Chapter 8: Mission
We have all seen it. Those people standing on the side of the road with a big sign that says, “Repent or go to hell!” Or the people with a megaphone and a Bible constantly yelling the gospel on the street while everyone else is just trying to get to their destination. While our mission as Christ followers is to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19), I don’t believe our mission is just to speak about the good news. We are also called to live it out.
In Titus 3:1–2, Paul tells believers to be ready to do good, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show humility toward everyone. Instead of standing on a street corner with a Bible and yelling at people to believe in Jesus, what if one of the best ways to point people to Him is by how we live our everyday lives?
One of my favorite quotes says, “You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.” The gospel is communicated by the way you love your spouse, talk to people, work with excellence, and treat those you don’t necessarily like. The boss that you can’t stand. That coworker who seems to have it out for you. The family member who constantly spreads their political ideas. Even the person who constantly leaves you on read.
Jesus knew His mission. He said that He came to destroy the works of the enemy (1 John 3:8). Every day, Jesus moved with purpose. He had a three-year ministry, and He changed the world forever. His mission ultimately led Him to the cross, where He died for the sins of the world.
Jesus completed His mission, and before He ascended to heaven, He gave us ours: go and make disciples of all nations. It’s not about gaining popularity for our own name’s sake. It is about bringing glory and honor to His name in everything we do. That can be difficult in a day and age where gaining followers is all about social media likes and going viral on TikTok. But the goal isn’t to gain followers for ourselves. It is to point people toward Jesus.
That means living out the gospel by demonstrating love, truth, forgiveness, and choosing to do things we don’t want to do when they require sacrifice. This is part of what Jesus said when He commanded us to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23).
So yes, like the old hymn says, go and tell it on the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere. Tell the world about Jesus. But don’t just speak about the good news. Live it out.
The Bigger Picture: Our mission is to live out the gospel in our everyday lives.
The Bigger Picture 