The Great Commission

All Activity Sheets

key words

biblical reference

Acts 1:1-14

lesson objective

That the children learn that the Holy Spirit helps us talk to others about God’s love.

memory verse

“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” (Matthew 28:19, NIV*).

prepare yourself to teach

It is likely that your children have friends or have met people who profess other religions or beliefs. They may have noticed that they go to other churches or that their holidays are different from the ones that Christians celebrate.

Through this lesson, they will understand that it is necessary for them to speak to others about Christ’s love. Help them develop ideas for inviting their friends to church. It is important that they know that God wants to use them to guide others to him.

biblical commentary

Acts 1:1-11. 43 days passed between the crucifixion of Christ and his ascension. During that time, the disciples were expectant and had many doubts in their hearts. The Gospels relate that in the days following the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples at least 11 times.

In the book of Acts, we read about God’s plans for the apostles: to take the gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and “to the ends of the earth” (1:8). Surely, it seemed an impossible task to perform. And, although it was, they could do it through the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would empower all believers to tell the gospel to all the people of the world, regardless of their race.

It is evident that God’s plan is to reach all nations with the message of his love. The apostle Peter tells us in his second letter: “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some count slowness, but he is patient with us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (3:9).

Just as the disciples were given the power to witness, we can also ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with his presence to speak to others about the great love of Christ.

worldwide

If you are able to do this activity, you will need a large world map.

Stick the map on the wall and ask your children to identify some countries. Each one can choose a country. Then, talk to them about the need to take the gospel to other regions of the world.

Ask them: “What can we do to help people in these countries to know Christ? Listen to their answers and use them as an introduction for the next activity.”

teach the lesson

The Great Commission

“He lives, He lives!” the disciples repeated, giving the good news. It was incredible. Some still doubted that it was true, but Jesus was patient. He showed them the marks on his hands where the nails had pierced and the wound in his side. After he spoke to them, he ate and walked with them. And he said to them, “Do not leave Jerusalem; wait for the promise of the Father.”

“A promise? What promise?” asked the disciples. They did not understand what Jesus was saying.

They thought that he was going to have a kingdom here on earth, like the other kings. In addition, they wanted to be an important part of that kingdom.

Jesus tried to explain to them one more time: “You do not know the day or the hour in which it will happen, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Later, Jesus was taken to heaven, and the astonished disciples watched him ascend, until a cloud hid him.

They stayed there, looking towards the sky. They could not believe what their eyes had seen! “What does this mean? Where did he go? How can we be his witnesses?” they asked each other.

While they were still looking toward the sky, two men appeared in white robes standing next to them, and asked them, “Galileans, why are you looking at the sky? This same Jesus, whom they have seen ascend to heaven, will come again in the same way.”

Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem. After a long day on the journey, they arrived at a room on the second floor of a house and stayed there.

Then they prayed, asking God to help them understand the meaning of what Jesus had told them before he had left.

connect the lesson

Acts 1:8

Ask the group to share what they did about Student Activity Sheet #179-B (showing God's love each day of the week).
Turn to Student Activity Sheet #180 and ask, “Do you know anyone who needs to hear the message of Jesus?”

Use the illustrations on the activity sheet to help the children think of people they could talk to about Christ. Allow time for the children to write those names on the lines.

practice the memory verse

Download Additional Memory Verse Activities PDF

Download Suggestions for Bible Memorization PDF

We suggest that you write the text on colored cards, putting some words on each card. Explain that the passage they will learn is known as the “great commission,” and that it was the special work Jesus gave his disciples before going to heaven. Have your children repeat the text several times. Then, give a card to each child, and ask them to line the cards up so that the verse can be read.
Save the cards for the next session.

wrap-up

Pray

Ask the children to think of people they could talk to about Christ. Then lead them in prayer for each one to have opportunity to talk to their family and friends about Christ.

Encourage

Help the children pick up the materials they used. Then end up singing a joyful song.

Invite

Thank the children for having attended, and remind them that in the next session they will continue talking about the “great commission”. Challenge them to invite their friends.

* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™