The church of Jesus Christ is called to be a movement, not a monument. We are not meant to be static or stagnant, but dynamic and expansive—always reaching out, always moving forward, always extending the influence of the Kingdom of God. In Acts 1:8, Jesus gives His disciples a clear and compelling mission: they are to be His witnesses, starting in Jerusalem and moving outward to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. This command is not just about geography; it’s about vision, expansion, and obedience. It’s about moving from a place of local impact to one of global reach.
The early church took this mission seriously. They began in Jerusalem, but they did not stay there. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they moved out of their comfort zones, crossed cultural and societal barriers, and carried the Gospel message to every corner of the known world. The disciples were a small group of ordinary people, yet they carried an extraordinary message that transcended borders, cultures, and languages. Their local impact in Jerusalem was only the beginning of a global movement that would change the world forever. Today, the call is the same. We are called to begin where we are, but we are not meant to remain there. God’s vision for His church is far greater than what we can see or imagine. He desires for His people to make an impact locally, but He also calls us to look beyond, to dream bigger, and to reach further.
This sermon will explore what it means to move from local impact to global reach, how we can embrace the Great Commission, and why it’s essential that the church maintains a vision that extends beyond its own walls. It’s a challenge to shift our mindset from a local focus to a global perspective, to be a church that is not inward-looking but outward-reaching, and to understand that the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is the key to fulfilling this mission. The same Spirit that fueled the early church is available to us today, calling us to be witnesses in every corner of our community, nation, and the world.
1. Empowered to Be Witnesses
In Acts 1:8, Jesus makes it clear that the mission He is giving to His disciples cannot be accomplished in their own strength. He tells them that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and then they will be His witnesses. The word “power” here comes from the Greek word dynamis, which implies a dynamic, supernatural strength and ability. This is not a power that comes from human effort or intellect; it is a divine empowerment that enables ordinary people to do extraordinary things for the Kingdom. The early church understood that their ability to impact the world was not based on their own skills, resources, or charisma—it was based on the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through them.
On the day of Pentecost, the promise of Acts 1:8 was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, filling them with a boldness and authority they had never known before. Peter, who had once denied Jesus out of fear, stood up and preached a powerful message that led to the conversion of three thousand souls. The church was born in power, and that power continued to flow as they moved from Jerusalem to the surrounding regions and beyond. Their witness was not timid or half-hearted; it was bold, courageous, and Spirit-led. They spoke with authority, healed the sick, cast out demons, and performed signs and wonders—all through the power of the Holy Spirit.
For us today, the same principle applies. To move from local impact to global reach, we must rely on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This means being open to His leading, seeking His guidance, and depending on His strength rather than our own. It means allowing the Spirit to fill us with His boldness, His passion, and His love for the lost. The Holy Spirit empowers us to go beyond what we can do in the natural, to break down barriers, and to speak with a clarity and conviction that can only come from God. The church that seeks to make a global impact must first be a church that is filled and led by the Spirit.
The empowerment of the Holy Spirit also brings with it a sense of urgency and purpose. When we are filled with the Spirit, we are no longer content to stay within the walls of the church or to limit our influence to those who are already within the fold. The Spirit compels us to go out, to reach beyond, and to share the Gospel with those who have not yet heard. It is His power that drives us to be witnesses, both locally and globally, and it is His power that sustains us in the mission. When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, our witness becomes effective, our words carry weight, and our actions demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways.
Empowerment also means that we have the courage to face opposition, persecution, and challenges without shrinking back. The early church faced intense persecution, yet they did not retreat. Instead, they prayed for more boldness, and God answered by filling them again with the Spirit. This is the kind of empowerment we need today—an empowerment that makes us fearless in the face of adversity, unwavering in the face of criticism, and persistent in the face of obstacles. The Holy Spirit’s power is not a one-time experience; it is a continuous source of strength that enables us to be faithful witnesses to the ends of the earth.
2. Start Local, but Don’t Stay Local
Jesus’ instruction in Acts 1:8 is intentional: “You shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The progression begins in Jerusalem, the disciples’ home base, but it does not end there. The mission is meant to expand outward, moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar, from the comfortable to the uncomfortable. The early church started in Jerusalem, but they did not stay there. Persecution, prompting by the Holy Spirit, and a commitment to Jesus’ command propelled them to move beyond their own community and culture.
Starting local is important. It’s where we lay the foundation, build relationships, and establish credibility. The early church began in Jerusalem by ministering to those who were closest to them—their neighbors, friends, and fellow Jews. They demonstrated the love of Christ in practical ways, they preached the Gospel boldly, and they saw thousands come to faith. Their local impact was crucial, but it was never meant to be the endpoint. They understood that the Gospel was not just for those in their immediate vicinity; it was for the whole world.
For us, the challenge is to start local but not to stay local. It’s easy to become comfortable ministering within our own communities, to focus on those who are familiar, and to limit our vision to what is immediately in front of us. But God’s call is bigger. He invites us to expand our vision, to reach across cultural, social, and geographical boundaries, and to take the message of Christ to those who have never heard. A church that moves from local impact to global reach is a church that refuses to settle, that refuses to be content with what is comfortable, and that refuses to limit God’s work to a single location.
