The Great Commission

Best-selling author, speaker and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarland, best-selling author and apologist Dylan Burroughs together bringing you truths for a new generation. This is TMG radio 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. That's Matthew 2818 through 20. A passage very often known as the great commission hi Alex McFarland here and with me is Dylan Burroughs spent on today's show were going to answer the question why the commission and why it's great.

Why did Christ give the church the great commission and in what ways is this really a great centuries long, all-encompassing commission. That's our topic and you won't want to miss it, Dylan.

Welcome to the program. It's good to be with you my friend greatly with you is always Alex and I am fascinated as always with this concept of taking the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth to all nations, all people groups in this week as we look the news of the passing of Rev. Billy Graham and the impact he's had speaking to over 210 million people worldwide during his lifetime hundred and 85 countries. This man exhibited and expressed to the heart of the great commission, we want to talk about that today because it's not just people like Billy Graham here called to make disciples, but each of us who follow Jesus are called to make disciples of everyone we can for the cause of Christ exactly. I'm glad you bring that up and folks as we record this the whole world is talking about the passing of the, the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham evangelist. Some say America's pastor, the counselor, confidant, pastor to six decades plus of Presidents world leaders and we wanted to. As we talk about the great commission and evangelism and the biblical mandate and yes it is a mandate to tell your neighbor about Jesus and salvation, and we are to you know reach will everyone of us is to reach someone for Christ. Dylan was talk about this person who God use one individual and he had a team around him.

And certainly he had an incredibly godly and supportive wife, Ruth, Bill Graham and she was the daughter of missionaries, herself, but if if anybody's ever wondered I'm only one person what can one life do look at Billy Graham one life, one individual and the 20th century was changed that's that's very significant for all of us to ponder is that it really is new, look at the life of Billy Graham and he came from a farm from humble beginnings in North Carolina and even to his final crusade in June 2005 in New York City. He said I have one message that Jesus Christ came, he died on the cross he rose again and he asked us to repent of our sins and receive him by faith is Lord and Savior. And if we do we have forgiveness of all our sins so his message was simple, it was the core of the gospel, but through that many lives were changed with him.

It was through the preaching of the gospel to evangelistic events through your life. It may be in a different form. At the same message that inspired his life and countless others through his ministry is the same message that we communicate today through whatever means God is called us exactly, exactly, you know, Dylan. Let's reminisce a little bit nuts but been my privilege for about a decade to be on one of the boards within the Billy Graham ministry there several boards one of which deals with broadcast and radio and that my dear friend Jim Kirkland who helped lead that part of the Billy Graham ministry.

We were up there and I was seeing some of the artifacts and there's a mic and some of you that are in a technical people you might have heard the phrase a an RCA ribbon microphone while there's this one that was the original microphone and Jim Kirkland was telling me in the early days. You know when they were just getting started. This was the microphone they took on the road to the big arenas and then when they want on the road they would use it to record our of decision radio and sometimes they would sort of violent need to record radio, but the mic was out on the road.

Now today they probably own hundreds of microphones and in the church owns dozens of microphones but I mean think about it. There was a time of Billy Graham just starting out that the organization owned a microphone and so Jim Kirkland let me see that my can handle it and he said every now and then the plug it up and it still works. It's like 68 years old and it still works but the main thing that so many people listening to this program would would concur you probably were touched by the life of Billy Graham.

Maybe you know people that came to the Lord through Billy Graham, Dylan. We had family members. I had several aunts that were never married spinsters and they all three went forward in a Billy Graham Crusade and I have an older sister who may be listening to this right now, and in Raleigh, North Carolina in the early 70s at Carter Finley Stadium. My sister went forward to accept Christ as a young teenager and so the the life of this man is just immeasurable. Is not it really is and I've been looking at some of the tributes people of expressed online today at the Billy Graham website as well as on social media, and I'm struck again and again how one change in one person's life can have ripple effects through generations.

For example, one lady I read about today was from Brazil and she said my heart is completely broken. My grandfather heard his speech when he came to Brazil and gave his life to Jesus because of Billy Graham. We are now the third generation that serves Jesus. Can you imagine that you impact one person's life and three generations later there people who are following the Lord because of one thing that you did tell us the kind of impact we can have as well. Obviously as we follow God's direction in sharing the gospel with those around us, whether be in Brazil or Weatherby across the street with your neighbor or your coworker or your classmate.

These are the kinds of things that God has called us to do in these the kind of benefits we see both through the generations.

