Podcasts about Great Commission

What does it mean to live in light of the resurrection? How do we, imperfect people on this side of heaven, live lives that echo eternity?Jesus walks the shores of Galilee one last time, and reassures His beloved apostles that He will always be with them. Then, shrouded in glory, He ascends into heaven.Today's Bible verse is Matthew 28:19-20, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sam continues the Multiply series by emphasizing that true discipleship means not only following Jesus personally but actively participating in the work of ministry everywhere believers live, work, and relate. Drawing from Ephesians 4 and 2 Corinthians 5, the message centers on identity in Christ—highlighting that every believer is called to the ministry of reconciliation and equipped to help build up the body of Christ. The episode explores spiritual maturity as being rooted in Jesus rather than shaped by circumstances, stresses the importance of speaking truth in love, and encourages identity-based transformation over mere behavior change. Practical insights from habit formation reinforce the call to align daily life, community, and small consistent actions with the new identity believers have as new creations in Christ.

It used to be common for churches to hold annual missions conferences. But this kind of missions focus seems to have decreased. Why is that? And how then should we think about the Great Commission?

It used to be common for churches to hold annual missions conferences. But this kind of missions focus seems to have decreased. Why is that? And how then should we think about the Great Commission?

In this message, Jonathan Dirmann teaches from Romans 6 and confronts a watered-down version of the gospel that leaves out a crucial truth: when you are saved, your old life dies. Salvation is not adding Jesus to your life—it is surrendering your life completely. This message challenges believers to reckon themselves dead to sin, recognize Jesus as both Lord and Savior, and walk in the newness of life that comes through true surrender.MORE...« Jesus Disciple » God is calling believers EVERYWHERE to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission, making disciples around the world. Get free resources and find out more at BeJesusDisciple.com.« Support the Jesus Disciple Vision » Give at https://jesusdisciple.com/give/« Solid Lives » To find out more about the ministry of Solid Lives, visit https://solidlives.com/« Support » Help us get free resources out to more people. To support the ministry of Solid Lives, please visit https://solidlives.com/give/« Podcasts » Listen to weekly messages or a daily episode from The New Testament Daily podcast here: https://solidlives.com/podcast/Support the show

How do believers respond to the situation in Iran? In this episode, Scott Dunford talks with “Sam,” an ABWE missionary serving Persian and Iranian communities, about the crisis gripping Iran. Looking at ancient Persia's biblical roots, home of Daniel and Esther, to the 1979 Islamic Revolution that installed a Shiite theocracy, Iran's story is both historic and volatile. Sam explains the regime's ideology, the nationwide uprisings across hundreds of cities, and the crushing reality facing ordinary Iranians amid economic collapse and violent repression. Yet in the shadows of persecution, the gospel is advancing. Iran's underground house church movement continues to grow despite infiltration, imprisonment, and the killing of pastors and believers. Drawing from firsthand connections inside the country, Sam calls the global church to pray, stand with suffering Christians, and boldly engage Iranian neighbors with truth and hope. Key Topics Iran's biblical and ancient Persian heritage The 1979 Islamic Revolution and rise of the ayatollahs Shiite apocalyptic theology and its political implications Widespread protests and violent government crackdowns Economic crisis, corruption, and regional proxy conflicts The growth of Iran's underground house church movement Practical encouragement for connecting with Iranian neighbors *The views expressed in this episode are those solely of the participants and do not necessarily align with the views of ABWE or all of its representatives. Do you love The Missions Show? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber! Premium Subscribers get access to: Exclusive bonus content A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts Invite-only webinars A free gift! Support The Missions Show and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionsshow.com/premium The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionsshow.com.

Pastor Heath Lambert explains the doctrine of the Trinity using five foundational statements drawn directly from Scripture. Whether you are a new believer or a lifelong Christian who has always found the Trinity confusing, this episode gives you a concise, accessible framework to understand one of the most important truths about God0:00 - Introduction to Marked by Grace0:14 - Why the Trinity is hard to understand (and why that is a good thing)2:00 - The five statements that explain the Trinity3:05 - Statement 1: There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4)3:40 - Statement 2: The Father is God (John 20:17)4:12 - Statement 3: The Son is God (Romans 9:5)4:41 - Statement 4: The Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4)5:23 - Statement 5: The three persons are distinct from one another5:51 - The Great Commission and the Trinity (Matthew 28:19)6:11 - How the five statements work togetherLike this episode? Subscribe for more biblical teaching from Marked by Grace. Share your thoughts in the comments below about how understanding the church as people rather than a place changes your perspective.Have a question you'd like answered? Send it to markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

Are we living Christ, not just preaching Him? Robert Chapman, called “the saintliest man” by Charles Spurgeon, lived a quiet yet powerful life marked by humility, love, and a deep commitment to live for Christ. He gave up personal rights, pursued unity without compromise, and served the poor and the lost with Christlike love. His life reminds us that true gospel witness flows not from fame, but from faithfully living Christ before others.

This sermon addresses the fundamental mission of the church as defined by the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Pastor Shawn Alexander emphasizes that the church must understand its clear mission - to make disciples of all nations - and actively participate in fulfilling it both locally and globally. He challenges the congregation to avoid becoming a "luxury tour bus" focused on comfort and maintenance, and instead embrace the urgency of an "ambulance" responding to spiritual life-and-death situations. The mission shapes everything the church does, from worship to ministry to individual Christian living. The sermon concludes by highlighting Community Baptist Church's two-fold approach: engaging the local community through relational evangelism and extending their reach globally through strategic gospel partnerships and church planting efforts. Key Points: Mission shapes everything a church does and defines its character and purpose The Great Commission is a clear imperative: "Go" and "Make" disciples with Christ's authority What's at stake is not just temporal life and death, but eternal spiritual life and death for every person Discipleship is simply moving people one step closer toward Jesus, whether saved or unsaved Churches face the danger of replacing mission with maintenance and comfort God does the saving work, but He uses His disciples as the means to accomplish His purposes Local engagement begins where you are - in your neighborhood, workplace, school, and community Global extension multiplies the gospel through church planting and strategic gospel partnerships The church must be mobilized and urgent, not passive observers on a comfortable tour Both individual and corporate participation in mission is essential Scripture Reference: Matthew 28:16-20 (The Great Commission) Colossians 1:28-29

This episode of the "Walking with God, Pat and Jeff's Podcast" is based on the Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20, and talks about how we are called to make a difference in the world. Note: The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of Pat Barry and Jeff Quinto and may not reflect the opinions of the Bethel Bible Series or Bethel Lutheran Church. Soli Deo Gloria!