Moving from local to global does not mean abandoning our local mission; it means building upon it. It means recognizing that the work we do locally is the foundation for a larger impact. It means taking the lessons, the experiences, and the relationships we’ve built locally and using them to inform and inspire a broader mission. A church that is truly apostolic understands that the mission is not limited by geography; it is only limited by our willingness to go. The local work prepares us for the global work, and the Spirit who moves in our local context is the same Spirit who will move as we reach beyond.
This principle is not only about geography; it’s about a mindset shift. It’s about seeing beyond the immediate, dreaming bigger, and recognizing that the Gospel’s power is not confined to one place. The early church understood that Jesus’ command to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth was not a sequential task to be completed one step at a time—it was a simultaneous call to expand their reach in all directions. They knew that the Kingdom of God was not limited by borders or boundaries, and they were willing to go wherever God led.
For today’s church, the call is to engage locally while always having a heart for the global mission. This means that our outreach efforts, our ministry projects, and our church activities should not only impact those who are nearby but should have a broader vision that considers how we can contribute to God’s global mission. We must be a church that loves our neighbors, serves our communities, and makes a difference where we are while always being mindful of the larger picture. God’s call is both local and global, and we are invited to participate in His mission on both fronts.
3. Embrace the Global Mission
The Great Commission is not a suggestion; it’s a command. Jesus calls His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” This global mission is at the heart of what it means to be the church. It’s a mission that requires us to look beyond ourselves, to see the world as God sees it, and to take the Gospel to every corner of the earth. The early church embraced this mission fully. They were not content to simply maintain what they had in Jerusalem; they were driven by a passion to see every nation, tribe, and tongue come to know Jesus.
Embracing the global mission means understanding that the Gospel is not just for us—it’s for everyone. It’s about recognizing that God’s heart is for the nations and that He desires for His church to be a light to the world. The early church crossed cultural and ethnic barriers, took risks, and endured hardship because they understood the importance of this mission. They knew that the message of Jesus was not bound by borders, and they were willing to go wherever the Spirit led them.
For us today, embracing the global mission means expanding our vision beyond the walls of our church and the boundaries of our community. It means developing a heart for the lost, not just in our own neighborhoods but around the world. It means praying for the nations, supporting missionaries, and being willing to go ourselves if God calls. It’s about being a church that is not inward-focused but outward-reaching—a church that understands that the Gospel is good news for all people, in all places, at all times.
Embracing the global mission also means being willing to adapt and to step out of our comfort zones. The early church did not wait for people to come to them; they went to where the people were. They learned new cultures, languages, and customs to reach those who were different from them. They didn’t see diversity as a barrier; they saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate the unifying power of the Gospel. A church that embraces the global mission is a church that is willing to be stretched, to be challenged, and to go wherever God leads, trusting that He is with them every step of the way.
Embracing this mission also means making a long-term commitment. The early church’s expansion was not a short-term project; it was a lifelong commitment to see the Gospel preached and lived out everywhere. This kind of dedication requires perseverance, patience, and a willingness to invest in people and places for the long haul. It means being willing to face obstacles, endure setbacks, and continue pressing forward because we believe that the Gospel is worth it. A church that embraces the global mission is a church that refuses to give up, even when the journey is hard.
Closing
The call to move from local impact to global reach is a call to expand our vision, to rely on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and to embrace the mission that Jesus has given us. It’s about understanding that the Gospel is too good to keep to ourselves and that God’s desire is for every person, everywhere, to have the opportunity to hear the message of His love and grace. This is not a mission that we can accomplish in our own strength; it requires the power of the Holy Spirit and a willingness to go wherever He leads.
Today, God is calling us to be a church that goes beyond the familiar and the comfortable. If you have never made the decision to follow Jesus, now is the time. He is inviting you to be part of His mission, to be a witness of His love, and to experience the life-changing power of His grace. He is calling you to move from where you are to where He wants you to be, and to be part of a movement that is impacting the world.
For those who have already said yes to Jesus, this is a call to step up and step out. It’s a call to expand your vision, to embrace the global mission, and to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to be a witness. It’s a call to move from local impact to global reach, to be part of something bigger than yourself, and to make a difference that lasts for eternity. If you are seeking a church that is passionate about this mission, our doors are open wide. We are a church that desires to make an impact both locally and globally, and we would love to have you join us.
And if you are in need of prayer—if you are struggling to find your place in God’s mission, if you desire the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, or if you are looking for direction on how to step into the global mission—come and let us pray with you. God is here, and He is ready to meet you where you are. The Spirit of the Lord is calling you to go beyond what you’ve known, to be a witness to the ends of the earth, and to make an impact that echoes into eternity. Don’t miss this moment to respond. Come to Jesus, come to the altar, and come to the place where His mission becomes your purpose. Amen
