I’ve often heard churches and pastors tell believers that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is binding on all believers. It is often the explicit or functional mission statement of churches. That all seems good. But I have wondered…

If this is the case, why is it so difficult to find any Epistles clearly repeating this command or commanding Christians to evangelize and baptize disciples directly?

We see passages like 1 Peter 3:15 calling for a life of faithfulness that provokes outsiders - and to be prepared to defend our hope. But in my reading, it is difficult to find one verse from Paul or Peter compelling people to evangelize to make disciples actively. Instead, most of what I read focuses the believers on loving one another and living and suffering well in the world.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I’ve wondered if the Great Commission is incumbent upon all believers in every local church - why didn’t Paul and the other writers clearly command us?

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