The original disciples to whom Jesus spoke these words certainly were in a unique position to fulfill Jesus’ words as they were used by Him in a special way to begin the Church.

Missionaries who are committed to full-time ministry of spreading the Gospel through many venues in many places undoubtedly are ones who today can continue the advancement of this commission.

Church leaders whose responsibility it is to support and promote God’s mission undoubtedly have a strategic part in its fulfillment.

People with the spiritual gift of evangelism who have that special divine empowerment to share the Good News would especially be drawn toward the Great Commission.

What about all other Christians?  Is the Great Commission everybody’s responsibility?

Nowhere in the context of these verses do we read that Jesus intended to direct these words only to missionaries, church leaders, or people with the gift of evangelism. 

Verse 16 does let us know that He was speaking to the eleven disciples.  However His concluding words in verse 20, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” suggest this commission was to continue on past the original disciples. 

Are you a disciple of Jesus today?  You too have a responsibility to fulfill Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples.”

More on the Great Commission

Salvation truly is a work of God.  Yet, we do not merely sit back in outreach and do nothing.  We have a part but it still gets back to God.  We work in cooperation with Him through His power as we follow His lead.  Let’s remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:10 –

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

1)  Proper Motivation (but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord)

What is in our heart?  Are we seeking to please people or the Lord?

2) Consistency (always be prepared)

Consistently study the Word to be ready to consistently share Truth.  Being prepared to simply stand on a “soap box” about some issue is not what gains favor.

3)  Inclusiveness (give an answer to everyone)

One of the quickest ways to lose favor is to demonstrate bias in who we are willing to associate with.  We need to be willing to share with “everyone” who asks which sometimes might include those who make us uncomfortable.

4) Sensitivity  (give an answer to everyone who asks)

Timing is not everything but it sure does help to keep pace with the Spirit’s work in people’s lives. Pushing what we have to say on people who are not ready is like throwing your pearls to the pigs.  “If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces” (Matt. 7:6).

5)  Positive Focus   (give the reason for the hope that you have)

This doesn’t mean that you never confront what’s wrong in this world (sin), but that you encase it in hope, not condemnation.  Jesus came to bring the hope of salvation (Jn. 3:16-17).  While people need to understand that they are sinners in need of a Savior, put your focus on the solution to people’s problems not the problem.  That’s what people want to know.

6)  Godly Attitudes (do this with gentleness and respect)

As the saying goes, the end does not justify the means.  But notice, the “how-to” is not about technique but deals with attitude.  This is “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).  “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-25).

7)  Accountability  (keeping a clear conscience)

At the end of the day, you must give an answer to God.  Did you reach out with His love to the people around you?  Did you reach out without compromising truth?

Gaining favor without compromising truth doesn’t mean people will always agree with you.  And, it doesn’t mean no one will ever speak out against you.  However, when we follow all of the above principles, those who malign you will be the ones in shame – “keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Let’s examine ourselves and ask God to bring us into alignment with 1 Peter 3:15-16 so those who speak ill of the church today are not justified in their accusations.

Of the early church, Acts 2:47 says that they were “enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Though they would experience persecution from religious leaders of their day who did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, the general populace seemed to view them favorably.

A few verses earlier, Acts 2 states that “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.”  The message remained central. They obviously did not water down truth to appeal to unbelievers.  Gaining favor did not mean doctrinal compromise. 

Acts 2:42-47 describes their willingness to look out for each other in tangible ways, evidence of motives based on love.  The world often uses how we treat each other as a litmus test which seemed to be the case for the early church.  There was an authenticity and sincerity in what they did.  Learn from the example of the early church.

We have the same message of Truth to extend to the world around us.  Will people listen?  Will people respond to us favorably even if they don’t agree with the message?  Perhaps we need to look at ourselves through their eyes.  Are we passing the litmus test?  When people look at the Church today, what do they see?  Is it something they would want?  Let’s start by doing some soul-searching.

Look for the next post:  Gaining Favor Without Compromising Truth – How?

Nice Facilities?

