Daniel Akin on the Great Commission

See Axioms for a Great Commission Resurgence

Introduction: 1) Following His resurrection Jesus spent time with His disciples for 40 days preparing them for their assignment once He had ascended. He led them out to Mount Olivet where He would return back to the Father. However, just prior to His ascension, the disciples wanted to have a theological conversation concerning matters of eschatology. Specifically they wanted to know, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (v.6). Jesus did not rebuke them for asking what is certainly an interesting question. His response did, however, indicate that it was not the most important question. His response reveals that the better question is this, “what should we do until you do come again and establish Your kingdom?” To that question He provides a definitive answer in the Acts version of the Great Commission found in verse 8, “Be my witnesses.” In essence Jesus was saying to His followers, “do not get distracted over issues that are secondary and non-essential. Stay focused on the main thing. Make sure your priorities line up with the Father's. Be my witnesses and advance the gospel until I return.” 2) Like the disciples, Southern Baptists today run the risk of being distracted from the main thing. Many of the issues we are emphasizing and debating are interesting things, but they are not the most important things. They don‟t line up well with the priorities we find revealed in Holy Scripture. The result: we are fractured and factionalizing. We are confused having lost our spiritual compass. We have reached, many of us believe, what Alvin Reid describes as “a tipping point.” We have tragically devolved into “a giant movement now in decline,” experiencing far too much ineffectiveness in gospel ministry and the fulfillment of the Great Commission...keep reading

Thanks to Dr. Keith S for the tip.