DIGGING DEEP NO. 1155 November 10, 2026
Anchor Scripture: Matthew 28:19–20 (KJV)
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Supporting Anchor Scripture: Mark 16:15 (KJV)
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS THE GREAT COMMISSION?
The Great Commission is the command Jesus Christ gave His disciples after His resurrection to take the Gospel to the world and make disciples.
It is not merely a command for pastors, missionaries, evangelists, or church leaders. Every follower of Christ has a responsibility to participate in the mission of sharing the Gospel.
Jesus did not say, “If you have the gift of evangelism, go.” He commanded His disciples to go, preach, make disciples, baptize, and teach.
Key Scriptures:
- Matthew 28:18–20
- Mark 16:15–16
- Luke 24:46–49
- John 20:21
- Acts 1:8
WHAT IS EVANGELISM?
Evangelism is the proclamation or sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ, His death, resurrection, forgiveness of sins, salvation, and Lordship, with the goal of leading people to faith in Christ.
The word “Gospel” means good news.
The good news is that through Jesus Christ, sinful humanity can be reconciled to God.
Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.”
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
Paul summarizes the Gospel as Christ dying for our sins, being buried, and being raised from the dead.
WHY DID JESUS GIVE THE GREAT COMMISSION?
A. Because people need salvation
Humanity is separated from God by sin.
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Evangelism gives people an opportunity to hear and respond to God's offer of salvation.
B. Because Jesus is the only way to the Father
John 14:6
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Acts 4:12
“Neither is there salvation in any other…”
This gives urgency to evangelism.
C. Because God desires people to be saved
1 Timothy 2:3–4
God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Peter 3:9
God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Evangelism is therefore an expression of God's heart for humanity.
THE FIVE MAJOR COMMANDS IN THE GREAT COMMISSION
Matthew 28:19–20 gives us a powerful framework.
1. GO
“Go ye therefore…”
Evangelism requires movement.
Sometimes we must physically go to people. Other times, we reach them through relationships, conversations, social media, community involvement, work, school, and everyday encounters.
Question: Are we waiting for people to come to church instead of going to where people are?
Scripture: Romans 10:14–15
“How shall they hear without a preacher?”
2. MAKE DISCIPLES
Jesus did not simply command us to get people to make a one-time decision.
He said:
“Make disciples…”
A disciple is someone who follows, learns from, obeys, and becomes increasingly like Christ.
Evangelism produces converts; discipleship develops mature followers of Christ.
Scripture: Colossians 1:28
“That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
3. BAPTIZE
Jesus instructed His disciples to baptize those who respond to the Gospel.
Romans 6:3–4
Baptism identifies the believer with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward commitment to Christ.
4. TEACH
Jesus said:
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
Evangelism doesn't end when someone accepts Christ.
We must help new believers:
- Understand God's Word
- Develop a prayer life
- Grow in holiness
- Fellowship with believers
- Serve God
- Share their faith
- Become disciples who make disciples
2 Timothy 2:2
“The same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
This creates a multiplication process.
TRUST HIS PRESENCE
Jesus concluded:
“Lo, I am with you always…”
We don't evangelize alone.
The presence of Christ gives us courage, strength, wisdom, and confidence.
5. THE POWER BEHIND EVANGELISM
One of the most important scriptures for evangelism is:
Acts 1:8
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me…”
Notice the progression:
POWER → WITNESS → PEOPLE → TRANSFORMATION
Evangelism is not primarily about our ability to speak.
It is about the power of the Holy Spirit working through surrendered believers.
Zechariah 4:6
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD…”
WHO IS CALLED TO EVANGELIZE?
Every believer.
Jesus told His disciples:
Mark 16:15
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Peter also describes believers as God's representatives:
1 Peter 2:9
“That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
We may not all have the office or spiritual gift of evangelist (Ephesians 4:11), but every Christian is called to be a witness for Christ.
WHERE SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?
The Great Commission has both a global and a personal dimension.
A. Our families
Joshua 24:15
“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
B. Our workplaces
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men…”
C. Our neighborhoods
Mark 5:19
Jesus told the healed man to go home and tell his friends what the Lord had done.
D. Our communities
Acts 17:6
The early believers were described as people who had “turned the world upside down.”
E. The nations
Matthew 28:19
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO EVANGELIZE
1. Share your testimony
Your testimony is powerful because you are sharing what Christ has done in your own life.
