed to be doing while we await the return of Jesus Christ—we find them here. The task is clear: make disciples.
This command unfolds in a deliberate and practical way. As we go, we are to make disciples of all nations. This is not a passive calling, but an active, outward movement toward a world that does not yet know Him.
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