My “Great Commission resurgence” came in a 1998 seminar at the South Carolina Baptist Convention church I pastored. The presenters showed us that:
Jim Goodroe– Jesus gave this Great Commission to his disciples (Matthew 28:18, 20), so he expects all of us who are his disciples to be personally involved in obeying and fulfilling it.
– This commission is not just in Matthew, but at the end of every gospel (Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21) and at the start of Acts (1:8). The five references remind us of the five fingers on our hand or toes on our foot. Jesus has put the gospel in our hand so our feet can take it to people (Romans 10:15).
– “Nations” in Matthew 28:19 and Luke 24:47 is the Greek word ethnos/ethne, so we are to make disciples of the ethnicities (ethnolinguistic “people groups”).
– Luke 24:47 and Acts 1:8 say to do this starting where we are!
Before this 1998 resurgence, I had averaged two international mission trips per decade (even as a pastor who could go on “company time” and on church funds). From 1998-2008, I did five international mission trips. Advances in travel and communication allow most U.S. believers to do this, as God leads. A mission speaker asked all the adults in the congregation to stand who believed the Great Commission, and all did. Then he asked those to remain standing who had a valid passport. Most had to sit down, and the speaker explained that to believe the Great Commission means to be prepared to go whenever and wherever God calls.
Since 1998, I have sensed that the most practical way for disciples to advance the Great Commission is by following the Luke 24:47/Acts 1:8 instruction to reach the ethnicities starting where we are. “Samaritans” are people who are near us but not like us. God has brought the peoples of the world to our doorsteps. Acts 17:26-27 says God has predetermined where the ethnicities would live, so that they might find him. People in new places are more apt to reevaluate their old ways and beliefs. As we befriend and build relationships with them, we can be a bridge to their relationship with Jesus. We must disciple them to be the missionaries to their people here, and all the way back to there.
Ask God to open your eyes to the internationals you come in contact with in your weekly activities, and to show you which ones to get to know. They will often be very appreciative of your interest and open to your friendship. Get active in an English for Speakers of Other Languages ministry in your community, or start one through your church. If you are near a college, offer hospitality to its international students. As you “trust and obey” to take the first step to reach the ethnicities near you, God will show you the next steps. And your Great Commission resurgence will have begun!
– Goodroe is director of missions for Spartanburg County Baptist Network and is lead planner for the 2012 North American Summit of the Ethnic America Network, to be held in Spartanburg. For information: 2012summit@bellsouth.net.