How to Fulfill the Great Commission from Home

Many are living under quarantine or other restrictions during the #stayathome moment facing our nation in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Yet God’s Word is not restricted. He wants us to continue impacting lives, and even work toward fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), no matter where we are. How can we help make disciples from home?

Scripture offers several examples of ways we can change lives from inside our own door. The following four opportunities offer ideas still today:

Increased Prayer

The Bible offers many example of the effectiveness of prayer. James 5:16 reminds us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 teaches we are to pray without ceasing—praying every possible moment.

If you’re stuck at home, remember God’s power is not limited to our location. He can work through our intercessions for others from where you are to bring the gospel to those who have never heard. Don’t pray less; pray more.

Use the Tools You Have

A poor widow once came to Elisha, sharing that her sons were about to be taken away as slaves due to money her family owed. He responded by asking, “Tell me, what do you have in your house?” (2 Kings 4:2). She responded that she only had a small jar of olive oil.

Elisha told her to collect jars from her neighbors and to pour her oil into the jars. God miraculously allowed many jars to be filled. The oil was then sold to save her children from slavery.

What application does this ancient account have for our lives today? The woman had only one item, yet God used it to impact lives. You may only have a phone or an internet connection or the ability to mail a letter. Use your tools to change lives.

We live in an unprecedented time of technology where one person with a laptop and smart phone can start a ministry that reaches millions of people. Don’t make excuses; make a difference with the tools God has given you.

Just Reach One

While technology may allow us to reach many people, God also uses times of isolation to remind us of the importance of reaching just one more person with the gospel. In Luke 15, Jesus used the story of the lost sheep to remind us of the importance of one person who is lost.

Is there someone in your own family who needs to trust in the Lord? Start there. Do you have a loved one or neighbor you can help point closer to the Lord through your words and actions? Seek that one lost sheep, just like the good shepherd, and look forward to much rejoicing in heaven when one more person experiences eternal life.

Just Keep Going

2 Timothy 2:3 reminds us, “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” Sometimes the best thing to do is to keep doing the thing you’re doing. If you’re already serving the Lord faithfully, keep going.

I’ve run several ultrarunning events, some more than 100 miles in length. When the hours and miles add up and the pain increases, you no longer think of running in miles. Instead, my goal is to reach the next tree or to make it to the next curve. At times, my only thought is to just keep going. Don’t stop. Take the next step. Eventually, the battle is finished.

You may be facing difficult times now, but don’t stop. Just keep going! God works all things for the good of those who love Him. We must stand strong through the fire and finish the battle to reach the goal God has for us. 

Despite nearly every American church being shut down on Easter Sunday, global communications recorded more content being livestreamed about Jesus than any other time in history. With tens of thousands of churches livestreaming the resurrection story, new barriers in sharing Jesus worldwide have been broken. 

God may use this time in our world as part of a spiritual awakening to change lives like never before. Let’s do our part to serve in making disciples of all nations, even from within our own homes.