On earth, as well as the eternal impact we see in heaven. Absolutely. The Bible says in Mark 16 verse 15 that we are to preach the gospel to every creature were to proclaim the gospel and friend. You have a role in that. Maybe you go to church and and you sit under a great pastor. That's wonderful.

We've we've all had our heroes and certainly the world is noting the passing of one of the greatest of all those spiritual mentors, Billy Graham, but remember you have a role to play. There's a person that is in your life. Maybe it's the, the person at the grocery store without the letter carrier or your neighbor or your relative and they may never hear Billy Graham. But they know you and so take up what the word of God says to me, take it to heart that we are to tell our neighbor we are to preach the good news of salvation in Jesus to everyone around us. And so this is truth for a new generation radio TNG radio and we gotta pull away for a break when we come back were going to talk about Christ's great commission and what it means for each and every one of us. Attention all Christians believe that America needs a spiritual revival, an awakening, a message of the gospel for our times this is Alex McFarlane encouraging you to attend the 2018 addition of truth for a new generation.

The conference on apologetics worldview and evidence for the Christian faith, Greensboro, North Carolina, March 23 and 24th hear an amazing lineup that includes Josh McDowell apologist Jay Warner Wallace born green and hot storms both from Fox news attorney Dave Hamilton, the third of the American family Association music by the band and orchestra from North Greenville University, and much much more sessions for all ages equipping to share your faith confidently in any situation. Visit truth for a new generation.com that truth for a new generation.com TNG 2018. Say a nation March 23 24 brought by North Greenville University. Christ makes the difference. Our country is falling apart, political unrest, social upheaval, the breakdown of the family. The rise of atheism.

The rise of Islam are religious freedoms are under attack. There's gender fluidity gender identity is making a mess of freedom of expression.

So we need to put some skin in the game and love this nation. As Christians we are to stand strong.

There has to be some personal investment in the living out in the preservation of stand strong American is that you face help you become a champion champion for Christ in stand strong American Jason Jimenez and I lay out the facts about our nation.

The current condition and how you yes you will. Family community can be involved in keeping this great Republic Scantron America is a guide for encouraging wherever Christian and a you done whatever you are now God loves you a this is Dylan Burroughs with Alex McFarlane truth for new generation radio.

We are talking about making disciples of all nations and acts 542 that talks about the importance of sharing our faith with others.

It tells that day after day in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is Lord or that Jesus is the Messiah. This is important for us today just as it was in that time we've been reflecting on the life and ministry of Billy Graham and how he broadcast to millions worldwide. Through media and through events. The gospel of Jesus Christ.

But we are called to share in Whatever Way, God is as he equipped us and to do so. Day after day to do so in church and religious context, like the temple courts are mentioned here as well as from house to house, and informal settings.

Weatherby your workplace, your home or in your school. And as we look at this topic more want to talk with Alex McFarlane here a little bit about this event, we have coming up that's designed to help equip us better for sharing our faith with the next generation. Oh wow I'm so glad you mentioned that Dylan folks to listen up were coming up soon on truth for a new generation unit just out.

Yesterday we had a great lunch with pastors to talk about this, but folks listen carefully. We've got Josh McDowell coming. We've got Jay Warner Wallace Todd Starnes from Fox News.

We've got so many incredible speakers. It's going to be in Greensboro, North Carolina, March 23 24 Greensboro, North Carolina. The website truth for a new generation.com truth for a new generation.com. It's a Friday night all day Saturday.

It's perfect for all ages and folks, if you've ever wanted to speak up for the gospel and maybe be a witness but you're maybe a little unsure. You know what if somebody asked me a question I couldn't answer. Or maybe you yourself you just want to go deeper into how I understand the Bible how do I support what I believe. How can my life make a difference. How do I keep my kids on track and make sure that you know my sons and daughters don't grow up to walk away from the Lord. Look all of these things and more are things that were going to address it TNG so please I was say this, pray, promote, plan to attend.

You'll hear some of the most amazing speakers. Your life will be changed forever and we can begin to like Billy Graham so beautifully did I like the word of God tells us to do to live out this great commission truth for new generation will help you do that please go to the website truth for a new generation.com and we want to see you in Greensboro, North Carolina, March 23 24 I will save those out of town with a lot of people coming to North Carolina for the event their hotels on the website. We've got a lot of hotels that are giving discounts to conference attendees and the theme Dylan is save the nation.

We need the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ more urgently than ever and truth for new generation.

We believe God is going to use this in a very significant way hate listen to this, Dylan.

