Answering the Call to the Nations
Jesus says to “make disciples of all nations,” and “be witnesses… to the end of the earth.” So what does that mean for the Church today?
Have you ever heard of the Great Commission? What is it? And what does it mean for us today?
In the book of Acts and all four of the Gospels, we see that Jesus commands His followers to take the Good News to the ends of the earth just before He ascends to heaven. This is known as the Great Commission. The two most well-known passages of the Great Commission are Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Jesus says to “make disciples of all nations,” and “be witnesses… to the end of the earth.” So what does that mean for the Church today?
If you are a follower of Christ, then this command applies to you. Now, I’m not saying you have to sell your house and move to another country! Maybe some of you are called to that - but maybe you are called to participate in the Great Commission in a different way. Here are some practical steps that you can take now.
- Be aware. There are millions of people around the world that do not know Jesus. There are also many missionaries who are working tirelessly to get the gospel to them. Listed at the bottom of this page are some websites and books that you can use to educate yourself. This will help you with your next step!
- Pray. This is so important! Pray for the people who have never encountered the love and freedom that Jesus offers. You can pray for their spiritual, physical, and emotional needs to be met. Pray for the missionaries who have answered the call to go. Pray for strength and perseverance in the midst of the hardships they face daily. These men and women have left everything behind to follow God’s calling on their lives. Pray for more people to answer this call and take the gospel to those who have never heard it.
- Give. Giving financially allows missionaries to further their work as well as meet the physical needs of those who have nothing. You can look on our website at https://bethlehemchurch.us/global to discover how you can help our global partners financially.
- Go. Whether it takes a week or years, God can use you to make a difference. How long you want to go can determine the purpose of your trip. Maybe you want to go long-term to build relationships with people in a specific community. Or maybe you simply want to go to see what God is doing in another part of the world and encourage the ones doing the work on the ground. This also helps you know how to pray and help raise support for them. On a short-term trip, you can also participate in things like construction projects or camps that help effect lasting change in generations to come. If you are interested in going, check out https://bethlehemchurch.us/global to sign up for a trip with Bethlehem Church.
Why not take this next step of obedience? Who knows where it could lead? The Lord may bless you with wonderful relationships that last a lifetime and fill you with joy through serving the least of these. We are simply called to be His vessels. Will you accept the Great Commission and begin participating in God’s global kingdom work?
For more information, email globalmissions@bethlehemchurch.us.
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