The great commission in the book of acts

Written by luke is the the acts of the apostles, the beloved physician colossians 4. Therefore, if we want to know how the recipients of the great commission and direct disciples of jesus christ went about the great commission, we need to read about that in the book of acts. The good news is to be shared with all peoples, for all are sinners, jews and gentile alike, and in need of deliverance from sin rom 3. Now, what would that mean to treat the great commission as a command for the church at large. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The priests and rulers had declared scornfully, he saved others. Sep 30, 2017 in the authorized version of the holy bible, there is only one book of acts. It is normally placed immediately after the four gospel books and follows the early ministry of the apostles after the. We rightly recognize that the great commission was not merely a command to the eleven apostles. The book of acts tells how the early church began fulfilling the great commission. Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. Four implications of the great commission for the local church and missions february 21, 2017 todd miles discipleship, featured, ministry in my previous post, i took up the question of what the bible has to say about the relationship between the local church and missions.

The great commission in the book of acts the new cruse. The entire establishment of the christian church as a whole in these times was an example of how powerfully and effectively we as mere humans can be used by the holy spirit to fulfill the great commission. It would be an enriching experience to read them together, as acts gives the history of the founding of the churches to which the epistles are directed. The book of acts is the only authoritative and inspired account of the early beginnings of church history. Then the eleven disciples went to galilee, to the mountain where jesus had told them to go. Throughout the book of acts, we see how the apostles began to fulfill.

This is the great commission, something that all believers are charged with fulfilling. Apr 02, 2018 lets start by analyzing the questions themselves. The book of acts was written to provide a history of the early church. Show examples from acts that demonstrate how the apostles fulfilled it. Jan 21, 2016 furthermore, the application of the great commission is not solely to go, but to pray to the lord of the harvest for more laborers luke 10. Also the great missionary commission, which appears in all four gospels, is confirmed in the book of acts. To me, paul answered that clearly when he said, how shall they preach except they be sent. Then we will turn our attention to the teaching and practice of the apostle paul. All peoples, by faith, can receive gods provision and are baptized into. Provide two examples of the apostles living out the great commission in the book of acts of the bible. Every gospel and the book of acts include a commission from jesus to his followers to begin growing the church. One of the underlying and dominating themes of the acts is the great commission.

It is one of the themes of the book of acts that the apostles had a clear vision of the great commission and that new testament christianity was founded upon a faithful proclamation of that saving message. That was more than seven years after pentecost or after the great commission was given. He said to them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. In the authorized 66 book king james version of the holy bible, there is only one book of acts. The great commission means sharing christs story, not yours. Jan 02, 2020 the emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. Luke tells us what happened after the apostles received the great commission matthew 28.

The great commission is utterly nondependent on so many of the things we. Seven years after the great commission was given it was unlawful for a christian jew to come to one of another nation. The great commission then the eleven disciples left for galilee, going to the. I realize the book is entitled great commission great compassion, but to claim the great commission is everything the new testament says about evangelism, mission, church planting, and cultural engagement is to overlook the ministry model used successfully by paul in acts and illustrated in the epistles. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission.

Jan 02, 2020 throughout the book of acts, we see how the apostles began to fulfill the great commission, as outlined in acts 1. Acts 1the great commission and the ascension of christ. After the death of christ the disciples were wellnigh overcome by discouragement. To answer this question, we will begin by looking more closely at the great commission. Oct 18, 20 the book of acts tells how the early church began fulfilling the great commission. Luke as a second installment to what we call the gospel of luke, was written and intended to be a history of the church from the time of jesus death until late in the age of the original apostles of christ. In the authorized 66book king james version of the holy bible, there is only one book of. Bible verses related to the great commission from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order matthew 28. Theme the book is the formation of the institution of the local church and the spread to the gospel to the gentiles. The acts and gospels of the apostles hardcover july 17, 2018. The ultimate motivation for proclaiming the gospel and making disciples is not rooted in sociology. Throughout the book of acts, we see how the apostles began to fulfill the great commission, as outlined in acts 1. In the authorized version of the holy bible, there is only one book of acts.

The apostles would be witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Matthew outlined the age long pattern for making disciples, mark adds to the scope by saying every creature in the whole world, luke stressed the message along with the power needed, and john clarifies the job of each individual believer as being identical with the purpose he had in coming to this world. Did jesus give the great commission only to the apostles, or also to all. Paul borthwick is a missiologist who teaches at gordon college and has contributed several important books on missions and evangelism. But peter and the apostles answered, we must obey god rather than men. The principle question which we shall seek to answer and also the title of this message is, what happened to discipleship in the epistles. Lukes sequel to his gospel, taking up the story where he left off in the book of luke. The book of acts records a further command of jesus on the subject.

They were there when the great commission was spoken, so we all agree that they were supposed to go into all the world. The sure hope is the second coming of jesus christ 1. The apostles, of course, did go into all the world. The great commission fulfilled by churches and for. The missions and accomplishments of the majority of the apostles as they were sent out to different parts of the then known pagan world, are not greatly detailed within the canonical material. Furthermore, the application of the great commission is not solely to go, but to pray to the lord of the harvest for more laborers luke 10. May 29, 2018 i do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only i may finish my course and the ministry that i received from the lord jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of god. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all things that i have commanded you matthew 28. The witness of the disciples was centered on christs life and work, most clearly seen in his death and resurrection. The acts of the apostles is a book in the new testament of the bible. The acts and gospels of the apostles ebook egrcom1. The book of acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the epistles.

