Biblical Missions at GBF

By Dr. Cliff McManis

Missions is at the heart of the Great Commission which Jesus delegated to the Church (Matthew 28:19-20). The main imperative in Jesus' Great Commission is "make disciples." That is what Christians and churches are to be busy doing. Making disciples is the backbone of church work and ministry.

Based on Matthew 28:19-20, there are three steps to making disciples. The first step is "'to go." This has to do with infiltrating the society and evangelizing unbelievers. The second step is "to baptize." This is assimilating new believers into the local church. The third step is "to teach them all" Jesus commanded. This is the life-long process of equipping believers unto sanctification and maturity.

Our English word "mission" comes from the Latin, missio, which means "to send." This corresponds with step one of the Great Commission, "to go." So when we speak of "missions" in the church, we are talking about going out into the unbelieving world, locally and abroad, representing Christ, speaking His truth and His gospel.

Jesus commanded Christians "to go"! In Acts 1:8 Jesus commanded His disciples, saying, "you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." In Mark 16:15 Jesus commanded believers, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel."

So missions is about going into society and penetrating the world with the gospel of Christ. And Jesus has chosen the local church to be the focal point of launching missions. Jesus promised to build His Church. The church is the only institution He promised to build and perpetuate. As a church, GBF needs to be an outpost for the Kingdom of God, the Gospel of Christ and missions--both locally and globally. 1 Timothy 3:15 says, "the church of the living God is the pillar and support of the truth."

Missions is not primarily about sending money to a missionary 3,000 miles away or to the local missions agency. Real missions starts with you--and me--on an individual basis, being willing to represent Christ and speak His truth every day, wherever we go, with whomever we meet. So, how'd it go last week? Who did you share with? Did you plant any seeds? 1 Peter 3:15 says, "sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." God, help us to be bold, courageous and faithful as ambassadors for You.