On this powerful episode of the Rooted in Christ Podcast, Eric sits down alongside Nobles Darby IV—Metro Cleveland Director of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)—for a conversation about faith, sports, unity, and the Great Commission.From the locker rooms of the NFL and NBA to high school campuses across Cleveland, Noel shares how God called him into chaplaincy and sports ministry at the highest levels. We dive into:What it really means to live out the Great CommissionWhy sharing your faith requires getting uncomfortableHow FCA is impacting 50+ schools in Northeast OhioThe powerful “One Team” football camp that united inner-city and suburban athletes during 2020's civil unrestWhy Cleveland's deep sports culture is the perfect mission fieldTearing down idols and pointing athletes and fans back to JesusWe also discuss the partnership between FCA and Redwood Christian Ministries for this year's Beyond the WallsChristian hip-hop & R&B concert in Cleveland on November 7th—an event focused on salvation, discipleship, and advancing the Kingdom.This episode is a reminder: We weren't saved to sit—we were saved to be sent.If this episode encourages you, like, share, and subscribe to the Rooted in Christ Podcast on all major platforms.

Resources: Doug Pollock - God SpaceMatt Queen - Everyday Evangelism Kenneth Priest - 21 Day New Believer DevoTakeawaysLeadership is about developing others to fish, not just managing the boat.The Great Commission is a mandate for all believers, not just pastors.Evangelism should be a natural overflow of a Christian's life.Different styles of evangelism exist, and leaders should help identify them.Creating a culture of evangelism takes time and intentionality.Event evangelism can still be effective if done thoughtfully.Community engagement is crucial for effective outreach.Churches should focus on servant evangelism to connect with their communities.Numbers in church growth can motivate or discourage; balance is key.Fishing for people is a collective effort, not a solo mission.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Discipleship02:06 The Great Commission and Evangelism05:37 Developing a Culture of Fishing for People09:07 The Role of Pastors in Evangelism13:49 Understanding Evangelism Styles17:32 Creating a Culture of Evangelism21:55 Event Evangelism vs. Servant Evangelism26:55 The Importance of Community Engagement31:18 Conclusion and Call to Action

What kind of impact will your life leave behind?In this message from our Becoming a River Church series, we explore how God's life is meant to flow through us—not stop with us. Drawing from Matthew 28:16–20 and 2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT), we look at Jesus' Great Commission and discover that He gave it to ordinary, imperfect people—some who were still doubting.The call to “make disciples” isn't about having all the answers or being spiritually impressive. It's about passing on what we've received. Just like a river brings life wherever it flows, God invites us to invest in others in simple, relational ways that multiply over time.If you've ever felt unqualified to share your faith, this message is for you. Jesus' promise still stands: “I am with you always.”Let's become a river—together.

Being afraid of something doesn't sound preferable, but throughout the Bible we see benefits from fearing the Lord. Find out what that can look like for us today and what we'll experience when we do!Receive The fear of the Lord is the starting place for wisdom and it leads to a never-ending friendship with a loving God. Scripture reveals that fearing the Lord is intended to comfort us not to scare us. Because the more we understand God's character, the more we are compelled to revere Him. God's Word guides us to express our fear of the Lord through right living, rejecting evil, and clinging to what is good.  Reflect Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? Matthew 1:20 Matthew 2:22 Matthew 9:1-8 Acts 13:16, 26, 43 1 Peter 1:1 1 Peter 5:12-13 Revelation 19:4-10 John 4:13-18 Matthew 10:26-31 helps the disciples understand how much God cares for them—and how much He's in control, even during tribulations. How does this encourage you to know that God is on your side?  Acts 10:1-2, 34-35 shows that those who fear God leave an openness to be surprised with how He works. How does this encourage you to look for God's mighty presence and expansive invitation in your life?  1 Peter 2:11-17 summarizes a picture of what it looks like to fear God (live in freedom, respect everyone, love the family of believers, honor authority). How does keeping God first in these kinds of ways help you live in the world better? Revelation 14:6-8 shows that the fear of the Lord is linked to God's judgment which can lead to worship and praise. How does this fear of the Lord draw you closer into relationship with Him? Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Jesus, help me demonstrate my reverence for God by living in His freedom, respecting others, loving fellow believers, and honoring the authorities He has placed in my life. Help me see how putting God first in these kinds of ways leads me to live well.”  Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: Explore the DTW archives  Listen: Proverbial Wisdom  A Life of Wisdom and the Proverbs 31 Woman  Read: Reverent Fear  Understanding the Bible: The Wisdom Books  Watch: Mount Arbel - Sermon on the Mount and the Great Commission 

Send a textThe Book of Acts is not just history—it is a blueprint for how believers live on mission today.In this episode of God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook, Dr. Darren Carlson shares insights from his new devotional, Witness: Missional Devotions from the Book of Acts. As a pastor and founder of Training Leaders International, Darren brings powerful stories from the global Church that demonstrate how the Gospel continues to advance in remarkable ways.You'll discover:What it means to be a witness in your everyday lifeWhy the Book of Acts still matters todayHow the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary believersStories of faith from around the worldThis conversation will challenge and encourage you to step into your role in God's mission.

