Whose kingdom are we building? God's? Or our own?

Many churches in America today want to be powerful, relevant, and influential in personal and social transformation. A plethora of programs for outreach, discipleship, and spiritual disciplines are available at any bookstore and on countless websites. Yet what we need most is a renewed understanding of and commitment to the Great Commission.

At a time when churches are zealously engaged in creating mission statements and strategic plans, Michael Horton argues that we must ask ourselves anew whether we are ambassadors following the script we've been given, or building our own kingdoms with our own blueprint.

Pastors and church leaders will value this frank and hopeful next-step exploration of the Great Commission as a call to renewed understanding and good practice.

"The best book I've ever read on the Great Commission. Mike demonstrates that no matter how hard we try or how 'radical' we get, any engine smaller than the gospel that we depend on for power to do what God has called us to do--most importantly, the Great Commission--will conk out."--Tullian Tchividjian, senior pastor, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church; author, Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels

"Horton calls us to recover a biblical understanding of mission and restore its centrality in the life of the church. The Gospel Commission is filled with both penetrating analysis and pastoral guidance, and I recommend it enthusiastically."--Doug Birdsall, chair, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization