The Greatest Project in History

God is in control. History is really His Story. If His plan was put into business project management terms, it would look something like this:

Project Title: The Great Commission (part of a larger program, Redemption of the Earth).

Project Sponsor: God, the Father.

Project Manager: Jesus, the Son.

Sponsor's Grant of Authority to the Project Manager:

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom." (Hebrews 2:8)

Project Stakeholders: The Triune God and the Human Race.

Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

One of these three conflicting objectives must be given higher priority over the others > Scope, Time, or Cost.

Project Driver: Scope takes precedence over Time and Cost.

The project scope will be accomplished, given an unspecified time allotment.

This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Mark 13:32)

Status: We’re 2000 years into the project, and it’s right on schedule.

Completing the project will not be hindered by cost:

Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)
If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. (John 15:20)

The project, however, is a cost-plus contract, fully reimbursable and then some!

Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (II Corinthians 4:17)

The Project Manager has promised unlimited resources!

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem (locally), and in all Judea and Samaria (regionally), and to the ends of the earth (globally). (Acts 1:8)
I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

The Project Deliverables:

Christ will make the Church holy, cleansing it by the washing with water through the word, and will present it to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:26-27)
A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. (I Peter 2:9)
Men and women purchased for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, a kingdom and priests to serve God and reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10)

More Deliverables to be provided from the larger Program (Redemption of the Earth):

A new heaven and a new earth. (Revelation 21:1)
The creation liberated from bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)
A Holy City, the new Jerusalem, come down out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:2)