Pastor David brings a challenging message about the Church responding to the Great Commission in Matthew 28. In Week 3 of Greater Things casting vision for the future of Beach Church we are called to renew our understanding of the gospel and partner with God to purse the mission are at the forefront of our vision for 2026 and beyond. Are you ready and willing to take your place in God's bigger story? Listen to this episode to be challenged and renewed to trust God with your next step!

Send a textJoin us as we dive deeper into what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus. In light of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations, we'll explore what a disciple looks like and how being discipled can transform every part of your life.

A Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent Ephesians 2:1-10 by The Rev'd Dr. Matthew Colvin             Week after week, I see Pastor Bill preaching the Bible to you on Sundays, and I want to commend him to you. I'm not sure you are aware how rare it is to have a pastor who does his own translation work in the Hebrew and Greek, and who attempts, with diligence and great effort, to read the text of the Bible anew, divide it up properly, and serve it to you. What matters to Pastor Bill in his preaching to you is what the Bible actually says — the actual point of the gospels' stories, or the actual meaning of the prophecies of the prophets, or the actual meaning of Paul's arguments in his letters — not what famous theologians have used the Bible to say, or what scholastic medieval philosophy says it can and cannot mean, or the way modern self-help gurus can use Bible verses out of context to tell a very different story. If you attend to the words delivered from this pulpit, you are being trained to understand the Bible on its own terms, rather than watching as a slick speaker uses the Bible to express his own ideas. The story needs to be your story; you are to think of yourself as a child of Abraham, as a sharer in Israel's Messiah, as someone in covenant with Israel's God. Since it is the first Sunday in Lent, we are confronted with the very first episode of Jesus' public ministry after his baptism by John the Baptist. This story has much to teach us about Jesus' work as the Messiah, the nature of his sufferings, and ultimately, the way we ought to think about God Himself. I want to start by thinking about what it means when the Messiah goes into the desert. In Acts 21, when Paul is arrested in Jerusalem, the Roman centurion is surprised that he knows Greek: “Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?" -Acts 21:38 (I joke to my Greek students that knowing Greek is handy if you are ever suspected of being a terrorist.) In Acts 5, Gamaliel mentioned Judas of Galilee and Theudas, false messiahs who also started their rebellions against Rome by going out into the wilderness. Why do so many messiahs begin this way? Because they are attempting recapitulate of Israel's story. And the true Messiah also relives the story of Israel, embodying it in the events that happen to him: he has already gone down to Egypt to escape a tyrannical attempt to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem, much as Pharaoh tried to kill all the male Hebrew babies; he has already been baptized in the Jordan, as Paul says Israel was “baptized in the cloud and in the sea” of the Exodus; and now he goes into the Wilderness to be tempted for 40 days, as Israel was tempted for 40 years. Covenant history rhymes, as the saying goes. So that is why Jesus is in the desert. There remains explain why he is being tested, and how he resists that temptation, and what these things tell us about the Messiah and about God. We must recognize that Jesus resisted Satan's temptation as true man, as a matter of his messianic office. Jesus' self-understanding as the Messiah was in terms of the latter chapters of Isaiah, i.e. the suffering servant. This understanding of his calling is why he girded himself with a towel and washed his disciples' feet at the Last Supper; it is why he set his face like flint to go to Jerusalem; it is why he undertakes to drink the cup of suffering, and sheds sweat like drops of blood falling to the ground during his agonized prayer in Gethsemane. Being this kind of Messiah involved contradicting the expectations that other men had about what the Messiah would be like. When Jesus is on trial, the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate, for instance, asks him — in a question whose statement-like word order indicates incredulity — “You are the king of the Jews?” (that is the word order, sarcastic or incredulous), and then puts over his head a sign reading “Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews,” in three languages, so that everyone could get the joke. Pilate mocks Jewish pretensions to even have a king. That is why he refused to change the sign to say only “He claimed to be the king of the Jews.”  It is also why he also brings out Barabbas and asks the Jews, “Whom do you want me to give to you? Barabbas, or the king of the Jews?” Pilate is operating with the standard pagan understanding of kingship: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28) Pontius Pilate and the Romans were expecting someone taller, perhaps. Of course, Jesus could have met those expectations, as he told the soldiers who arrested him in Gethsemane: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) It isn't that he couldn't just blow the Romans away with fire from heaven. But that is not his agenda. That is not what the Messiah has come to do. He has come “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus also has to correct the expectation of the Jews about what the Messiah is to be like — even the expectation of his own disciples! It is this self-understanding that makes Jesus tell his disciples in Mt 16:22-23 that “he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Peter's suggestion that Jesus could be the Mesiah without suffering and dying is so inimical to Jesus' self-understanding and his mission that he calls Peter “Satan.” And rightly so, because what Peter is suggesting is pretty much of the same spirit as what Satan himself suggests in our gospel lesson this morning. So that is the background: Jesus as the true Israelite, the Messiah, is in the desert, not to lead a rebellion or a gang of terrorists, but to be tested as Israel was tested. Against all this background, we are ready to hear the words, both of Satan tempting, and of Jesus answering, and hear them with richer and fuller meaning — meaning not from Greek philosophy or self-help gurus or even systematic theologians, but rather, from the story of Israel. With his first temptation, Satan seeks to exploit Jesus' hunger: “The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written,  "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:3-4) Any of you who have ever been hangry know exactly why Satan is doing this. Jesus, no less than we, lived his earthly incarnate life in a body, and that body was subject to weakness. Jesus is not like Superman, so that bullets or nails would bounce off his skin. He was capable of suffering, and he did suffer. Satan is suggesting that Jesus should exploit his Messianic status — for that is what is meant by “If you are the Son of God” — and use it to avoid this suffering. Take your authority over all creation and use it to transform stones into bread. This is not a ridiculous suggestion. It is similar to Jesus' first miracle in John's gospel, where he turned water into wine for the wedding at Cana. But the aim of the action here would be quite different. Satan's meaning is basically the same as Peter's suggestion: “Suffer from hunger? Why put up with that? This shall never happen to you!” Jesus' answer is a quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3. (In fact, all three of Jesus' answers to Satan are from Deuteronomy. (Dt. 8:3, 6:16, and 6:13). That is, they are taken from Moses' instructions to Israel about how to live with the Lord. Jesus is the one who follows Deuteronomy's description of the faithful Israelite perfectly.) As so often, however, Jesus' quotations of the Old Testament are metaleptic —a fancy Greek word that means “takes along with it.” The idea here is that if I say, “We stand on guard for thee,” it would be a mistake for someone to try to understand that utterance merely by using a dictionary to look up “stand” and “guard” and so forth. The meaning of that phrase is rather to be found in the larger context of the Canadian national anthem as a whole, because that is how everyone who hears it will immediately start thinking in their minds: all the other verses will come flooding into your minds; you will perhaps recall occasions when you sang it: in school, or at sporting events; or watching a Olympic medal ceremony. Just so, when Jesus quotes the Old Testament, every Israelite hearer will not just think of the words he quotes; he will think also of the surrounding context, the story in which those words first occurred. So when we look at Deuteronomy 8:3, we should also think about the immediately preceding verse: "The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” (Deuteronomy 8:1-2) And then it goes on to say, in the very next verse, “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) This is what Jesus has in mind: he has been in the wilderness for forty days, being humbled, being tested. He answers Satan from the very passage of Deuteronomy that has to do with his situation: it is about testing in the wilderness. He has been thinking about this verse for a while now. The tempter's second try is with a more showy possibility: Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,  "'He will command his angels concerning you,'  and  "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" -Matthew 4:6 This would be an impressive display! Who could fail