I thought about it. One time I was a young believer and I'm always hearing about the great commission the great commission and certainly Billy Graham with his ministry, the Billy Graham evangelistic ministries. They lived out the great commission in the word evangelize or evangelism really speaks to proclaiming good news. An evangelist is one who proclaims the good news. What is the news well the death, burial, the resurrection of Christ for the sins of the world.

Remember in first Corinthians 15 335 Paul said this.

The apostle Paul wrote. I give unto you, that which I first received with how Christ died, was buried, rose from the dead, and so Paul is saying look of first importance. Some translations say that thing of primary importance.

The death burial and resurrection of Jesus for the sins of the world. That's the good news Dylan. Let me ask you this if somebody listening says okay Christ died, was buried, rose again, Jesus rose how is that good news to me. For each and every person of each and every generation.

How is how is that good news. Yeah, and many people think this when they first hear about the message of Jesus okay so how is that good that Jesus died. Well it's good news for us, even though is not good news for him at the time he suffered in our place and that's where we talk about the substitution or the substitutionary atonement of Jesus that theologians express at a certain level of discussion where we often make a disconnect between how that affects us on a day-to-day basis what that simply means is that we don't have to experience eternal punishment for our sins if we express faith in Jesus Christ. He is paid the price and taken the place of us of the we do not have to experience ourselves a man that that's good news.

And we've been given this commission why the commission because of Christ work. I mean, by the fact that the son of God took on a human body and went to the cross and paid for our sins, rose from the dead, and that we need to talk about this great work that the Lord did CS Lewis talked about the miracles of the Bible, but Lewis called Jesus's life and death and resurrection. The grand miracle parting the Red Sea.

That's a miracle feeding the 5000. That's a miracle. But Lewis said the incarnation and the atonement pain first is rising from the dip that is the grand miracle. The greatest miracle of all the work commission because of Christ work. Dylan I believe were commission because of man's need and that we are compelled to go into all the world until people about Jesus because people really are lost. Spurgeon one time Charles Spurgeon said think little of man's sin. And you will think little of God's work to forgive that soon. I mean a lot of times people, so will you know soon. You know you preachers need to just mellow out. Don't preach against sin because it offends people.

Things like that.

Listen we are in a desperate state without Christ according to the word of God without Jesus were guilty were bound for hell. We are hopeless. However, in Jesus we are forgiven we are restored we are full of joy and absolute confidence because our sins are washed clean and whenever we die whenever RN mortality comes knocking. We are ready to meet God because we are forgiven by Jesus who rose did not. That's news that this world truly does need to hear nestle. We are all about here truth for a new generation will be right back in just a moment.

Attention all Christians would like to become more effective in presenting and doing building there, but this is Alex with farm and and I urge you to an addition of truth for a new generation and evidence. TNG is coming to Greensburg Carolina March 2024. Here, an amazing lineup. Josh McDowell apologist Jay Warner Wallace, Lorne Greene and Todd Starnes both from Fox News and much much more. This is Abraham Hamilton, the third of the American family Association. We battle for the future of our nation and I want to see you.

Actually, for new generation as we pray and get equipped to defend the faith, asking God to save our nation. Don't miss truth for new generation March 23 24 Greensboro, North Carolina. You may register@3foranewgeneration.com that's truth of the war truth for a new generation.com first Peter 315 tells us to be ready always to give an answer for the hope we have were instructed to be prepared to defend our faith. This is Alex McFarland for the life he answers teams students we train at North Greenville University, a leading Christian college in South Carolina. The life he answers teams are made up of students who will inspire and equip your congregation.

These apologetics teams.

We train speaking in churches to youth groups and train Christians of all ages to address key issues of our times.

From a biblical perspective like is there a God is the Bible true. What about gender and moral issues. Call me at 864977 2008 and we will arrange for the life interesting to come to your church and give a presentation that will benefit your people for years to come. 864-977-2000 eight and always be ready in Colossians 113 and 14 says he Jesus has delivered us from the power of darkness and made us into the kingdom of his dear son, that's Jesus, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Welcome back to the program Alex McFarland here along with Dylan Burroughs you're listening to truth for a new generation radio. By the way, TNG truth for new generation.com is the website lot coming up this great event that we hope you'll join us. We have an app now.

