Preach the Gospel to All Creation (Mark 16:15)

Preach the Gospel to All Creation (Mark 16:15)

[Reading Time: Approx. 7min]

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” Mark 16:15

Lesson 14 Devotional: Jesus | He Was Sent Here to Preach.

Mark 1:35-38 (NIV)35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

In Lesson 14, we explored how Jesus leads us to meet various needs, the most important one was to proclaim the good news of God (Mark 1:14). In this lesson, we will dive deeper into the most essential need we can meet: sharing the good news of salvation. This lesson will focus on four key aspects: preaching, teaching, discipling, and encouraging. Each of these elements plays a vital role in helping others find and live their God-given purpose at creation. Not only was this the reason Jesus came, but it is also our at the core of our purpose as his disciples. So as we complete this module on living with purpose, we will focus on this key aspect! This is why we have come.

1Preaching
2Teaching
3Discipling
4Encouraging

Preaching

Mark 1:14-15 (NIV)14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus’ directive to His disciples was to go and preach to the nations. Of course, Jesus never taught us to do anything that He didn’t do Himself. If we are to call ourselves His disciples, this must be our mission.There are many things that Jesus did to serve others, but He said plainly that He came to seek and to save what was lost. The first step in that process is to go out and preach, just as He did.In this lesson, I’m defining preaching as going out and speaking to the masses, casting a wide net. It’s about publicly declaring the good news to as many people as possible—whether this is speaking to individuals (Acts 8:26-40) or to groups (Acts 6:8–7:60). Jesus also showed us the model of going out in pairs (Luke 10:1-16; Matthew 10:1-42). This is the broadest form of outreach, meant to reach everyone, whether they want to receive the message or not.Jesus gives us comprehensive instruction on how we are to approach going out to preach the Word. He teaches us urgency, how to handle rejection, how to handle acceptance, building relationships, how to accept material support, the expectation of rejection, and how to rely on Him for what to say. We don’t need technology or knowledge about all the social issues of the day. We need the Holy Spirit, as Jesus tells us that He will be with us (Matthew 28:20).This is a very high-level overview of going out to preach. There is much more to cover, and I will especially dive deeper into “persecution” in the final module of this course.

Teaching

Mark 1:14-15 (NIV)32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

After preaching, teaching comes into play. It’s for those who have heard the message and want to learn more. In Acts 17, Paul initially preached to a group in Athens, and after hearing him, some expressed a desire to hear more. This transition from preaching to teaching is essential because it allows us to guide those who are genuinely interested toward a deeper understanding of God’s Word.Teaching involves guiding people to a deeper understanding and answering their questions to lead them toward saving faith. It’s also an opportunity to teach them how God’s Word applies to their lives daily, helping them see the wisdom of God’s Word in everyday situations (1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17), and building their faith (Romans 10:17; Matthew 13:1-23).

Discipling

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Discipling involves those who have accepted the gospel and are now being held accountable to live according to it. It’s about teaching others to obey Jesus’ commands and holding them accountable for living as His followers. Baptism is a key milestone, marking their entry into God's kingdom.We need to be actively discipling one another. We are not just called to be Christians and hang out together—this is not a social club. Jesus has expectations for us to walk as He did, and that requires us to engage in each other’s lives, speaking the truth in love to help each other grow. This is part of our spiritual training, as Paul emphasizes in 1 Timothy 4:7. It’s easy for churchgoers to become complacent and lukewarm, neglecting the call to actively disciple one another. Obeying Matthew 28:19, we must be intentional in making disciples and helping one another grow in faith and obedience to Christ.Once people are baptized and become disciples of Jesus, they enter into God’s family. As part of the kingdom, they call God "Abba, Father" and walk alongside their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Discipling is about more than just initial faith—it’s a lifelong commitment to growth, obedience, and accountability to God’s Word. As Jesus says in Matthew 28:20, we are to teach others to obey everything He commanded, with the assurance that He is with us always, even to the end of the age. No matter our official title or position in the church, we all live at the foot of the cross. Therefore, we each have the authority from Jesus Himself to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) into one another’s lives. See how Paul, who was much younger in Christ than Peter, speaks truth to him. This is the courage we need to have to love one another in Christ.