to follow a Messiah who had made such a proof of divine power? Jesus had answered the first temptation by quoting Scripture. But the devil can quote Scripture for his purposes, so Satan appeals to lines from Psalm 91:11-12. And again, he knows what he is doing: at a time when Jesus feels alone, when he is in the desert, Satan tempts him with lines from that most comforting song: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” It is full of promises of God's protection and deliverance: in battle, from wild animals, from dangerous diseases. And yet it is singularly inappropriate for Jesus' messianic vocation: He has come to suffer and die. To avail himself of divine protection against these sufferings would be to deny his messiahship. So Jesus replies with words from Deuteronomy again. "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" -Matthew 4:7 This is from Deuteronomy 6, that chapter which contains the Shema, the single verse of the Torah that could be called the creed of Israel: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” It is the core chapter of the Torah about Israel's relationship with God. He has rescued her from Egypt and taken her to Himself to be His bride; at Mount Sinai, he has married her. But Israel was not faithful. She tested the Lord like a wife acting up to trying to make her husband angry. When there was no water to drink, Exodus 17 says, “Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" (Exodus 17:2) The verb used here, and also by Jesus in Matthew 4:7, is πειράζω. Note well: Who was doing the testing in the wilderness for 40 years? Exodus and Deuteronomy say it clearly: Israel was testing YHWH. And thus, we may perceive some clever irony in Jesus' answer to Satan here. For Satan is called “the tempter,” and in Greek, that is nothing other than a participle form of this same verb πειράζω, literally, “the testing one.” So on the one hand, Jesus' quotation of Deuteronomy 6:16 could mean, “You are asking me to test God by throwing myself down from the Temple. I am not going to do it, because Moses warned Israel not to test God.” But it could also mean, “You are testing God, Satan.” Satan doesn't take the hint. He keeps on testing Jesus. There will be more attempts later, but the last temptation that Satan tries on Jesus in the wilderness is narrated like this: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." -Matthew 4:8-9 Why does Satan take him to a very high mountain? In the Bible, mountaintop scenes are real estate transactions. If I sell you this pen, it's simple enough: you put money in my hand, and I put the pen in yours, and you carry it away with you. But houses and land don't fit in your pocket. So we have other procedures. In our day, we get banks and notaries involved and sign a lot of documents. But in the ancient world, you took possession by inspecting the property after the transfer.  This is done in the case of Abram in Genesis 13:17: “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” The same thing happens when Moses is about to die; in one sense, Moses doesn't get the promised land, because he dies before he can enter into it; but in another sense, God actually gives him the land, because he takes him up on a mountain and shows it to him, and this is the formal transfer of the land: “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession..” (Deuteronomy 32:49) Satan is attempting to use the same convention in Matthew 4:8. He is trying to get Jesus to make a deal, offering the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. But Jesus has no need to make such a bargain, for God had already promised to give the Messiah everything Satan is offering, and Jesus, whose self-understanding as the Messiah is shaped by Isaiah's description of the suffering servant, knows it very well from Isaiah 49: The Lord says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6) He knows it also from Psalm 2: I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. Ask of God. Not of Satan. The nations belong to the Lord, not to Satan. Jesus has no intention of making a bargain to purchase what Satan wrongly claims to own. In Matthew 12, after the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan, Jesus replies that, How can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. (Matthew 12:29) And he does plunder it. We see the result in Revelation 20: “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer...” -Revelation 20:3 And as for the real estate deal Satan was trying to make, well, we see the end of that at the very end of Matthew's gospel. For the Great Commission too takes place on a mountain, and this setting seems significant, especially in light of Jesus' declaration that “all authority in heaven and earth” has been given to Him. This is a pointed contrast with Satan's lying statement, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.” (Luke 4:6 NKJV) Quite the contrary, Jesus, having refused Satan's bargain, and having bound him and plundered his goods, now bestows the kingdom on His disciples and takes possession of the nations by sending his disciples to teach and baptize them. I want to end by correcting three misapprehensions that some people might have about this story, which may prevent them from grasping what it teaches us about God. One mistake some have is that Jesus didn't really suffer in the wilderness; that His divine nature was smirking and unbothered by Satan's temptations aimed at his human nature; that all these things just rolled off of Jesus like water off a duck's back. We know this was not the case. Recall Gethsemane again, where Jesus begged the Father to “take this cup from me,” and his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood — drops of blood, not water off a duck's back. A second mistake would be to think that, yes, Jesus suffered, but that's only because He is human. But that is not what the Bible says. It says that Jesus revealed the Father by his sufferings; that if you want to know what the Father is like, you should look at Jesus, for He who has seen Him has seen the Father. Greek philosophers say that God is an unmoved mover, and that God cannot suffer because he is perfect; but the Bible tells us that Jesus was “made perfect by sufferings.” (Heb. 5:9) Greek philosophers tell us that God cannot be afflicted; the Bible says that “in all their afflictions, He was afflicted.” (Isaiah 63:9) Greeks and Romans thought that suffering was miserable and degrading, and that if you are suffering, you must not have any glory or power; the Bible says that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore — not in spite of his sufferings, but because of them! — God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2:8) There is no clearer picture of Israel's God than the cross of Jesus Christ. That is where we finally see God fully revealed. Finally, a third mistake would be to think that, yes, Jesus' sufferings were powerful and important, but ours are not. The truth is exactly the opposite. As George MacDonald put it, “The Son of God suffered, not that we might not suffer, but that our sufferings might be like His.” And they are. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory...” (2 Corinthians 4:17) We are in the Messiah. His story, Israel's story, is our story. In Him, we are faithful Israelites, true to Deuteronomy 6. In Him, we are the suffering servant of Isaiah's prophecies. In Him, the kingdoms of the world belong to us. In Him, we too are victorious over Satan. Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, for our sake you fasted forty days and forty nights: give us grace so to discipline ourselves that our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may always obey your will in righteousness and true holiness, to the honour and glory of your name; for you live and reign with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Thanks for joining us this Sunday as we worship and listen to the Word brought by Pastor Mark.Sacred Community is people deeply connected to God and deeply connected to each otherwith respect, reverence, and responsibility.What the enemy is fighting for is exactly what we must fight against: isolation, disconnection, and loneliness.We show up when there's a crisis.But most of us don't know our neighbors' names.We barely recognize their faces.We are an isolated society.And too often, our churches reflect very littleof what the early church actually lived and experienced.“In this sacred connection we encourage, strengthen, bear burdens, heal, refine, and love.Any human need can be met through another human hand whose heart is held by God.”— Dr. Shelly HoganWe were created for connection.From the womb to the tomb, relationship affects our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.Yet when people struggle, they isolate.They do the opposite of God's design.Isolation feeds mental illness.And many of our battles are spiritual in nature.Biblical figures like Elijah and David faced burnout, anxiety, and despair.Struggle does not disqualify faith.But isolation does weaken us.If you are struggling:Identify what piece of spiritual armor may be missing.Don't let anxious thoughts dictate your actions.Stop claiming struggle as your identity.It is something you face, not who you are.Instead of running from people, run to them.Do the opposite of what your flesh tells you to do.If we are created for connection,disconnection is not an option.Because if everyone isolates,who will we run to?If everyone is anxious,where will peace be found?We are not meant to live as individuals.God ordained us as a peopleto carry the Great Commission together.There are two communities being built:one for earthly kingdomsand one for the Kingdom of God.Love is the driving force.Without it, nothing we do matters.We are better together.We accomplish more together.And isolation may be the very thing keeping the worldfrom hearing the Good News.

