Big Picture: Christ’s command was to make disciples, who would become churches. The goal of missions is not to evangelize all peoples, but to make disciples (Jesus followers) who observe all that Christ commanded, baptizing them the name of the Triune God. The former can be accomplished rapidly through individuals, whereas the latter takes time and requires community. Therefore, fulfilling the Great Commission necessitates church planting. The Great Commission is normally fulfilled through healthy local churches helping to plant other healthy local churches. Church planting is the means and the end of the Great Commission.

• The gospel: the “good news” announcement of what God has accomplished in Jesus’ death and resurrection for sin, and in consequence, will accomplish in the New Heaven and New Earth.
• Evangelism: proclaiming the gospel with the intent to persuade, or convert.
• Missions: the unique, deliberate gospel mission of the church to make disciples of all the nations. Evangelism that takes the gospel across ethnic, linguistic, and geographic boundaries, that gathers churches, and teaches them to obey everything Jesus commanded.
• Church: a local church is a mutually affirming group of new covenant members and kingdom citizens, identified by regularly gathering together in Jesus’ name through preaching the gospel and celebrating the ordinances.  
• Missionary: someone identified and sent out by local churches to make the gospel known and to gather, serve, and strengthen local churches across ethnic, linguistic, or geographic divides.

1. The Great Commission in Matthew is not something tacked on to the end of the book; it’s part of a sustained theme.

2. The Great Commission is bound up with the authority of Jesus. (Verse 18) 

          a. This authority builds confidence.

          b. This authority is without geographical limit.

          c. This authority presupposes that Christ is worthy to be worshiped by all.

3. The Great Commission is normally fulfilled through healthy local churches helping to plant other healthy local churches. (Verse 19-20a)

                 a. Christ’s command is given to the church.

                 b. Christ’s command is given to all members of the church.

                 c. Christ’s command is given to all churches.

                 d. Christ’s command is to make disciples, who will become churches.

4. The Great Commission is bound up with Christ’s continued presence. (Verse 20b)

This sermon owes a debt to various IX Marks materials, and an outline by D.A. Carson.