First impressions do matter.  But, what if you can’t afford to renovate or build?  Certainly you can keep your rooms attractively decorated and clutter free. Is that enough?

Innovation?

If you want to reach people where they are, you need to be willing to change.  Adapting to people without losing the content of the truth we proclaim requires lots of insight.  But, is being on the cutting edge enough?

Good publicity?

How will people know what you have to offer if you don’t communicate?  Both verbal and written communication are at the core of salvation as “faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:14-17).  Communication is at the core of our educational or discipleship efforts in the church as it is knowing the truth that will set people free (Jn. 8:32).  Is simply letting people know what you have to offer enough?

Dynamic Leadership?

While a leader with a charismatic personality does seem to draw people in, it take various types of leaders to bring balance, health, and growth to the church.  If this kind of leadership team is in place, will that be enough?

While all of these factors, plus others, will contribute to the big picture, none of them can be singled out as the greatest draw in outreach. None of these means alone or combined are enough because the greatest and absolutely essential drawing factor is God Himself.  In John 6:44 Jesus said,

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” 

God doesn’t need our strategic efforts.  He can draw people to Himself with or without us.  He may chose to use us in the process but a person’s salvation is not dependent on what we do or don’t do.  If God did not draw people to Himself, all our efforts would be in vain.

The implications for outreach are obvious:

1)  Intercessory prayer needs to be made an absolutely vital part of outreach.

Without God in and behind all of this, we will simply have a nice building, great ideas, motivational tools, and skilled people running the church.  Let me encourage you to stop right now and examine what you are relying on to lead others to the Lord and bring them in to your local church.
 
Strategies and programs may have a place but Acts 2:42-47 reminds us that our devotion should not be to our methodology but to God Himself and to those things that put us in touch with Him and demonstrate a dependence on Him  — like prayer.  Of the early church we are told, “They devoted themselves to . . . prayer. . . . And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Intercessory prayer is vital.

2)  Make outreach about Him, not us.

The Outreach Ministry Manual, based on the outreach section of this site, has a sub-title that says what outreach needs to be about — “Turning the Spotlight on Jesus.”  We must look hard at our outreach practices.  Are we showcasing Him or ourselves?

I have seen extremes when it come to outreach ministry in the church.

At one end are churches who put little or no emphasis on reaching the lost.  These churches tend to be ingrown and usually stagnant or dying.

At the other end are churches whose sole focus is geared around reaching the lost.  These churches are outward focused and often seem to be growing … at least numerically.

If we obey the Greatest Commandment to love the Lord and people (Matt. 22:37-40), how can we not reach out?  On the other hand, isn’t there more to being the Church than outreach.  Look at the early New Testament church in Acts 2:42-47 — “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  As you continue to read, you will not find that they devoted themselves to an outreach ministry.  Perhaps that is because it was a given, as they were who they were supposed to be and did what they were supposed to do, they were that salt and light.  After identifying their devotion to teaching, fellowship, prayer, benevolence, and worship, the passage concludes “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Both extremes can tend to put the spotlight on themselves, though often not intentionally or knowingly.  Churches can slide into a spiritual pride. 

“Look at us,” says the first church.  “We know the Word and hold firm to it, not compromising or becoming like the world.” 

“Look at us,” says the second church.  “We are relevant and attractive to the world.  We have a following.”

Perhaps if we focused more on simply putting the spotlight on HIM and not on what we do, we could avoid the dangers of such extremes.  When we find ourselves talking too much about how we are this way or that way, perhaps we need to stop and gain some perspective.  Is it about us, or is it about Him?  Are we are trying to generate our own light rather than reflect His light?  How do we engage in outreach ministry without compromising and without putting too much of the spotlight on ourselves?

In trying to come up with the cover and emphasis for the Outreach Ministry Manual, it hit me  — Outreach Ministry is about turning the Spotlight on Jesus.

As His ambassadors we work in cooperation with God by showcasing Him through our lives and through our words.  We can use a variety of means but the objective should always remain the same … to help others see Him better, not us.  –”He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30, KJV).