The conversation delves into the trustworthiness of Jesus and the responsibility to share the gospel. It emphasizes the importance of trusting in Jesus and the need to spread the message of the gospel to all nations. The conversation covers the themes of God's mercy and grace, salvation through Jesus, the Great Commission, persecution and trust in God, trusting God's wisdom and plan, renewing the mind and community support, and practical application of trust in Jesus. The key takeaways include the importance of trusting in Jesus alone for salvation and daily surrender and reliance on God's guidance.TakeawaysTrustworthiness of JesusResponsibility to share the gospel Trust in Jesus alone for salvationDaily surrender and reliance on God's guidanceChapters00:00 The Responsibility to Share the Gospel56:13 Practical Application of Trust in Jesus

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Romans, Principle 20 – The Great Commission    Romans 11:1-32    Regardless of God's future plan for Israel as a nation, our primary focus today should be on God's present plan for both Jews and Gentiles.NEW! - Let us know what you think of the program! Support the show

Brian Donohue shares about our church leadership title changes.

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

What if the gospel isn't just about personal forgiveness—but about the defeat of the powers and the reclaiming of the nations? In this episode, we take a step back from familiar church language and rediscover the gospel within the larger story of Scripture. From Pentecost and the Great Commission to the defeat of the rulers and powers, the New Testament reveals that Jesus' death and resurrection were not only about personal forgiveness, but about reclaiming the nations and restoring God's human family. We explore the biblical distinction between salvation and discipleship, what it means to belong to God's kingdom in an "already—but not yet" world, and why the resurrection marked the beginning of the end for the spiritual forces that once held the nations in darkness. If the gospel is not about what we do for God, but about what Christ has done for us—then what does belief really mean? And how does faith differ from loyalty? This episode unpacks the content of the gospel, why salvation is by faith alone, and how the kingdom of God is expanding—even now—as people are delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God's beloved Son. The war has been decided. Next, we learn how to walk in the victory.