John 9:25
“One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
A simple testimony can follow this pattern:
MY LIFE BEFORE CHRIST → HOW I ENCOUNTERED CHRIST → HOW CHRIST HAS CHANGED ME
2. Share the Gospel clearly
A simple Gospel presentation can include:
- God's Love — John 3:16
- Humanity's Sin — Romans 3:23
- Christ's Sacrifice — Romans 5:8
- Our Response — Acts 3:19
- Salvation — Romans 10:9–10
3. Build relationships
Jesus often reached people through relationships and conversations.
1 Corinthians 9:22
Paul said:
“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
We must understand people without compromising the truth of Scripture.
4. Demonstrate Christ through our lives
Our conduct should support our message.
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men…”
Philippians 2:15
Believers are called to shine “as lights in the world.”
BARRIERS TO EVANGELISM
FEAR
Many believers are afraid of rejection.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear…”
Solution: Pray for boldness.
Acts 4:29
“Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.”
FEELING UNQUALIFIED
We may think, “I don't know enough Bible.”
The disciples were ordinary people, yet God used them.
Acts 4:13
People recognized that the disciples had “been with Jesus.”
The greatest qualification for witnessing is knowing Christ and being willing to share Him.
FEAR OF REJECTION
Our responsibility is to faithfully present Christ. We cannot force someone to believe.
1 Corinthians 3:6
Paul said:
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
WE PLANT. WE WATER. GOD GIVES THE INCREASE.
THE ROLE OF PRAYER IN EVANGELISM
Evangelism must begin with prayer.
Colossians 4:3–4
Paul asked believers to pray that God would open a door for the Gospel.
Pray for:
- Open doors
- Boldness
- Wisdom
- Divine appointments
- Open hearts
- Salvation
- Opportunities to testify
- Spiritual discernment
Matthew 9:37–38
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.”
Jesus' response to the size of the harvest was:
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers…”
THE GREAT COMMISSION IS ABOUT MULTIPLICATION
The goal is not simply:
BELIEVER → CONVERT
It should become:
BELIEVER → DISCIPLE → DISCIPLE-MAKER → MORE DISCIPLES
2 Timothy 2:2
Paul → Timothy → Faithful people → Others
This is biblical multiplication.
A healthy church should continually produce believers who are capable of reaching others.
EVANGELISM AND THE LOCAL CHURCH
The church should not be a place where Christians simply gather every Sunday.
The church should be a training and sending center.
Ephesians 4:11–12
God gave ministry leaders:
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry…”
The church equips believers so they can go into the world and minister.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE NEGLECT EVANGELISM?
When the church stops reaching people:
- Spiritual growth can become inward-focused.
- New generations may not hear the Gospel.
- Communities become disconnected from the church.
- The mission of Christ becomes secondary.
- Believers can become consumers rather than servants.
Proverbs 11:30
“He that Winnett soul is wise.”
Soul-winning is not an optional activity, it is part of our calling as followers of Christ.
PRACTICAL EVANGELISM CHALLENGE
Encourage every participant to identify five people who need to know Christ.
Write down their names and begin praying for them.
THE 5-P STRATEGY
1. PICK — Identify five people.
2. PRAY — Pray for them consistently.
3. PURSUE — Build or strengthen the relationship.
4. PRESENT — Share the Gospel.
5. POUR INTO — Help those who respond to Christ grow as disciples.
IN CONCLUSION: WE ARE CHRIST'S AMBASSADORS
2 Corinthians 5:20
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…”
An ambassador represents his country in another nation.
Likewise, Christians are representatives of Christ in this world.
Wherever God has placed us, home, workplace, neighborhood, school, community, or church, we have an opportunity to represent Jesus.
The question is not:
“Am I called to evangelize?”
The better question is:
“Where is God giving me an opportunity to represent Christ?”
FINAL CHALLENGE
GO.
SHARE.
MAKE DISCIPLES.
TEACH.
MULTIPLY.
And remember the promise of Jesus:
“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” — Matthew 28:20
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Give us a heart for the lost and a passion for the Gospel. Remove fear, timidity, and excuses from our hearts. Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit and give us boldness to proclaim Your Word. Open doors for us to share Christ with our families, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and communities. Help us not only to win souls but also to make disciples who will make other disciples. Let our lives shine for Christ and use us to expand Your Kingdom. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.