Galatians 2:11-14 (NIV)11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

However, this also means we must have a solid knowledge of the Scriptures, so our teaching is based on truth rather than emotion (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Encouraging

Mark 6:47-51 (NIV)47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.

Encouragement is essential for those who have already tasted the goodness of God’s Word and are walking in the kingdom but may be facing challenges. As disciples, we all go through times of difficulty and struggle. Encouragement involves offering grace, mercy, and support to those who are weary, reminding them of God’s faithfulness and the hope found in Christ. In Mark 6:47-51, we see Jesus calming the disciples' fears and comforting them in a frightening situation. He spoke words of reassurance and then stayed with them. This is a great model for us to help one another take courage and persevere in the good fight of faith (2 Timothy 4:7-8).Encouragement plays a vital role in helping people endure to the end. It’s about showing others the mercy of God through His Word and pointing to examples of how God remained faithful to His people, even when they rebelled. Encouragement strengthens the hearts of disciples, helping them continue the race when they feel weak. At the same time, we must also warn one another against straying so far in our faith that we fall into deliberate sin. When this happens, the Bible warns that there is no sacrifice for sins left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and a raging fire that will consume God's enemies (**Hebrews 10:26-27**). Therefore, we need to balance encouragement with a healthy fear of falling away, as emphasized in Hebrews 6:4-6 (a **very important passage**).

Walking As Jesus Did: Practical ApplicationHow can we apply what we’ve learned today to walk as Jesus did?

1Preach by the Holy Spirit’s Power: Most of the resistance we face in preaching and sharing our testimony with others will be internal. We must therefore pray for the boldness, wisdom, and love to share the good news in our daily lives.
2Be a Good Teacher: When we teach, we must focus on what our listeners are open to and eager to learn (Acts 8:30-35)—not a one-size-fits-all Bible study. We must know the Word well and communicate it in a way others can easily understand. Let the Holy Spirit lead as you teach. Philip knew the Scriptures, so he was able to explain them to the eunuch, leading to his salvation. Follow his example. Speak effectively and save souls (Acts 14:1).
3Sharpen & Be Sharpened: As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). Engage in multiple relationships where you teach others to obey and are being taught to obey (Matthew 28:20). Jesus has given us authority to speak into each other's lives, so don’t feel unqualified to call fellow believers to repentance and growth in Christ.
4Encourage & Be Encouraged: It is hard to be saved (1 Peter 4:17-18), so be on the lookout for those in the fellowship who are in need of encouragement. Remember to take action and speak according to each person's need at the time (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

Lesson 15 Training Tips: Disciple Like Jesus

Getting More from Your Study of the GospelsThese insights aim to build your faith, deepen your understanding, and encourage practical application of God’s Word.

1Read: Read Mark 16:15 aloud. Jot down on paper what the Holy Spirit spoke to you from that reading.
2Meditate: Meditate on (Psalm 1:1-3) what the Holy Spirit has spoken to you. Take 10 minutes to reflect on it, allowing it to sink into your heart.
3Pray: Ask God to empower you to renew or super charge your focus and work on his mission field to proclaim the good news (Mark 1:14-15).

ConclusionPreaching the gospel is an act of love, but our goal is not just to baptize—it’s to help people stay faithful to God until the end. That’s why preaching, teaching, discipling, and encouraging are all important. Preaching and baptizing are just the start; we must continue teaching and supporting others in their growth. As Paul said in Acts 20:24, his mission was to finish the task of sharing the good news. Our mission is the same: to help others persevere and stay strong in their faith to the very end. Let’s trust God as we boldly carry out this calling.

Lesson 15: Jesus | With Him, We Preach to the Nations (Mark 16:15)

You must be logged in to access this course