Many Christians separate their faith from their work without even realizing it. You tithe, you attend church, and you assume that covers your part in the Great Commission. But what if your everyday job is exactly where God wants to use you? In this episode, Addison Williams sits down with Heather Trumpfheller, Head of Partnerships at Switchboard.io, to talk about what it actually looks like to stop compartmentalizing your faith and start living it out Monday through Friday, right where you already are. Heather is Head of Partnerships at Switchboard.io, a free platform that connects believers with missionaries based on professional skills rather than geography. What You Will Hear in This Episode Why Heather quit an 11-year career after writing one prayer journal entry, and what that decision taught her about identity and worthiness How she launched a Christian employee resource group at a tech company as a brand new believer, and why it worked The difference between talking about faith at work and actually letting God move through your work Why prayer is the hardest spiritual discipline for high achievers, and how one woman tithing 10% of her workday to prayer changed everything How Switchboard connects Christians in secular jobs with missionaries who need their professional skills, completely free Connect with Heather Trumpfheller here: Website: https://www.globalswitchboard.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathertrumpfheller/ ==== *Connect With Follower Of One* Join us over in our Online Community(http://community.followerofone.org) *Get social with us* https://www.facebook.com/followerofone  https://instagram.com/followerofone1 https://twitter.com/followerofone1  https://www.linkedin.com/company/follower-of-one  https://plinkhq.com/i/1482955686  ====

Episode Summary: Christians make up more than half of the American population, but culture is unraveling. The future of the West will not be decided by elections, but by whether the Church rises or retreats. In this episode, we're launching Occupy Till I Come with its author Darrow Miller and argue that the Great Commission includes discipling nations at the ground level of culture. The real crisis, Darrow contends, is the sacred/secular divide that has confined faith to Sundays and surrendered public life to rival worldviews.Let's recover the biblical and historical vision that once gave the West life and order. From the image of God as the foundation of dignity,  justice, and human rights to the Reformation's role in shaping our current cultures. Then we get practical: unpacking vocation as worship, hospitality as discipleship, Scripture applied to public life, and courage under pressure. This is the hour to build. To occupy. To stand with clarity and courage. History is calling. The Church must answer.Key Endorsements:“The ideas in this book built our country, and they can restore it as well.” Dr. Josh Mulvihill“This book is Darrow Miller's magnum opus. It captures the urgency of our current civilizational moment, calling for decisive choices that lead either to renewal or decline.” Nancy PearceyWho is Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA)? Since 1997, DNA's mission has been to equip followers of Jesus around the globe with a biblical worldview, empowering them to build flourishing families, communities, and nations.

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Jotham is discussed in today's episode: Very little is said about Jotham; why is that? Jotham finishes what his father started Jotham personally worshipped God, but never encouraged others to worship God Why Christians should not keep the good news to themselves Don’t just check out one… Take a look at them all! YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh-aqfg8rw Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries Website - https://www.p40ministries.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p40ministries Contact - jenn@p40ministries.com Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-6493869 Books - https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Kokal/e/B095JCRNHY/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk Merch - https://www.p40ministries.com/shop YouVersion - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/38267-out-of-the-mire-trusting-god-in-the-middle This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt, call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps! If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Check out LifeAudio for other faith-based podcasts on parenting, studying Scripture, and more: www.lifeaudio.com Become a member to gain access to The Bible Explained on Fridays: https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Pastor Marco frames Acts 1 as the necessary “what's next” after the resurrection: Jesus ascends, but His mission continues through a new body on earth—the church—by the power of the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that Luke–Acts is one continuous account designed to connect later believers to the first generation, and he traces the Holy Spirit's role from Jesus' conception, baptism, temptation, ministry, death, and resurrection, to the church's commissioning. The core thrust is that Acts is not merely history; it is an invitation into an ongoing, dynamic relationship where resurrection power is experienced in holiness, boldness, gospel proclamation, and love for the lost—God's power working through human obedience.He then presses application: the Spirit is not only “in” believers but also comes “upon” them—an ongoing, renewing empowerment rather than a one-time event or a rigid “second blessing.” He links the timing of Pentecost to God's appointed feasts, portraying it as the moment the Word and Spirit converge for the church's witness, and stresses that believers are to wait, pray, fellowship, and move together in unity. The goal is not speculation about times and seasons but faithful action: to be Christ's witnesses outward from “Jerusalem” to the ends of the earth, resisting sin and division, and seeking fresh filling—“wind and fire,” boldness and holiness—so the church can carry the Great Commission in step with the Spirit and anchored in the Word.

Send a textStop scrolling past the mission. We confront a growing habit among believers: waiting for questions, chasing arguments, and mistaking online debates for obedience to the Great Commission. Our conversation leans hard into clarity—what the gospel is, why many can't state it simply, and how assurance in Christ frees us to speak with love and conviction in ordinary places like office hallways, grocery lines, and slick winter sidewalks.We unpack the rich, legal language of Job 17 and the word surety. Job longs for someone to “strike hands” with him—an advocate who pledges himself in the divine court. That's where Jesus shines: our mediator and guarantor, the one who turns his perfect record into ours. When salvation rests on his finished work, confidence rises and fear shrinks. We tie this anchor to everyday practice: a warm greeting at work, a brief prayer before errands, a clear two-minute gospel that honors God's holiness, names our sin, proclaims the cross and resurrection, and invites faith and repentance.Along the way, we get honest about fatigue and discouragement. Some of us feel worn thin from serving, grieving, or feeling out of place. We meet that ache with Scripture, prayer, and community care, urging one another to operate from overflow, not fumes. Small obedience matters. Kindness opens doors. The Spirit revives the encourager even as we encourage others. And because Christ is our surety, our footing is secure—so we can take holy risks, speak plainly, and love people well without waiting for the perfect moment.If this sparks you to trade debates for invitations, subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review with one practical step you'll take to share the gospel this week.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

How should Christians read the Bible so it actually changes them? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan and Forge speaker Jonathan Sherwin talk about how to go deeper in God's Word—not just to finish a reading plan, but to truly know God.Jonathan shares practical tools for Bible reading, studying Scripture in context, using trustworthy resources, and building simple reading plans that help everyday Christians grow. Together, they explore why reading the Bible is central to discipleship, how small observations can lead to big spiritual growth, and why Scripture was never meant to be consumed quickly, but lived out daily.This conversation is especially helpful for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to understand the Bible. If you want Scripture to come alive and shape your daily obedience to Jesus, this episode will give you clear, practical next steps.Topics include: how to read the Bible, Bible study for beginners, Christian discipleship, studying Scripture in context, spiritual disciplines, daily obedience, reading plans, and making disciples through God's Word.Fuel for the Harvest is a Christian discipleship podcast equipping everyday followers of Jesus to make disciples and live out the Great Commission.