But apart from ministry news, Dylan, I want to talk about the gospel because this good news that Billy Graham exemplified he gave his life to and many others. So many of the unsung heroes of the faith we perhaps we won't meet till we get to heaven, but the commission is greatly say this Dylan because it spans the centuries Dylan as a pastor and Christian worker of met former athletes that get really depressed when their physical body can no longer perform the great you know athletic feats of met people that you know they get laid off from work and in their whole life is gone. I think one of the reasons the commission is great is because of this, listen all that you have in Christ, can never be taken away. This commission is enforced for every generation. This commission involves you, dear, believing friend and you may not be able to run the four-minute mile anymore and singers can no longer hit the high C or F sharp and maybe the artist ages to the point where they can no longer be steady and hold the brush but is not good news Dylan that no matter where you are in life no matter what circumstance God will never leave you or forsake you. I you can always pray, there's always somebody nearby that needs the love and the truth of Jesus and the commission is great and the commission is worldwide, and the commission is personal because for every one of our lives.

There is a role we can play in showing Jesus to this world yes and what I love about the end of the great commission is Jesus reminding his followers that I will be with you always, even to the end of the age we are doing this alone. We are not doing this in our own power, but we are doing this by the power of God's spirit working through us.

See might think yourself. I am not that significant.

I don't have skills. I can't do anything big for God. Well, you can do big things for God.

I think about that. Billy Graham and him growing up on a farm and wondering if he would ever do anything of significance and you look back now at the impact that he's had a look at this quote from former Pres. Ronald Reagan. He said millions of lives across the globe have been enriched because of his good work.

The world is a better place because of Billy Graham. Imagine the president saying that to you.

But imagine far more the Lord Jesus Christ saying well done my good and faithful servant. This is the kind of life that we are seeking to live regardless of the skills we have, regardless of where God is call this analogy. Have a great story that we talked about before where you were seeking God's plan for your next step in your watching Billy Graham speaking he says something special about how to find your next assignment from God share the story with us if you would and talk a little bit about how that can apply to how God have a set forth and doing his will and obeying the great commission our lives today.

Two decades ago actually was. It was more than two decades ago, I was part of the webinar and Billy Graham was addressing a group of ministers and evangelists and he was in a bed at the Mayo Clinic. Actually, because he had fluid on his brain and he was getting medical treatment so he couldn't be there in person and he spoke via video and he said listen, don't be somebody that you're not, you have a special assignment from God that is tailored to you and so when you get home I get on your knees may be beside your desk or wherever you have your quiet time and say, God, what is my next assignment and Dylan, I'd I did that I got got to my desk and this was a few days later and I got on my knees I said God what is my next assignment and I'm holding up a little pin. I know those of you already obviously can't see this, but Dylan can see it and it's a globe with a cross around it and assist truth for new generation, and after this Billy Graham webinar I got on my knees us a God.

What is my next assignment and in my mind instantly I mean like instantly I saw the words truth for a new generation, and now we've done truth for new generation events in one form or another. Where we bring together speakers central account of a mixing of evangelism and apologetics, and we've done dozens of cities around America and a colleague who's been very close. You and me both. John anchor Berg you know when he spoke in some of the very first ones we did and he said that was kind of a new thing to mix evangelism and apologetics that that was one way Billy Graham touched my life. But let me share one other story this is amazing and folks were were not lifting up a man were celebrating Jesus, but this is illustrative of of a life yielded to Jesus, Dylan, I was on the road preaching and I went in a secondhand store there was a pawnshop in Otten. I just had some time to kill is putting gas in the car so go in this pawnshop and there was a lady there and she looked kind of you know Asian and she was actually from the Philippines and she asked me what I was doing in town and was there to speak and I assert you Christian and she smiled and she said yes my family is Christian. I said how did you come to know the Lord and she said I was a little bitty girl and my earliest memory I was in a crowd of people and a man picked me up and he had this big big book and she said I'll never forget. He set me down on his lap and he stared deeply into my eyes and he said one word Jesus and the man that picked me up. The man who looked into my four-year-old eyes and uttered the word that would change my life. It was Billy Graham, Dylan, I just when I reflect on the life of this brother in the ministry. Kinda makes me want to recommit myself designate do that to you. It does, Alex, and I think of the apostle Paul who ended his ministry with words very similar. He said I thought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Thanks to being with searching for new generation.

We look forward to being with you again truth for a new generation in association with Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries exists to equip Christians with the biblical worldview through conferences and camps for information about upcoming events visit for a new generation.com or give us a call at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God, and the number one TMG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries PO Box 485, Pleasant Garden, NC 27313 that's PO Box 485, Pleasant Garden, Carolina 27313 will give online@alexmcfarland.com generation.com. Thanks for listening and join us again next time. As we bring you more true for a new generation on TMG radio