The Church Knows the Great Commission—So Why Aren’t We Doing It? (Guest: Rev. Pete Hurst)

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The Great Commission Today
The Church Knows the Great Commission—So Why Aren’t We Doing It? (Guest: Rev. Pete Hurst)
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In this thoughtful and deeply pastoral conversation, Rev. Pete Hurst—retired Presbyterian minister, businessman, writer, and founder of PeteHurst.com—joins The Great Commission Today to reflect on a lifetime of ministry, vocation, and obedience to Christ’s Great Commission.

Drawing from decades of pastoral service, involvement in the early formation of the PCA, current membership in an OPC church plant, and years of experience in business and real estate, Pete offers a rich, whole-life vision of disciple-making rooted in the authority and presence of Christ. He explores how the Great Commission encompasses not only evangelism and church planting, but also stewardship, work, worldview formation, relational evangelism, and faithful perseverance.

From applying the “whole counsel of God” to money and vocation, to reflecting on William Carey and the birth of modern missions, to urging churches not to delay obedience under the guise of caution, this episode encourages pastors, elders, and ordinary believers alike to expect great things from God while trusting the Holy Spirit to give the growth. Throughout, Pete emphasizes that Christ is with His people, that obedience is not optional, and that God delights to use ordinary faithfulness in extraordinary ways.

Key Moments

0:02 — Introduction: Welcome to The Great Commission Today and the purpose of the podcast.
0:36 — Meet Pete Hurst: Retired Presbyterian minister, businessman, writer, and OPC church planter member.
1:32 — Family & Life Today: Marriage, children, grandchildren, church life, and writing ministry.
2:24 — Church Plant Context: Life in a small OPC church plant in Yorktown, Virginia.
2:45 — Transition from Ministry to Business: Real estate, writing, and Christian worldview engagement.
3:33 — Cruising & Ministry Opportunities: Unexpected gospel opportunities while traveling.
5:18 — Testimony: Growing up in a Christian home and lifelong trust in Christ.
6:37 — Call to Ministry: Early sense of vocation and pastoral calling.
7:04 — Denominational History: Involvement in the early formation of the PCA.
7:52 — Entering the OPC: Joining an OPC church plant after retirement.
8:22 — Warm Ties Between PCA & OPC: Shared history and cooperation.
10:05 — Briarwood & PCA Origins: Early meetings and denominational memory.
11:19 — Influences in Sanctification: Ordinary believers, books, and faithful preaching.
12:18 — Discovering the Reformed Faith: The “God Squad” and formative reading.
13:49 — William Carey Introduced: Reading his biography and missionary legacy.
14:48 — Seeing God at Work Today: Prayer, evangelism, shepherding, and church life.
16:52 — Reading the Great Commission: Matthew 28:16–20.
17:52 — Core Elements of the Commission: Christ’s authority, presence, and commands.
18:59 — Teaching All Christ Commanded: The whole counsel of God applied to life.
20:01 — Worldview & Vocation: Applying Scripture to work, money, and culture.
21:37 — The Danger of Compartmentalization: Knowing truth without living it.
22:39 — The Whole Counsel of God Explained: Biblical teaching beyond “church topics.”
24:27 — Money & the Heart: Wealth, stewardship, and biblical ambition.
26:34 — Westminster Larger Catechism & the Eighth Commandment.
27:35 — Mindset & the Great Commission: Obedience as a given, not an option.
29:07 — Loving Neighbor Through Gospel Witness.
30:08 — Then and Now: Similarities and differences between the early church and today.
31:55 — William Carey’s Struggles: Sacrifice, opposition, and perseverance.
32:45 — Corporate & Individual Responsibility: “Go ye” and life together in the Church.
34:50 — Abiding in Christ: The fuel for personal evangelism.
36:52 — Obstacles to Disciple-Making: Fear, busyness, fatigue, and over-caution.
37:12 — Ordinary Believers & Witness: Not waiting until “fully trained.”
38:27 — Hospitality & Discipline: Planning for faithfulness.
41:33 — Outreach vs. Evangelism: OPC Church Planting Manual distinctions.
44:21 — Why the Church Must Be Visible: Christ’s institution and covenant community.
46:31 — Four Outreach Methods: Advertising, newsletters, public meetings, sermon publishing.
47:36 — Public Worship as Primary Outreach.
49:12 — Relational Evangelism: The irreplaceable role of personal invitation.
50:31 — Ephesians 4 & the Work of the Church.
53:36 — Stewardship & Outreach Budgets: Wisdom over formulas.
55:57 — Lessons from Business: Referral-based growth and relationships.
59:03 — Advertising’s Proper Role: Name recognition, not conversion.
1:00:10 — Jesus’ Relational Ministry: Compassion, presence, and perseverance.
1:01:20 — Responding to Cultural Events: Pastoral responsibility and care.
1:05:48 — Who Was William Carey?: Father of modern missions.
1:06:42 — Carey’s Worldview: Missions, education, social reform, and translation.
1:09:11 — Carey’s Bi-Vocational Labor: Supporting ministry through work.
1:11:23 — Shoemaker to Missionary Scholar.
1:13:10 — Cultural Transformation Through the Gospel.
1:14:55 — “Expect Great Things from God”: Carey’s enduring legacy.
1:17:00 — R.C. Sproul & God’s Unpredictable Work.
1:18:52 — Andrew Fuller & “The Pernicious Effects of Delay.”
1:20:58 — Obedience Without Delay: When the ship must leave the shore.
1:23:35 — OPC & Church Planting: Willingness to step forward in faith.
1:24:52 — Final Exhortation: Christ’s authority, Christ’s presence, and the Spirit’s work.
1:26:22 — Trusting God for the Results: Faithfulness without burden-bearing.
1:27:01 — Closing Encouragement & Where to Find PeteHurst.com.

Organizations & Resources Mentioned in This Episode

  • PeteHurst.com
  • William Carey, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians
  • S. Pearce Carey, William Carey
  • Martin Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers
  • R.C. Sproul

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