The Great Commission Compiled

While it is customary for believers to think about the Great Commission in terms of Matthew 28:19-20, there are actually five passages that communicate the Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; and Acts 1:8.

By looking at these passages together, we can get a full sense of the mission to which God has called the church.

I have compiled it this way:

The Great Commission is to go[1] with the authority of Jesus[2] and the presence of Jesus[3] in the power of the Spirit[4] to all people groups,[5] preaching the gospel[6] calling people to repent and believe on Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins,[7] and incorporating them into visible churches through baptism[8] and teaching them the commands of Jesus[9] so that they become disciples who believe his word and obey his commands.[10]

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[1]Matt 28:19; Acts 1:8; cf. Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 20:21

[2]Matt 28:18; Acts 1:8; John 20:21

[3]Matt 28:20

[4]Acts 1:8

[5]Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8

[6]Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8

[7]Luke 24:46-47

[8]Matt 28:19

[9]Matt 28:20

[10]Matt 28:19-20;

Dave Doran, pastor of Inter-City Baptist Church and president of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary has an excellent extended discussion of the Great Commission in the book For the Sake of His Name: Challenging a New Generation for World Missions (Allen Park, MI: Student Global Impact, 2002), pp. 68-154.