Jesus’ final words before His ascension should echo in the mind and heart of every believer:
“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.”
—Acts 1:8, ESV
There are three key pieces to this commission: power, witness, and call.
Power: Jesus promises His disciples the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the mission He gives them. As believers, we are not left to do this work in our own strength. His Spirit lives in us and equips us to serve.
Witness: Jesus commissioned the apostles to bear witness to His resurrection, and the responsibility to share that good news extends to every believer. We proclaim that Jesus is God in the flesh, that He lived a perfect life, that He died on the cross for our sins, and that He bodily rose from the grave on the third day. We also bear witness to what we have seen Him do in our own lives.
Call: Jesus calls His church to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. We are called to share the gospel at home, in our country, in the places where our rivals and enemies live, and to the ends of the earth. Each of us cannot do this alone, but each of us must do our part and share with those to whom God calls us.
In the sermon, I called this “the church commission.” As believers, we are citizens of heaven. Think of this commission, alongside the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37–40), as a picture of the allegiance and responsibility that come with belonging to God’s kingdom. We do not earn our citizenship through service; we serve because we belong to Him.
We are called to love God and love others. One essential expression of that love is sharing the good news of Jesus through the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8).
What can you do to fulfill the Great Commission?
Pray. Walk. Talk.
Pray
If sharing the gospel is hard for you, pray each morning for opportunities and the courage to speak. Sometimes you will miss an opportunity or let fear keep you silent. When that happens, repent, confess your sin to God, receive His forgiveness, and pray again. Don’t let yesterday’s hesitation keep you from being faithful today.
Walk
Walk with God. Spend time in His Word and in prayer. Spend time doing the things God calls us to do.
If you want to start reading your Bible but aren’t sure where to begin, start in Luke 1 and read about half a chapter a day. When you finish Luke, go straight into Acts. You’ll follow the story of Jesus’ earthly ministry and then see how His followers carried the gospel into the world.
Don’t worry about finishing by a particular date. Start with a steady, manageable rhythm.
Look for opportunities to serve, too. While loading your groceries, offer to help someone with something heavy. If you notice a neighbor’s broken sprinkler, leave a note or knock on the door to let them know.
These acts of kindness matter in themselves, and they can also open doors for deeper conversations. Look for opportunities both to demonstrate Christ’s love and to speak about Him.
They’re there. Every day. All around you.
Talk
Talk to people—in line at the store, at work, while walking the dog, at the gym, wherever you go. Slow down enough to listen and get to know them. As opportunities arise, ask spiritual questions.
Some people will welcome the conversation; others may not. Be gracious, respect their response, and don’t let the possibility of an uncomfortable moment keep you from showing care.
If someone shares that they’re having a bad week, you might say, “I’d like to pray for you. Is there anything specific I can pray about this week?”
You may never see that person again. That may be as far as your conversation goes, but you have no idea how God might use that simple act of care.
If they share a request, ask, “Can I pray with you right now? No pressure, but I’d be happy to say a quick prayer for you.”
If they say yes, keep it simple:
“Dear Lord, help Teddy with the situation at work. Give him strength for tomorrow and wisdom to know what to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
You don’t need impressive words. A simple, sincere prayer can mean a great deal. If they decline, respect that and continue showing kindness.
My only encouragement to you is to try to end by praying in the name of Jesus. This is important as it is a distinction between us and any other religion. It distinguishes you as a servant of Jesus Christ.
Reflection
Take a few minutes to read these passages throughout the week as you reflect on what God taught you through the sermon:
- Matthew 28:18–20: What does Jesus call us to do, and what does He promise?
- Romans 8:9–17: How does knowing the Holy Spirit lives in you give you confidence?
- 1 Peter 2:9–12: How can your words and actions point others toward God?
- Acts 1:6–11: Where might distractions be keeping you from the mission Jesus has given you?
Who is one person you can pray for, serve, or talk with about Jesus this week?
A Tool for Sharing Your Faith
The Life on Mission app offers a way to walk someone through the gospel.
John-David 
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