Kids lesson 2/4-2/10
Dear families,
Today's passage from Matthew 28 is referred to as “The Great Commission.” We see here that the resurrected Jesus purposely brought His eleven disciples together to receive the invitation and instruction they would need to fulfill the Father’s will. God’s overall plan for His creation has always been that they would know Him and lead others to know Him, too.
What was the significance of Christ drawing near to them in this passage? Why does the Lord promise to be with them as He commissions them to teach the good news to others?
Verse 18 tells us that, despite the disciples’ fear and doubt, the Lord chose to draw near to them. His words offered the encouragement and direction they needed to hear. The Word made flesh—Immanuel—draws near to His people, even amid their unworthiness. This is the essence of the gospel message, and it is the good news that sustained the church then and still does today.
Jesus also knew the trials and persecution His disciples would face in the days to come. This is why He promised to never leave or forsake them, even when their situations seemed hopeless, disheartening, or dangerous. No matter what, until the end of the age, the Lord continues to remain near to His people.
Consider how the Great Commission began with Jesus declaring that all authority belongs to Him because He has perfectly completed the Father's plan for salvation, accomplishing what we cannot. Then, reflect on the reality that Christ continues the call to create new disciples: to inform others of how they, too, may respond to this invitation to know Jesus for themselves. Christ—our perfect example, our God-made-flesh—has invited us into His story of redemption so we would guide others to Him as well.
Explain to kids that despite our fear and doubt, Christ extends the Great Commission to us and has given us the authority and power to share the good news with those around us. Our call to know Jesus was never meant to end with us, but to be extended to others.
Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
Babies & Toddlers: Jesus wants us to know and love Him forever.
Younger Preschool: Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead and wants us to know and love Him forever.
Older Preschool: Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead and wants us to know Him, love Him, and live with Him forever.
Kids: Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead and invites us into God’s family forever. God wants us to know Him and to tell others about Him, too.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
Younger Preschool: How do we know God wants us to know Him? We know God wants us to know Him because He shows Himself through the Bible.
Older Preschool: How do we know God wants us to know Him? We know God wants us to know Him because He shows Himself through the Bible.
Kids: How do we know that God wants us to know Him? We can know that God wants us to know Him because He has revealed Himself through His Word.
CATECHISM QUESTION & ANSWER
Preschool: Catechism 56
Question: How does God justify you?
Answer: God forgives and accepts me through Jesus
1ST-5TH: CATECHISM 56
Question: How does God justify you?
Answer: God forgives all my sins and accepts me as righteous through Christ
MEMORY VERSE:Memory Verse: Psalms 32:1-5
"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."
For help memorizing- We suggest the song: “You Forgave Me- Slugs and Bugs"
https://youtu.be/2bQxZK7n_YE?si=z6KbFB4m4qBo23eP
** Next week: God Wants Us to Know Him (Matthew 28)
Today's passage from Matthew 28 is referred to as “The Great Commission.” We see here that the resurrected Jesus purposely brought His eleven disciples together to receive the invitation and instruction they would need to fulfill the Father’s will. God’s overall plan for His creation has always been that they would know Him and lead others to know Him, too.
What was the significance of Christ drawing near to them in this passage? Why does the Lord promise to be with them as He commissions them to teach the good news to others?
Verse 18 tells us that, despite the disciples’ fear and doubt, the Lord chose to draw near to them. His words offered the encouragement and direction they needed to hear. The Word made flesh—Immanuel—draws near to His people, even amid their unworthiness. This is the essence of the gospel message, and it is the good news that sustained the church then and still does today.
Jesus also knew the trials and persecution His disciples would face in the days to come. This is why He promised to never leave or forsake them, even when their situations seemed hopeless, disheartening, or dangerous. No matter what, until the end of the age, the Lord continues to remain near to His people.
Consider how the Great Commission began with Jesus declaring that all authority belongs to Him because He has perfectly completed the Father's plan for salvation, accomplishing what we cannot. Then, reflect on the reality that Christ continues the call to create new disciples: to inform others of how they, too, may respond to this invitation to know Jesus for themselves. Christ—our perfect example, our God-made-flesh—has invited us into His story of redemption so we would guide others to Him as well.
Explain to kids that despite our fear and doubt, Christ extends the Great Commission to us and has given us the authority and power to share the good news with those around us. Our call to know Jesus was never meant to end with us, but to be extended to others.
Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
Babies & Toddlers: Jesus wants us to know and love Him forever.
Younger Preschool: Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead and wants us to know and love Him forever.
Older Preschool: Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead and wants us to know Him, love Him, and live with Him forever.
Kids: Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead and invites us into God’s family forever. God wants us to know Him and to tell others about Him, too.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
Younger Preschool: How do we know God wants us to know Him? We know God wants us to know Him because He shows Himself through the Bible.
Older Preschool: How do we know God wants us to know Him? We know God wants us to know Him because He shows Himself through the Bible.
Kids: How do we know that God wants us to know Him? We can know that God wants us to know Him because He has revealed Himself through His Word.
CATECHISM QUESTION & ANSWER
Preschool: Catechism 56
Question: How does God justify you?
Answer: God forgives and accepts me through Jesus
1ST-5TH: CATECHISM 56
Question: How does God justify you?
Answer: God forgives all my sins and accepts me as righteous through Christ
MEMORY VERSE:Memory Verse: Psalms 32:1-5
"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."
For help memorizing- We suggest the song: “You Forgave Me- Slugs and Bugs"
https://youtu.be/2bQxZK7n_YE?si=z6KbFB4m4qBo23eP
** Next week: God Wants Us to Know Him (Matthew 28)
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