3 ESSENTIALS TO GC ADVANCEMENT
GC SERIES: STUDY 2
Matthew 28:16-20 “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS:
One of the best known Great Commission (GC) narratives is found in Matthew 28. Sometimes, we fail to consider what might have been the immediate, obvious concerns of these men. The scope of the GC was immense, there was both governmental and religious opposition, and the available “earthly” resources were crude and insignificant, 11 men. Yet, what did these men do with this commission? Based on the Biblical texts and some secular history or tradition, this is what we understand:
· Matthew: preached in Judea and then possibly Ethiopia or Macedonia, and supposedly died a natural death
· Peter: faithful witness for the Lord, died by crucifixion in Rome about 67 AD, said that his own desire was to be crucified upside down, feeling unworthy to resemble His Master.
· James: first martyr, slain by King Herod Agrippa about 44 AD.
· Philip: spend the latter part of his life in Phygia preaching the gospel, was crucified.
· Bartholomew: supposedly a missionary to several countries, such as Armenia and India, two reports regarding his death, either crucified after being flayed alive, or was placed in a sack and cast into the sea.
· Thomas: spread the gospel into Parthia, Persia, and possibly India, suffered a martyr’s death.
What compelled these men so fervently towards Great Commission accomplishment? And not only that, what made them so effective? In this study, we will consider three essentials to effective GC accomplishment.