Welcome

Welcome to Missions: The Doctrine of the Sent Church, the second course in the Pathmark series.

In Scripture you saw what God has spoken. In Missions you will see what He has sent His church to do with what He has spoken.

The Great Commission is the marching order of the church until Christ returns. Matthew 28:18-20 holds the whole thing in one paragraph. An authority claim at the top. Three commands in the middle. A promise at the bottom. The shape this course follows is the triangle, the three commands of Christ's last words on earth: Go, Baptize, Teach.

But the triangle does not stand alone. Above it is the authority of the risen King. Beneath it is the promise of His presence. At the center is the gospel itself, the only message that can save. And around it is the sending church, the local body that prays, gives, equips, and releases gospel workers into the world.

By the end of this course you will be able to explain those pieces in your own words, share the gospel with a friend using a simple tool called the Three Circles, and name one specific way you will participate in the mission this month.

Plan for about fifty minutes. You can stop and come back. Your progress will be saved. Before you start, open your Bible to Matthew 28:16-20. Read it slowly. The course assumes you have that passage in front of you.

Begin with prayer. Ask the God who sends to send His Spirit into your heart as you study.