The Greatness of the Great Commission: The Christian Enterprise in a Fallen World

by Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.

Paper back, no creases in spine. No marks in book. Former library book.

Genres: Theology, Audiobook, Cultural

184 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. is a Reformed theologian, and an ordained minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly (RPCGA). He is particularly known for his support for and publication on the topics of orthodox preterism and postmillennialism in Christian eschatology, as well as for theonomy and six day creation. He holds that each of these theological distinctives are logical and theological extensions of his foundational theology, which is Calvinistic and Reformed.

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Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

On my own I probably never would have associated the Cultural Mandate with the Great Commission, but Gentry's argument is persuasive. Here are six points of overlap (pp. 11–14):
1) Both mandates are granted at strategic times.
2) Both mandates claim the same authority.
3) Both mandates are given to federal heads.
4) Both mandates engage the same task (subduing the earth to the glory of God).
5) Both mandates were originally given to small groups.
6) Both mandates require the same enablement.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I’ve bought this book over the years over five times and given it away. Paradigm shifting book, specially for those who are beginning to understand or maybe they haven’t considered how great and awesome is the task of the Great Commission. Regardless of your denominational stances, or your views on eschatology, Gentry does a phenomenal job at demonstrating that Jesus has been coronated King of kings and Lord of lords, all authority in heaven AND ON EARTH has (past tense) been given to him, therefore we are to make all nations Christ’s disciples! Not just preach the gospel and move on to next group, not just a few disciples here and there. The command is clear, all nations and to make disciples. The Kingdom of God began 2000 years ago, and has been growing like a mustard seed, what a might work and task we have been commanded to partake in. One final thought, Gentry wants the reader to wrestle through the implications and success of the Great Commission. How can this world encompassing task not lead to a Christianized/Discipled world? We have a lot of work to do, but empowered and led by the Spirit, the task will be accomplished, for the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do it (Isa. 9:6-7)! Read this.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great.

[Shea Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful treatise on the Great Commission that delivers on the title. I've grown up in, and been discipled in a David Platt/IMB unreached people groups esq view of missions. In Platt's view and many in the IMB they look at Matt 24:14 and see a need to preach the gospel to all people groups in order that Jesus would return. Since coming to a preterist understanding of Matthew 24 it began to feel as though my view of missions was incomplete and focused more on the "making disciples" and less on the "teaching them to obey" of the commission. Kenneth Gentry is the answer to this quandary. Gentry does a wonderful job of exegeting the passage and then fleshing it out into all areas of life. This is on one level a big idea kind of book and could shift you drastically in how you read the Bible and view the world (Preterism, postmillennialism, and theonomy are all concepts the reader is exposed to in this work). But on another level this is a highly practical book, showing how the spheres of governments that God has ordained each have a faithful role to play in this commission and gives good steps for them to move forward in those areas.

As I read more of the Recons I am thankful their resources are free in many formats but also sad that many of these faithful men have passed away or are nearing the end of their service to the Lord. Lots of good things that the church needs today.

Audiobook podcast and Ebook can be found for free at https://www.reconstructionistradio.com/ under the Audio Libraries Tab

[Peter Bringe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book unpacks the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20), showing its comprehensive nature. It gives a good foundation for viewing Christ's redemption as saving the soul, body, person, life, culture, nations, etc... It especially focuses on the four "alls" of that passage: All authority, all nations, all that I have commanded, and all times. It also bring in the biblical idea of covenant and how it informs our view of evangelism, law, baptism, and eschatology. The application section is a little weak, but is at least a start. I have now read this book twice.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this if you want your fire for Christ's mission to burn bigger and brighter. Let's just say that "evangelism" encompasses way more than you previously thought. And, that is so exciting!

[Matt Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Postmil synthesizing of Cultural Mandate and Great Commission.

[Will Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book. This will greatly enrich almost any evangelical's understanding of the Great Commission and its actual greatness. This is an older book, but might be more timely today than it was even when written.

[David Jamison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good introduction to the postmil, cultural reformation branch of reformed Christianity. Big vision for the work of the gospel in the world!

