Introduction

Welcome, beloved friends and family. We gather here today, united in faith, seeking wisdom, love, and understanding. We come with open hearts and minds, ready to receive the word of God.

Today, we turn to the book of Mark, chapter 16, verses 14 through 16. In these passages, we find the words that inspire and guide us. Let us read together:

"Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'"

In these lines, we find a call to action, a mandate to live the gospel, and an invitation to share love and forgiveness.

The Commissioned Journey

In the heart of the scripture we just read, we find a powerful directive. Jesus, having risen from the dead, appears to the Eleven and gives them a task. He tells them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. This is not a suggestion, it's a command. It's not a passive request, it's an active mission. It's not an optional task, it's a mandatory assignment. It's not a local endeavor, it's a global enterprise.

Its scope: Jesus tells the Eleven to go into all the world. This is not a limited assignment. It's not confined to a particular region or restricted to a specific group of people. It's a global mission. It's a universal task. We are called to share the gospel with everyone, everywhere. This is not an easy task. It's a daunting challenge. It requires courage and commitment. It demands faith and fortitude. It calls for sacrifice and service. But it's a task we must undertake. It's a challenge we must accept. It's a mission we must fulfill.

Its content: Jesus tells the Eleven to preach the gospel. This is not a vague instruction. It's a specific command. It's not a general guideline. It's a precise directive. We are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ, the message of God's love and forgiveness, the promise of salvation and eternal life. This is not a message we can alter or amend. It's a message we must preserve and proclaim. It's not a story we can revise or rewrite. It's a story we must tell and testify. It's not a truth we can dilute or distort. It's a truth we must uphold and affirm.

Its purpose: Jesus tells the Eleven that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. This is not a random goal. It's a divine objective. It's not a human ambition. It's a heavenly aim. We are called to lead people to faith and baptism, to guide them to salvation and eternal life. This is not a purpose we can ignore or neglect. It's a purpose we must pursue and promote. It's not a mission we can abandon or abort. It's a mission we must commit to and complete.

Its consequence: Jesus tells the Eleven that whoever does not believe will be condemned. This is not a trivial warning. It's a serious caution. It's not a minor threat. It's a major peril. We are called to warn people of the consequences of unbelief, to alert them to the danger of rejection, to caution them about the risk of condemnation. This is not a responsibility we can evade or escape. It's a responsibility we must accept and acknowledge. It's not a duty we can shirk or shun. It's a duty we must fulfill and face.

Living the Gospel

As we move forward, let's consider the implications of living the gospel ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO