by Dave Rudolph, Managing Director Biblical Ministries Worldwide South Africa
Here’s a simple Bible trivia question: do you know which is the shortest Psalm? Psalm 117 holds that distinction, which calls on all believers to praise the Lord for His steadfast love. Not far behind it is Psalm 133—just three verses long—but packed with meaning. It begins with a beautiful declaration:
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!”
Psalm 133 is a Song of Ascents, sung by worshipers as they travelled up to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. Imagine the scene: families walking dusty roads together, tribes converging from different regions, voices rising in shared anticipation of worship. And as they went, they sang about unity—about the goodness and beauty of God’s people dwelling together as one.
That theme of unity lies at the very heart of God’s mission.
This article grows out of a broader series on the Mission of God. Over the course of that journey, we have considered many aspects of the church’s responsibility to take the gospel to the nations. Again and again, one theme keeps rising to the surface: unity. The Scriptures consistently connect the effectiveness of the church’s witness with the unity of its people.
And that unity is not merely organisational or strategic. It is theological. It flows from who God is.
The Unity for Which Jesus Prayed
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed a prayer recorded in John 17. Among His requests to the Father, one stands out:
“Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:11)
Jesus did not pray merely that His followers would cooperate efficiently. He prayed that they would share in and enjoy a unity patterned after the unity of the Godhead itself.
That is astonishing!
The unity between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—perfect harmony, shared purpose, undivided will—becomes the model for the unity of the church. And that unity is not an optional extra. Without it, we cannot faithfully carry out the Great Commission.
When Jesus later promised power in Acts 1:8—“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”—He was not describing raw human ability multiplied by teamwork. He was describing divine power that comes directly from God and is accessed through the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. Everyone who has trusted in Christ for salvation has personally experienced God’s power and has daily access to this power. It comes from above, and operates within. And so there is a link between the unity within the Godhead and the provision of unity within the church. The power that advances the gospel is not human energy pooled together; it is the activity of the triune God working through a unified people.
To understand this more deeply, we must look at God Himself.
Unity Is an Attribute of God
When we speak of the attributes of God, we are asking: Who is He? What is He like? What kind of God is He? An attribute of God is a quality that is true of Him and His character. And while we can never fully comprehend who God is, He does make Himself known in a variety of ways through His word and in His creation.
Scripture reveals that God is infinite, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, just, loving, faithful, sovereign, merciful—and so much more. He is utterly unique and without comparison. Mere words simply cannot do justice in describing Him.
Among these attributes is unity.
The Bible insists that God is one. Deuteronomy 6:4 declares, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” James 2:19 affirms the same truth in the New Testament: “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
At the same time, Scripture teaches that this one God exists eternally in three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each is fully God. Each is distinct. Yet they are not three gods, but one God.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His disciples to baptise “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Notice the singular “name.” One name. One being. Yet three Persons are clearly identified. He is reinforcing the unified role of all three persons operating together as one unified being in equipping the church for the Mission of God. God, the three in one, is the epicentre of the missionary enterprise.
The doctrine of the Trinity stretches our understanding. We accept it not because we can fully comprehend it, but because Scripture reveals it. And once we grasp—even dimly—that God is three distinct persons who often operate independently of one another, and yet remain connected and unified as one being, something remarkable becomes clear: unity is not merely something God demands. It is who He is.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always function in perfect harmony. Each Person carries out His role without competition, without conflict, without confusion. The Trinity not only reveals who God is, but it also reveals how He works.
And that has profound implications for the church.
The Mission of God Is Trinitarian
The call for unity among God’s people is an appropriate and beautiful reflection of the divine harmony in the Godhead, and such unity is essential for the effective advancement of His mission in taking the Gospel everywhere.
Evangelism and mission are not projects the church undertakes in its own strength. They are not human initiatives fueled by enthusiasm alone.
They are the outworking of the triune God’s eternal purpose. Each Person of the Trinity plays a distinct role in guiding and equipping the Church to spread the gospel and make disciples of all nations.
Simply stated:
- The Father encourages and sends.
- The Son redeems and authorises.
- The Spirit empowers and abides.
Together, all three persons of the Trinity construct the foundation for the Church’s mission by powerfully enabling evangelism, discipleship, and biblical teaching.
Let us consider each role of the Godhead.
Encouraged by the Father’s Generosity
For the Mission of God to make complete sense, every Christian needs to grasp the extent of God the Father’s generosity towards the hopeless plight of fallen humanity. The mission begins in His heart.
Before there was a cross, before there was a church, before there was a Great Commission, there was the generous love of God. The Father is the source and initiator of the divine plan. His generosity is seen in creation, in daily provision, and supremely in the gift of salvation.
John 20:21 records Jesus saying, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” The sending nature of God the Father becomes the sending mandate of the church.
The Father sent the Son. The Son sends the church.
Why? Because God desires that all people come to repentance. First Timothy 2:3–4 declares that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” His heart is not reluctant; it is generous. He moves toward sinners in mercy.
When the church truly grasps the costliness of the Father’s gift—when we consider that He did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us—mission ceases to feel like an obligation and begins to feel like a privilege. Why would we not want to represent such a generous God?
The Father’s generosity should compel us outward. We become ambassadors of His kindness. We reflect His heart when we carry the gospel to the nations.
Energised by the Son’s Redemption
If the Father initiates the mission, the Son stands at its centre.
The mission of the church is about Jesus—His incarnation, His life, His atoning death, His resurrection, and His promised return. He is both the message we proclaim and the model we follow.
In Matthew 28:18–19, Jesus declares, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” The command to go and make disciples rests on His absolute authority as the risen Christ. And it implies an ongoing participation in His mission—for the rest of our days on earth.
Disciple-making is not a casual endeavour. It requires surrender—to deny selfish ambition, to submit to Christ’s authority, and to live in an ongoing relationship with Him. There are no half-measures in God’s mission.
Yet we do not go alone. Jesus promises, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” His presence accompanies His command.
The church proclaims Christ crucified and risen. We baptise in His name. We teach obedience to His Word. And as we do, we reflect the self-sacrificing love that secured our redemption.
The Son energises the mission not only by giving us a message, but by redeeming us into a people who live for His glory.
Empowered by the Spirit’s Presence
Without the work of the Holy Spirit, the Church’s efforts in evangelism would be powerless—there would be no genuine spiritual transformation. And it is the Holy Spirit who equips, enables, and empowers believers to be bold in their proclamation of the gospel.
Acts 1:8 promises that power comes when the Spirit descends. John 16:7–8 explains that the Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Acts 13:2–3 shows the Spirit directing missionary sending, calling Barnabas and Saul to their work.
The Spirit is not passive. He convicts hearts, regenerates souls, produces spiritual fruit, distributes gifts, and guides the church into effective mission. No amount of strategy can substitute for His work. No eloquence can produce spiritual life. Transformation is a miracle of grace.
When we share the gospel, we participate in a divine partnership. The Spirit opens hearts. The Spirit applies the redemptive work of Christ. The Spirit indwells and empowers every believer. The Church is fully reliant upon the Spirit’s guidance and power to carry out its mission effectively.
The Church Must Reflect Trinitarian Unity
Ephesians 4:4–6 declares, “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” Paul grounds church unity in the very being of God. As the church engages in God’s mission, it is privileged to participate in the eternal work of the triune God by proclaiming the gospel and by making disciples of all nations.
Just as the Trinity works in perfect harmony, so the church must work in unity. Mission is not an individual pursuit. It is a collective effort—one body under one Lord, empowered by one Spirit, for the glory of one Father. Division weakens witness. Unity amplifies it.
When the world sees believers loving one another, serving together, and proclaiming Christ in harmony, it sees a reflection—however imperfect—of the unity within the Godhead.
Personal Questions
All of this theology leads to very practical questions.
How are you doing in your service for the Lord? Are you finding encouragement in the generosity of the Father? Are you energised by the redemption you have in Christ? Are you experiencing the power of the Spirit as you walk in step with Him?
Have you discovered how God has gifted you to serve? Have you found ways to use those gifts and talents in your local church? Are you faithful in the small things—at home, at school, at work, in your neighbourhood?
Jesus said in Luke 16:10, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.” Faithfulness where you are today may be preparation for greater responsibility tomorrow.
The mission field is not only across oceans. It is across the street. It is at your workplace. It is in your classroom. And perhaps, for some, it will one day be among the nations. Be faithful where you’re at.
A Prayer for Mozambique
As we think about missions and the call to go to the nations, consider Mozambique—a neighboring country with a population of roughly 32 million people. While a majority identify as Christian, only a small percentage are estimated to be evangelical believers. The Joshua Project estimates that as much as 30% are yet unreached with the gospel.
Mozambique’s history includes centuries of colonial rule, years of civil war, and ongoing tensions in certain regions. Yet the opportunities for gospel ministry are undeniable.
Join us in praying that God will raise up South African missionaries to go, that faithful churches will be planted, and that the unity and power of the triune God will be displayed in that land. When we engage in mission, we are participating in the eternal work of the triune God. We reflect His unity, His love, and His power as we proclaim the gospel and make disciples of all nations.
We invite you to follow Biblical Ministries Worldwide South Africa on Instagram and Facebook. Please like and share our posts and help us get the word out! And if you are considering whether missions may be where God is calling you, contact us. We’d love to get to know you and start the conversation!
