Witnesses to the Ends of Earth
Month 9: The Spirit's Power for Witness · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: Acts 1:8 & Matthew 28:18-20
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8
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 all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:18-20
Memory Verse
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””— Acts 1:8 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Psalms 73-75
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 246 of 365 — Asaph's honest struggle in Psalm 73, ending in "it is good for me to draw near to God.")The Heart of It
Put two of Jesus' commands side by side, and you can see His whole heart for the world. In He says the Spirit's power will make us witnesses "to the end of the earth." In He says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." We call this the Great Commission. Did you catch the word all? Not some nations. Not just people who look or talk like us. All of them. Why such a big mission? Because Jesus loves all people and died for all people. There isn't a single language, country, or kind of person that Jesus doesn't want to reach. When we tell others about Him, we are joining God in loving the whole world the way He does.
But here is something important. Telling people about Jesus is a way of loving them. It is the most loving thing we can do. The best news in the universe is that Jesus came to rescue us, and love can't keep good news to itself. Loving others on mission doesn't always mean sailing to a faraway land. It can mean being kind to the new kid. It can mean praying for a friend who's hurting. It can mean sharing your snack and your story, or inviting someone to church. Notice that Jesus ended the Great Commission with a promise. He said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (). We never go to love and tell on our own. Jesus, by His Spirit, goes with us every single time.
Around the Table
Jesus loves people in every country in the whole world — and He wants us to tell them about Him! Telling about Jesus is a way to love people.
Let's do it: Spin a globe or point at a map and pray, "Jesus, help people here know You love them!"
"Make disciples of all the nations" means everyone — no one left out. Jesus died for all people, so we share with all people.
Let's talk: Who is one person in your "Jerusalem" (close to home) you could love by sharing Jesus this week?
These verses connect power, witness, and mission. Sharing the gospel is itself an act of love, because it offers people the greatest gift.
Let's go deeper: Some say it is unloving to tell others your beliefs. How is telling someone the good news about Jesus actually one of the most loving things you can do?
💬 Conversation Starter
If you found the cure for something that made people sick, would you keep it secret or share it everywhere? The gospel is even better news than that!
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some say, "It's arrogant to think your religion is for everyone." We can gently reply that we are not sharing our opinion. We are passing on news about something Jesus did for everyone. Offering a drowning person a lifeline isn't arrogant. It is loving. Jesus died for all, not just a chosen few. So the invitation is genuinely open to all. And reminds us to offer it with kindness and respect.
For Dad · Go Deeper
and the Great Commission together refute any cramped view of the atonement. Jesus sends witnesses to "all the nations" precisely because He is "the propitiation... for the whole world" (). The mission is universal because the offer is universal. Christ tasted death "for everyone" (). This is the warm logic of the Arminian and Wesleyan stream. A genuine offer to all flows from a genuine atonement for all. Practically, beware raising children who are doctrinally correct but missionally cold. The same Spirit who empowers also impels. He pushes the gospel outward through ordinary people who love their neighbors. Model evangelism as overflow, not obligation. Let your kids watch you treat the mail carrier, the cashier, and the difficult relative as people Jesus loves and died for.
Draws on: Sean McDowell, So the Next Generation Will Know.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus loves and died for people in every nation. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can be His witnesses. Help us love others enough to share the best news there is. Go with us wherever we go. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus loves the whole world. Telling someone about Him is one of the most loving things I can do.