Here in acts 1, they are still timid and clueless, but when the spirit came upon them in acts 2, they became bold authoritative witnesses for christ. The solid foundation consists of the resurrection of jesus and the message of his kingdom 1. Finally, in acts the disciples were commanded by jesus to. While the socalled great commission given to the disciples in matthew, mark, luke, john, and in the acts, can be wonderfully applied to us today spiritually, as we send out missionaries to evangelize unbelievers whom the lord would draw into his church, his gathering, it is important to note the address on the envelope was gods covenant people israel acts 3. If he be the king of israel, let him now come down from. The bible records jesus giving the disciples the great commission. Great commission, the definition and meaning bible. Peter does tell christians to answer if they are asked about the hope in them 1 pet. Consider ways in which you are fulfilling the great commission. Is the great commission for every individual christian. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. The great commission and salvation in the book of acts. Look at the gospel of luke and give examples of how jesus used.

The apostles would be witnesses in jerusalem and all judaea. The disciples were to work earnestly for souls, giving to all the invitation of mercy. This also allowed them to speak exactly the words jesus wanted. The gospel commission is the great missionary charter of christs kingdom. The apostles began to fulfill the great commission on the day of pentecost following christs ascension acts 2. Link to ivp paul borthwick is a missiologist who teaches at gordon college and has contributed several important books on missions and evangelism.

Aug 29, 2011 in this new devotional series, we are going to survey the book of acts to see how the early church obeyed the great commission. This short book uses the great commission as a model of evangelism. But you will receive power when the holy spirit comes on you. In that chapter, the apostles great commission to go forth and preach the gospel to the ends of the world is presented. In fact, todays verse from the first chapter of acts records a restatement of christs command and functions as a practical outline of the book i. The book of acts was likely written between ad 61 and 64. It is not without significance, therefore, that there are clear examples in the book of acts that, when taken in concert, clearly illustrate the rules laid down by the great commission. The message explores the mandate and mission process of the carring out the great commission. The book is addressed to theophilus whose name means friend of god or dear one to god. How would these things prepare the disciples for his. With slight variations, these words appear in all four gospels and the book of acts, but the most wellknown phrasing comes from matthew 28. Paul did preach the gospel to lost people who had not heard it. Luke provides a valuable connection between the gospel accounts of the life of jesus.

It was a mandate to the church, of which they were the foundation ephesians 2. The great commission necessitates taking the gospel message to the ends of the earth acts 1. How the great commission is done luke tells us what happened after the apostles received the great commission matthew 28. The phrase great commission isnt actually in the bible, but this is how weve come to define gods assignment to us from genesis to malachi, we read about the coming of the lord. Jul 08, 2014 the meaning of the word witnesses in luke 24 and acts 1, as well as throughout the narrative of acts, refers to those who witnessed the work of the lord and spoke of it to others. The most famous version of the great commission is in matthew 28. In the great commission the eleven were to disciple all nations.

So the first one is should we interpret the great commission as a command for the church at large, not as a command directed to every individual believer. From what we can see in the book of acts and in pauls letters, the answer to that question is yes. He addressed the book of acts to theophilus, the same person to whom he had addressed the book of luke acts 1. All who believe are to be gathered into one church. Add to cart in the authorized 66book king james version of the holy bible, there is only one book of acts. Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. The great commission, history, and reaching the world. They were not to wait for the people to come to them.

If we obeyed what the apostles said to the church, then likely that would happen to us, and often. The book begins with the ascension of jesus and goes on through pauls jail time in rome, which opens his ministry to the church at rome. The gospel according to matthew ends with what as known as the great commission. The close companion of paul, luke, wrote this book as the sequel to his earlier letter we call the gospel according to luke. In acts, jesus promises the disciples that the holy spirit will inspire them. The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. The new testament student must first consider the fact that the terms of salvation are equivalent for all people. In this new devotional series, we are going to survey the book of acts to see how the early church obeyed the great commission. A historical account of the unfolding of the great. Their master had been rejected, condemned, and crucified. The great commission lesson 3 the great commission. In this book we see the first mention of the dispensation of the holy spirit and jesus command to take his gospel to all the world. Sproul explores the great commission by laying out the biblical basis for missions, defining the gospel and evangelism, and addressing the need to mobilize after his resurrection, jesus gave his disciples a mission. Paul and luke are companions on his second and third missionary journeys as well as on his trip to rome.

Jan 24, 2017 although matthews words have come to be known as the great commission, they arent the only commissioning texts in scripture. Yet the book of acts show they go to jerusalem and never venture far from there at all. The apostles did not pass on the great commission to the church. Provide two examples of the apostles living out the great. The last instructions regarding carrying out the great commission are found in acts 1. In the two scriptures most commonly referred to as the great commission matt 28. To do jesus work, the church must have a solid foundation 1. In christianity, the great commission is the instruction of the resurrected jesus christ to his disciples to spread the gospel to all the nations of the world. So, even if paul never quoted jesus great commission, he seemed driven to do what that commission calls gods people to do. The great commission reverberates throughout the ministries of the apostles. The great commission will require disobedience desiring god. The book known as acts of the apostles is important to know if you are a christian and if you believe the book is a reliable history. How was jesus occupied during the time between his resurrection and his ascension into heaven. In acts how did the apostles fulfill the great commission.