Breaking Barriers, Doing Greater Works: Pastor Mensa Otabil’s Powerful Call to a Global Church

Introduction
At the heart of Greater Works 2025 Morning Session (Day 4), Pastor Mensa Otabil delivered a profound continuation of his theme on Doing Greater Works.

Drawing from John 14:12 and Acts 2, he emphasized that the “greater” Jesus spoke of is not a comparison in quality, but a call to amplify, expand, and proclaim His work to a broader world.

“The word greater means louder,” Pastor Otabil clarified, “you will amplify it. You will shout it out. You will make it louder.”

Key Highlights of the Sermon

1. The Power of Amplified Mission

Pastor Otabil began by revisiting John 14:12, emphasizing that believers are to amplify Jesus’ works because He has gone to the Father. The call is not about surpassing Jesus in miracles, but in spreading His message globally. “You’re going to amplify what I have started doing,” he said. “What I have done, you will take it to a higher level.”

2. The Miracle of Communication at Pentecost

Focusing on Acts 2, Pastor Otabil unpacked the significance of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring being marked by a miracle of languages, not healing or raising the dead. This, he argued, symbolized God’s intent for the gospel to break language and cultural barriers. “The Holy Spirit does not inspire us to speak to ourselves. He inspires us to speak to the world.”

3. Speaking the Language of the World

Using powerful analogies, Pastor Otabil explained that doing greater works requires speaking the language of every world we’re sent to—legal, scientific, artistic, or academic. “If I’m speaking to a scientist, I must be able to communicate the Spirit in a way the scientist understands.”

4. Three Strategic Tools for Greater Impact

• Word: “Christianity is based on the word of God,” he said, but warned that understanding the Bible requires overcoming the 2,000-4,000 year cultural gap. Pastors must move beyond devotional reading to theological depth to present truth in today’s context.
• Prayer: “Prayer is diverse,” he noted. “Many charismatics only know noisy prayer,” but he challenged the church to embrace quiet meditation and spiritual listening, expanding the understanding of communion with God.
• Liturgy: Worship styles must be adaptable to different cultures. “Church liturgy is how we take service to God to every culture,” he said, highlighting the example of early missionaries who learned local languages and contextualized the gospel.

5. A Call to Global Thinking

Pastor Otabil boldly challenged the African church, declaring, “We are not exporting an African revival. We are exporting a Jesus revival.” He warned that using African languages and formats in foreign lands without adaptation limits the gospel’s reach. “We must speak the language of the people God has sent us to,” he urged. “This is what it means to do greater works.”

Conclusion

Pastor Otabil’s message was more than a sermon—it was a prophetic charge to the global church. The work of Christ must be louder, broader, and more adaptable to every tongue and tribe. To truly do greater works, we must transcend familiarity and carry the gospel into every world with clarity, relevance, and power.

Join the LOB Family
Be part of this global movement of doing greater works! Follow the Living Our Bible blog and join our WhatsApp channel for daily teachings, sermon insights, and spiritual empowerment. Let’s speak the language of this generation—and change the world with Jesus.