[Zach de Walsingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great. Lays out the covenantal implications for the Great Commission from Matthew 28. It also was interesting to note that the Lord's prayer 'on Earth as it is in Heaven' is connected by Dr. Gentry to the baptising and discipling of the nations. We are to pray and then work.

My only complaint was the writing style felt overly formal and like reading a logic textbook. Scripture is story and history, and although I can appreciate the serious scholarly approach he had to the subject, I had to slog through it in places.

[Cody Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incisive and inspiring—this is an excellent exposition and application of the Great Commission, and a compelling use and interpretation of Scripture. Gentry uses a covenantal framework to unfold the glory of the Great Commission, showing its depth and breadth to all of life. He makes his case convincingly throughout the concise chapters, and with many footnotes and Scripture citations. This book was an easy joy.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gentry writes on how the great commission has lost its greatness, at least from our perspective anyway. We typically think of the great commission to be synonymous with evangelism, but that is a very truncated understanding of it. The commission entails evangelism, discipleship, baptism, a law, a gospel, a command, and much more. Gentry intertwines this with the postmillennial hope of the future

[Peter Kiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dispensationalist and a postmillenialist come upon a pool, and find that these people are unknowingly swimming in sewage. The dispensationalist says "let's just get these people out of there and leave them be, our priority should be taking them out of the filth." The postmillenialist replies, "Absolutely, let's get the people out of there. But shouldn't we offer them towels and fresh clothing, and while we're at it, clean up the pool?"

Gentry does a fantastic job showing the force of the Great Comission, while putting it into the context of keeping a covenant. Do we truly believe Christ is reigning with all authority on earth? Not only that, but are concerned with making disciples, or converts? Are we teaching everything Christ has commanded? This book is a wonderful look at responsibilities embedded in the command from our Lord. Let us break down the dividing line of the supposedly spiritual and material, because the things we do are spiritual in their very nature. There is no seperation between secular and sacred in the Christian's life. We must seek to glorify and honor Christ as Lord in every endeavor if we are to pay homage to His statement that He is Lord of all. Christ must be a matter in politics, relationships, economics, education, everything. And let us revel in the fact that Christ finishes His command with this, that He is with us until the end. Amen.

[John McCann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jesus said, “When you have done all you are commanded, say to yourself you are an unprofitable servant, doing what was required.” (Luke 17:10) The adjective “great” is used in Scripture for love, faith, “the greatest commandments” and other Scripture, but not for Matthew 28:19-20. The term “Great Commission” is a term of men and has no divine authority.

I am a pre-tribulation, dispensational pre-millennialism. I also believe in predestination, as does Dr. Gentry. I recommend this book. However, Dr. Gentry did not convince me of post-millennialism, which this book supports.

[Aurora Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

In which Gentry advances the eccentric idea that the Great Commission is a dominionist mandate to establish theocratic states

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

So crucial. Your eschatology touches everything you believe. The question "What does Matthew 28:18-20 mean?" is to rephrase another one you've heard before: "What is the meaning of life?".

[Jesus Salgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong and great reminder!

[Mark Christenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful.

[Travis Daggett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated about 95% of what this book had to say, and was excited by its vision of the Christian life and calling. I've been struggling lately with problems that seem to be coming from a very limited view of the call of the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20), focusing almost exclusively on the proclamation of the Bible's message of Christ as the only way to be saved from sin and the wrath of God; while that is true and vitally important, it's not all the Bible has to say, and the other implications and the bigger picture, which this book explains and explores, put that evangelistic work in perspective and give it both a foundation and a frame of reference for its fulfillment that make it much more exciting, natural, and satisfying. Stylistically there were sections that could have used some help; my concern would be that the truth and beauty of the message would be hindered by the places where a somewhat argumentative tone or a slightly obscure tangent detract from the presentation. But overall it was encouraging and helpful, and gave me a lot to think about.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful dose of "cultural mandate" thinking. Though I don't agree with Gentry on all points, this book is certainly a helpful anomaly amongst all the popular Evangelical books being written regarding the commission of the Christian. (Full book review will be coming soon...)

[Felipe Sabino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente!