Changing the World | Pastor Daniel Ethridge | Liberty Live Church

Devotional

Day 1: The gospel must reach every people group

This verse makes clear that the mission is to bring the gospel of the kingdom to every ethnos—every distinct people group, language, and cultural identity—and that the proclamation to all nations is the sign that the work is being completed; as a church we must prioritize identifying the unreached instruments around us and work so that each one finds its song in worship to Jesus. [03:12]

Matthew 24:14 (ESV)
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Reflection: Name one unreached people group you encounter locally (a neighbor, language group, or cultural community). What specific step will you take this week to share the gospel with them or connect them to someone who will (invite to a meal, offer transportation to a service, learn a greeting in their language and start a conversation)?

Day 2: The Spirit empowers us to be global witnesses

Receiving the Holy Spirit is not for private blessing but for public witness; every believer is called to be a witness in their Jerusalem (home), Judea (region), Samaria (neighboring places), and to the ends of the earth—telling the story, not judging the response, and trusting God to work through the faithful testimony of His people. [02:12]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Reflection: Identify one person in your immediate circle and one person from a different cultural background; today, send a specific message to one of them sharing a brief testimony of what Jesus has done for you or invite them to a conversation about Jesus.

Day 3: Make disciples among every nation and people

"All nations" (ethnos) is specific: disciples are to be made among every distinct people group, not merely within political borders; being multi-ethnic and planting campuses among language groups is obedience to the Great Commission—mission begins at home but must extend outward until every people has an opportunity to become disciples. [07:30]

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: Who from a different people group in your workplace or neighborhood could you help follow Jesus this month? Choose one practical disciple-making step you will begin this week (meet weekly for coffee, provide a Bible in their language, connect them with a ministry) and schedule the first meeting or action.

Day 4: Jesus' redemption reaches every tribe and tongue

The vision around the throne shows that Jesus' blood ransomed people from every tribe, language, people, and nation; imagine the unreached as instruments not yet sounding—until each instrument is found and played, the great symphony of worship is incomplete, and God calls His people to bring the gospel where it has not yet been heard. [08:28]

Revelation 5:9 (ESV)
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,"

Reflection: Pick one unreached "instrument"—a people group, language, or community on your heart. What is one concrete thing you will do in the next 30 days to help bring the gospel to that group (give toward a Bible translation, sponsor or support a missionary, pray daily for them, learn a basic greeting)?

Day 5: The kingdom gospel is Jesus' saving work

The gospel of the kingdom centers on what Jesus has done—He has rescued us from darkness and transferred us into His kingdom—so believers are called to proclaim Christ alone as the only Savior, to live as witnesses rather than judges, and to obey immediately when God calls them to go or give for the sake of the nations. [12:14]

Colossians 1:13–14 (ESV)
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Reflection: Identify one platform or moment (a social media account, a family dinner, a workplace conversation) where you typically promote yourself rather than Jesus; today, replace one post or share one brief testimony about what Jesus has done and commit to that action right now.

Sermon Summary

We exist to change lives, communities, and the world for Jesus Christ, and Matthew 24:14 shows why and how. Jesus promised that the gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed to every people group, and then the end will come. So I walked us through the five W’s. Who? Not geopolitical nations, but the ethnos—the distinct peoples and languages of the earth. God’s heart has always been global and specific, from the Great Commission to the song of heaven in Revelation. Over 7,000 people groups remain unreached; like missing instruments in a grand symphony, their parts will one day join the worship of the King.

What do we carry? The gospel of the Kingdom—Jesus Christ is the only Savior and rightful King. We are not judges or lawyers; we are witnesses. We simply tell what we’ve seen Him do. Where? Throughout the whole world—and that begins on our streets. The nations live next door. If they won’t come to us, we will go to them: new campuses, new languages, and a strategic focus on the 10/40 Window where the need is greatest and the workers are few.

When? Obey right away. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Today is the day to say yes. One practical step is generous, sacrificial sending: the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering fully funds missionaries on the field. But our sending cannot be limited to money. Students can study abroad as gospel plants. Retirees can leverage their seasoned years. Military families, builders, business owners—God is calling ordinary people with ordinary skills to serve in extraordinary places.

Why? Because Jesus is coming soon. The signs are clear, and the hour is urgent. Remarkably, we are living in a moment when Scripture may be in every language by 2033. As a church, we’re aligning a seven-year vision to that horizon and are ready to risk, go, and give so that all peoples might hear. Today, trust Christ if you never have. And church, let’s obey—pray, surrender, be sent—until every tribe and tongue joins the song.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s heart: every people group God’s aim is not vague globalism but the concrete inclusion of every distinct people, language, and culture. “All nations” means all ethnos—nobody is invisible to His promise. Heaven’s song already names them; our task is to go find them. Confidence rises because God Himself will see that every people group hears. [05:26]
2. Witnesses proclaim Jesus, not ourselves We are not recruiters for a brand nor lawyers arguing cases; witnesses tell what they’ve seen of Jesus. When we stop preaching ourselves, our lives become a clear window to His mercy and power. Your story—honest, Christ-centered, Spirit-formed—gives the gospel a local address. Courage grows when you remember results are God’s, not yours. [16:57]
3. Go where the need is greatest The 10/40 Window holds most of the unreached, the poorest, and the most persecuted—yet receives the fewest workers and dollars. Love goes where access is hard and fruit seems slow because Jesus is worthy there too. Strategic obedience means focusing resources, partnerships, and people where the gospel is least known. Costly missions is not recklessness; it’s calibrated faithfulness. [23:38]
4. Obey right away, not someday “Someday” sounds respectful but often shelters disobedience. When God speaks, timing is part of the call; delayed obedience reshapes the call into our image. Small yeses today form a life that can say yes to larger assignments tomorrow. Begin with the next faithful step that love requires. [29:19]
5. Live toward Jesus’ near return Urgency without hope exhausts; hope without urgency drifts. The nearness of His return gives us both—a sober clock and a blazing horizon. Invest your life where eternity is at stake and joy cannot be lost. Readiness looks like repentance, generosity, and a willingness to be sent. [42:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:24] - Our mission: for Jesus Christ
[05:26] - Who: Ethnos—every people group
[10:53] - 7,000 unreached: the silent instruments
[11:23] - What: Gospel of the Kingdom
[12:41] - Only one Savior: Jesus
[14:16] - Witnesses who tell the story
[17:07] - Where: From neighborhoods to nations
[22:53] - The 10/40 window urgency
[25:30] - Rethinking who gets sent
[28:12] - When: Obey right away
[30:06] - Lottie Moon and generous sending
[40:42] - Toward every language by 2033
[42:22] - Why: Jesus is coming soon
[44:39] - Respond: Pray, surrender, be sent

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

- Matthew 24:14 (ESV) — "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Observation Questions

What specific meaning does the word translated "all nations" (ethnos) have in this verse, and how does that shape who Jesus intends to reach? [05:26]
In the verse, what is meant by "this gospel of the kingdom"? According to the sermon, which elements make that gospel distinct? [11:23]
Where does the verse say the gospel will be proclaimed, and how did the pastor illustrate that "where" beginning at home and moving outward? [17:07]
How does the closing phrase "and then the end will come" change the tone of the promise (confidence + urgency)? [42:51]

Interpretation Questions

How does defining the mission in terms of ethnos (distinct people groups) change how a church should prioritize its resources and strategies? [05:26]
The sermon insists believers are "witnesses," not judges or lawyers. What does that imply about the role of individual Christians in evangelism and about responsibility for results? [14:16]
The pastor argued for strategic focus on the 10/40 Window because that region has the most unreached and fewest workers. What theological and practical reasons did he give for sending to the hardest places rather than the easiest? [23:38]
The preacher tied the global mission to Jesus’ near return. How should the promise that the gospel will reach every ethnos before the end shape a church’s balance of confidence and urgency? [42:22]

Application Questions

Obey right away: Identify one gospel step you have delayed (an invitation, a call, a short-term trip, giving, a conversation). What exactly will you do this week to obey now rather than "someday"? [29:19]
Neighbor as mission field: Name one neighbor or local household from a different people group you could intentionally build a relationship with. What is one concrete way you will begin this week (invite to coffee, share a meal, offer help, ask about faith)? [18:14]
Witness, not recruiter: Prepare a 60-second, honest witness story that tells what Jesus has done in your life (no argument, just testimony). Who will you share it with in the next seven days? [14:16]
Send and give: The sermon highlighted the Lottie Moon offering and funding missionaries ([30:06]). Will you give to support translators/missionaries this month? If yes, how much and by what date? If no, what is keeping you from giving and how will you address that barrier?
Rethink who can go: Which of your natural gifts, job, season of life, or family situation could be used to reach an unreached people (study abroad, retirement, military assignment, business, trade skills)? What concrete first step will you take to explore that possibility in the next 30 days? [25:30]
Multiply language access: The church plans campuses in other languages and to go where people already speak those languages. Is there a language group near you that you could engage this month (invite, translate resources, learn basics)? What is one immediate action you will take? [22:24]
Align with the vision: The leaders gave a seven-year horizon to 2033 with a large vision gap ([42:22]). Will you commit to pray for this vision, give toward it, or consider being sent? Choose one and describe a specific, measurable step you will take in the next 60 days (example: pray 5 minutes/week, increase giving by $X/month, meet with a missions pastor about going).

Sermon Clips

One day, the people groups of the world will join together to create worship to the king. But today, over 7,000 instruments are not in place. And the conductor cannot take his place and conduct this great orchestra of worship to the king until every single instrument finds its song. 7,000 people groups are unreached for the gospel. And it is our job and responsibility to reach them for Jesus Christ. [00:10:24] (42 seconds) #ReachEveryPeopleGroup

The gospel of the kingdom is all about Jesus Christ. That Jesus Christ came and lived the life that you and I could never live. That Jesus died in our place. Jesus rose again. And Jesus is coming back again for all who believe in him. There is only one Savior. There is only one king. And his name is Jesus. You know, you can say any name and the world will not be offended or angry about it. But you cannot claim that Jesus is the only way. [00:12:30] (32 seconds) #OnlyJesusSaves

``You're not the judge. God is the judge. And you're not the lawyer. That's Jesus. Jesus said he's the great advocate. All you are is a witness. Do you know what the witness is responsible for? Telling your side of the story. You're not responsible for who responds and how they respond. You're not responsible for who gets saved and when they get saved. All you're responsible for is telling the story. Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. [00:14:18] (32 seconds) #BeAWitness

We proclaim all types of gospels all the time. I don't have to hang out with you long to realize what sports team you root for. Hello, somebody. I don't have to be around you long before I realize what food you like to eat. I don't have to be around you long. I certainly don't have to look at your social media long before I realize what political party you're pulling for. What ideology you're pushing. And I just cannot understand why people can be in proximity with the people of God and never know that we're a witness to the God who saved us. [00:14:58] (39 seconds) #LiveTheGospel

We should be able, by the lives that we live and by what we proclaim, to preach Jesus every day of our lives. What we proclaim is not ourselves. It's the gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, it's not just the who. That's every people group. It's not the what. The gospel of Jesus. It's also the where. The where. The verse is so explicit. This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations. [00:16:47] (33 seconds) #ProclaimJesusEveryday

We have to realize that as we're faithful to preach the gospel right where we are, it's a part of reaching the nations of the world. There's a lot of talk about immigration right now in the United States. Too much. And our question as a church is not, where are you from? Our first and primary question is not, how did you get here? We have one great primary question to every immigrant in the United States. And that's, do you know Jesus? Do you know Jesus? [00:19:00] (43 seconds) #DoYouKnowJesus

We are going to the hardest places, to the most unreached places, because we believe that God wants to take the gospel to those who have yet to hear the gospel. To those who have no access to the gospel. And here's the reality. It's the hardest places of the world. It's the most difficult places to get into. Listen to me. I've been praying this all week. I believe some of you are being called to spend your lives in the 1040 window for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. [00:24:57] (31 seconds) #ReachTheUnreached

We've got to change our ideology of what we think a missionary looks like and sounds like, because I really believe a missionary looks like you. Spurgeon said, every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter. So which are you? There is a reality that he is calling us as a church to these places, and I believe he's calling many of you. What skill set, what tool has God given you to get into these places of the world? [00:26:54] (33 seconds) #MissionaryIsYou

This is what I really believe. This is the day. And we are the generation that will see the words of the Scripture and the Gospel of Jesus Christ translated into every single language that's known in the world. Well, right now, you might be unaware that there are 11 translation companies that have teamed together and they have mapped out the remaining people groups of the world and they believe that by 2033, by 2033, the Gospel will be in every single language known to man. [00:40:36] (44 seconds) #GospelInEveryLanguage

Why do it? Why should we do it? Because Jesus Christ is coming again. And Jesus is coming soon. Can't you look at the world and see the signs of His coming? He's close. He's close. And there are still people who need to believe in Him. There are people listening right now this morning and you've never believed in Jesus. Would you trust Him today? [00:42:41] (37 seconds) #JesusIsComingSoon

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