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God’s Mission �for the Church

Month 9| week 4: CONNECT

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WELCOME!

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Hold Your Applause

Let’s Play!

Icebreaker Game: Hold Your Applause

Materials Needed: Small objects such as ping pong balls, rolled up socks or etc. (one for every two students)

Game Preparation: Ensure that your room has ample space for movement with this game. This may require you to move tables or chairs around before the game starts.

Ask students to find a partner and spread out around the room. Once every student has a partner, give each pair of students (a team) the object you’ve chosen for them to toss. Explain how they will be tossing the object back and forth, but the student who is catching must clap however many times the Game Expert chooses BEFORE they actually catch the object. If the student drops the object, their team is out of the game.

To make things even more challenging, the Game Expert can change the number of claps at any point in the game. The last team remaining is the winner. Repeat the game as time allows.

***Hint: Start with a small number of claps and build up as the game progresses.

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What is your mission?

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Digging deeper

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What are some of the plans you have for the summer?

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Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Matthew 28:16-20a

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:16-20a)

This is what is known as The Great Commission. Jesus speaks to his closest followers and shares what will happen with them after he is gone. All that they had done up until this point prepared them for what Jesus was calling them to step into next. They were to go and spread the Good News wherever they went and with whomever they met.

Let me remind you that it wasn’t easy to go around and share about Jesus to everyone they met. In this time, people could be greatly persecuted or killed for saying the wrong thing. The disciples probably felt a mix of fear, excitement, and doubt in their ability to accomplish the task.

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“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20b

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)

Jesus answers all their fears with an assurance that he would always be with them. It is through the gift of the Spirit that Jesus promises he will be with them every step of the way to guide and empower them. They couldn't accomplish this task alone. They needed the power of the Holy Spirit and each other to fulfill this calling in the world.

His promise to his followers is true for each of us today as he instructs us to go out and share the news of his Kingdom. This purpose or assignment is not just for the next three months of summer but for our lives as believers. In order for all the people of the world to know of Jesus, we must encourage one another in this task.

This year, we have been a community of faith for one another as we have heard the truth, matured in our faith, and shared our ups and downs as the body of Christ. Having people to encourage your faith, pray for your concerns, and inspire you in outreach is crucial to each of us as we do our part in collaborating to see God’s Kingdom advance.

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So what…

How do some of Jesus’ final words to his followers impact my summer and even my life?

Tool time

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For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:4-8

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What is your unique contribution within your Christian community?

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Key idea

God has given us spiritual gifts to live our lives on mission for him everywhere and with everyone.

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Let’s pray

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Thanks

See you next time!