On this week's episode of The Alex McFarland Show, Alex focuses on helping believers understand, recognize, and faithfully use the spiritual gifts God has given them. He emphasizes that every Christian has a unique role within the Body of Christ and shares in the responsibility of fulfilling the Great Commission. Alex encourages listeners to actively minister to those who are lost, reminding them that each believer's gifts are meant to build up the Church and point others to the steadfast, unchanging love of Jesus Christ. Scriptures:1 Corinthians 12:4-11Romans 12:6-8Ephesians 41 Peter 4:9-11Links:Alex McFarlandAsk AlexMy Relationship with God Free e-bookBook: 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End TimesThe Cove - July 17-19 & 27-31Equip Retreat Camps United in Prayer DevotionalsSpeaking CalendarBook AlexGive OnlineAlex McFarland MinistriesP.O. Box 485Pleasant Garden, NC 273131-877-937-4631 (1-877-YES-GOD1)Keywords/Hashtags:#podcast #pfcaudiovideo #thealexmcfarlandshow #alexmcfarland #podcastcommunity #Bible #author #apologist #christians #apologetics #religion #prayer #truth #scriptures #alexmcfarlandministries #wisdom #empoweredbeliever #spiritualgifts #unity #thebodyofChristSend a text

This week Alex and Scott are joined by ABWE missionary and Western Europe regional director Kyle Farran to explore what true, godly grit looks like in ministry. Rather than defining resilience by personality or overcoming high-pressure moments, they discuss grit as being formed through daily faithfulness, perseverance in the mundane, and steady trust in the Lord. Farran shares insights from Scripture and decades of missionary experience to show that spiritual grit is earned over time, not summoned on demand. This conversation challenges pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders to embrace hard things with confidence rooted in who God is, not merely in understanding His plans. Key Topics The difference between worldly grit and biblical resilience Why daily faithfulness matters more than dramatic moments Trusting God's character in seasons of uncertainty How adversity forms long-term ministry endurance Balancing courage, character, and consistency in leadership Find more from Kyle Farran by visiting kylefarran.com. You can pre-order his new book, "Godly Grit: Unshakable Resilience and Grit for Life and Leadership" on Amazon. Do you love The Missions Show? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber! Premium Subscribers get access to: Exclusive bonus content A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts Invite-only webinars A free gift! Support The Missions Show and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionsshow.com/premium The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionsshow.com.

Kristen Shuler, President of East-West Ministries International, shares how God shaped her calling to take the gospel to the world's least reached people. Raised in a Christian home with a deep commitment to discipleship and missions, Kristen came to faith at a young age and learned early that obedience to God often comes before visible fruit. Those formative experiences, including years of frontline ministry overseas, continue to anchor her leadership today. At East-West, Kristen helps lead a global network focused on multiplying disciples and churches in spiritually dark places where access to the gospel is limited or nonexistent. Rather than relying on outside control, East-West prioritizes local leadership, obedience-based discipleship, and collaboration across ministries, trusting God to grow lasting movements of faith. Kristen speaks honestly about the cost of faithfulness, the patience required when fruit is slow to appear, and the freedom that comes from surrendering outcomes to God. This conversation offers a hopeful vision for wise stewardship, faithful generosity, and finding your place in God's mission. Listen to explore how obedience, prayer, and collaboration shape lasting Kingdom impact. Major Topics Include: Obedience over visible ministry results Multiplication as a core discipleship DNA Reaching unengaged and unreached people groups Local ownership of the missionary task Obedience based versus knowledge based discipleship Finding joy beyond performance driven ministry Collaboration reshaping global missions strategy Prayer as essential spiritual labor Diverse pathways for Great Commission participation QUOTES TO REMEMBER “The ministry is not about seeing fruit. The ministry is about obedience.” “Even if I didn't see the fruit, I could trust that He was at work.” “The Lord uses every step of obedience and every seed that's planted as part of His ultimate plan.” “Discipleship is not just about gaining knowledge, but about being obedient to the Word of God.” “If I tell somebody what to do, that will fail every time. But when God's Word and the Spirit lead, that's where transformation happens.” “The Great Commission is a God-given mandate for every follower of Jesus to find their place in.” “It's not about choosing what feels comfortable, but responding in obedience to what God is asking.” “The people are waiting to hear. They simply need a laborer to come to them.” “Not a single one of us can accomplish the Great Commission on our own.” “That humility we're seeing across missions organizations is something only the Spirit can do.” “We want to learn, grow, and come with open hands to see what the Lord might do through unity.” “If I'm not abiding in Jesus, I have very little to offer anyone else.” “Do we want to be known for our strategies, or do we want to be known for loving Jesus?” “If we're not marked by our love for Jesus, our strategies will be ineffective.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW East-West Ministries International International Missions Board Coalition of the Willing (see our interviews with founding members Jared Nelms and Scott Cheatham) The Treasure Principle (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn) BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Matthew 28:19–20 | Make Disciples of All Nations Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Acts 1:8 | Witness to the Ends But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Galatians 5:25 | Keeping in Step with the Spirit If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Matthew 9:37–38 | The Harvest Is Plentiful Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” John 15:4–5 | Abide and Bear Fruit Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 17:20–23 | Unity That the World May Believe Matthew 6:21 | Treasure and the Heart For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime.  But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What's that next step look like for me?” That's exactly why we've launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity.  Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we've shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you've been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.

