The Great Commission

12-14-03 The Great Commission

Text: Acts 1: 7-9

Forty days had past since the resurrection.

Jesus has been with the disciples and has been seen by as many as 500.

(I Cor. 15:6)

Now the time had come for Him to return to the Father. So the comforter could come.

Before He leaves, Jesus takes them aside and has one last word for them.

Each Gospel words it differently, but here in the text we see the whole of it.

It is called the “ Great Commission”, it is the sending out of all believers.

Now as we look to the Word we will see that this is for us today.

I. Who was Jesus speaking to?

A. The common man.

1. Peter, Andrew, James and John (fishermen)

Phillip, Bartholomew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus

Thomas ( Just ordinary men)

Simon the Zealot came from a band of zealots.

Matthew (Tax collector)

Judas Iscariot (The only non-Galilean)

B. They were nothing special.

1. No formal religious training.

2. Most uneducated.

3. Young men, who served to old age and death.

II. Where were they sent?

A. Jerusalem (local)

B. Judea and Samaria. (Outreach)

C. Uttermost parts of the Earth. (Missions)

D. Each still vital today!

III. How were they/ we to do this?

A. There was only 120 in the upper room. (1: 30,000 ratio)

1. 9333 Americans in comparison. (2000 census)

2. Again common people. Called to do the extraordinary.

B. The Earth is a big place. God is bigger!

C. John 14: 12 The things that I do you will do also, and greater…

D. Acts 2: 1-4 They found out what Jesus was talking about.

Close: We have received the commission, and the empowerment is available to complete the mission. Question is “ Do we want to?”