Just before He ascended, the risen Jesus gathered His followers on a mountain in Galilee and gave them their life's assignment. Christians have called it the Great Commission ever since:
"All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." — Matthew 28:18–20 (WEB)
Four parts of the command
- Authority. It begins with who Jesus is. All authority is His — so His followers go with confidence, not on their own strength.
- Make disciples. The central command is not "make converts" but "make disciples": people who follow Jesus for life.
- Baptising. New believers publicly identify with Jesus and His people.
- Teaching obedience. Discipleship continues — teaching people to live everything Jesus commanded.
And it ends with a promise: "I am with you always." No one is sent alone.
The same commission, five times
Each Gospel and Acts records Jesus sending His followers, with a different emphasis:
- Matthew 28:18–20 — make disciples of all nations.
- Mark 16:15 — "Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation" (WEB).
- Luke 24:47 — repentance and forgiveness of sins preached in His name to all nations.
- John 20:21 — "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (WEB).
- Acts 1:8 — "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth" (WEB).
What it means for ordinary believers
The Great Commission is sometimes treated as a job for missionaries and pastors. But Jesus' promise to be with His people "to the end of the age" shows it was never meant to expire with the first disciples. It is for every follower of Jesus, in every generation.
That does not mean everyone moves overseas. Acts 1:8 pictures a widening circle — starting at home ("Jerusalem") and reaching outward. For most believers, the Great Commission starts with the people around them: family, neighbours, co-workers, and the city they live in.
How to live it out
- Start with your oikos. Name the people God has already placed around you — read who is in your oikos.
- Learn to share the Gospel simply. Here's how, and prepare your three-minute testimony.
- Go where people are. Street evangelism takes the Gospel into public places, alongside practical care.
- Make disciples, not just decisions. Walk with new believers — see what to do after someone chooses Jesus and the First 30 Days guide.
- Multiply. Help others start. Our start-a-group guide shows how a weekly outreach can begin in any city.
- Support those who go further. Pray for and give to people carrying the Gospel to places you cannot go.
The Great Commission in Hamilton
The Great Commission is the reason Love on Hamilton goes to the streets every Tuesday night, and the reason we help new outreach groups start in other cities through Love on The World. If you want to see it lived out — or take your first step — join us any Tuesday at 7:00 PM at 75 John Street North in downtown Hamilton.
Read next: What is evangelism?
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