H4TL launches a new solo format—two episodes a month—starting with Brian Ninde tackling the Theology of Evangelism. This isn't another “just go share your faith” talk. Brian digs deeper, arguing that evangelism doesn't begin with the Great Commission, but before the foundation of the world itself. Evangelism wasn't a divine afterthought or emergency plan—it was always God's plan.

This episode of the Mountain Podcast centers on the biblical call to “multiply,” drawing from Genesis 1, Matthew 28, and Luke 10 to emphasize that every believer is called not only to follow Jesus but to actively make disciples through love, obedience, and everyday faithfulness. Samuel explains that spiritual fruitfulness is a natural result of a healthy relationship with God and challenges listeners to move beyond passive consumption of church services into intentional participation in the Great Commission—praying for others, sharing faith, practicing obedience, and showing compassion in practical ways. Through teachings on discipleship, humility, and the Good Samaritan, the message reframes multiplication as living out Christlike love in daily life, trusting God to reshape priorities, prune distractions, and mobilize believers to serve their families, workplaces, and communities with grace and courage.

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

How do we run our race with full surrender to Christ? Eric Liddell's life answers this question and many more with quiet strength and unwavering faith. Known for refusing to run on a Sunday at the 1924 Olympics, Eric honored God's law above worldly praise, trusting Christ by his obedience. His gold medal in the 400m became a testimony to God's faithfulness. But Eric's race didn't end on the track—he gave his life as a missionary in China, serving others with humility and joy until his final breath. His last words, “It's full surrender,” remind us that true greatness is found in yielding wholly to Jesus. Let us run our race likewise—looking unto Him (Hebrews 12:1–2).

Rev. Alexa Holcomb | Revelation 22:1-5When we think about our call to global mission, we often think (rightly!) about being obedient to the Great Commission. But do we reflect on the beauty of that promise fulfilled, that heaven will be full of people from all nations and cultures of the world we live in now? It is essential to what makes heaven, heaven–the fulfillment of God's plan of redemption, the tree of life bearing leaves that heal the nations. Do we long for that future glory? Are we participating here and now in that reality, of the new family we become in Christ?

TakeawaysIntentionality is key in evangelism.Understanding community demographics helps shape ministry.Engaging with diverse populations is essential for church growth.Evangelism should be people-focused, not program-focused.Building relationships is crucial for effective outreach.Churches should reflect the diversity of their communities.Pastors need to mobilize their congregations for outreach.Food and authenticity can break down barriers in ministry.It's important to reach out to the overlooked in the community.Diversity in leadership enhances church effectiveness.

What happens when people “fear the Lord” in a healthy way? Explore how this can lead to wisdom and relationship with God!Receive The Bible's wisdom books remind us again and again that the fear of the Lord is where real wisdom begins—and that's the kind of wisdom we need for everyday life. From big decisions to ordinary moments, we all need God's perspective to help us navigate what's in front of us. Proverbs offers that wisdom with a hopeful, “glass half-full” lens, giving practical guidance for daily choices. Ecclesiastes meets us in the tension, naming life's frustrations and uncertainties with a more “glass half-empty” honesty. And Job takes us deeper, showing that a healthy fear of the Lord isn't about being afraid—it's about being drawn into a real, trusting relationship with God as we learn to revere all of who He is, even when life doesn't make sense.  Reflect Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? Proverbs 1:5 Proverbs 24:5 Ecclesiastes 1:18 Proverbs 24:3-4 Ecclesiastes 2:20-21 Ecclesiastes 9:11 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Job Psalm 22:22-24 Psalm 19:7-10 Psalm 25:8-14 Would you say you identify more with the “glass half-full" approach to wisdom in Proverbs, or the “glass half-empty" approach of Ecclesiastes? Job's story demonstrates that fearing God is relational and not transactional (see Job 1:9). Why is it important to fear God for who He is and not for what He does? How does this type of reverent fear strengthen your relationship with God? God assured Job of His power and presence and unlimited perspective. How did this help Job have a healthy fear of God (see Job 42:1-6)? How can this help you have a healthy fear of God? Fear of the Lord invites you into a deeper relationship with Him (see Psalm 25:14). How can that help you live wisely today?  Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Jesus, help me have a healthy fear of God that allows me to live with wisdom throughout my life. Enable me to revere God for who He is and not for what He does so that I may deepen my relationship with You. Open my eyes to see more clearly the wonder and awe of who You are.”   Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: Ecclesiastes | Week 1  Ecclesiastes | Week 2  Our Daily Bread Mobile App  Listen: Proverbial Wisdom  A Life of Wisdom and the Proverbs 31 Woman  Read: Reverent Fear  Understanding the Bible: The Wisdom Books  Watch: Mount Arbel - Sermon on the Mount and the Great Commission 

This week, Pastor Nathan Johnson led us into the Great Commission, reminding us that we are called not to be impressive or successful, but faithful—secure in God's sovereignty and confident in His promised presence.

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

In this final AmFest 2025 episode, we reflect on the cultural shift unfolding before us. Public leaders are naming Christ. Christian language is re-entering the public square. But is this a revival, a political moment, or simply a starting point? We discuss the dangers of pietism, the church’s failure to disciple nations, and the need to clearly proclaim the lordship of Jesus Christ in every sphere — politics, art, law, and beyond. The Great Commission is not just about private faith. It’s about teaching nations to obey Christ. The real question isn’t whether culture is shifting — it’s whether the church will steward the moment faithfully.