Mission Curriculum
While You Are Going... Make Disciples
The New Testament contains eight specific passages which tell us to GO! and spread the Gospel, Matthew 28:18-20 being one of the most well known sections. In addition to those eight verses, or group of verses, which give us a clear missions mandate, there are many, many more verses and stories in the Old and New Testaments which tell us to make God known among the nations so that all the peoples may praise Him. Clearly, missions are not an option for Christians. We are all to be making disciples of all nations wherever God places us.
Children, also, can "declare His glory among all nations" (Psalm 96:3a). In fact, they are often better than adults at being ambassadors for Christ. While You Are Going...Make Disciples, is a curriculum designed to help children see missions as an adventure in which they can have an important part. As they learn how they can make disciples while they are going, they will focus on five ways to make disciples: Listening, Praying, Caring, Telling, and Sending.
During each of the five lessons, the children get to "travel" with Jesus, Elisha, the Good Samaritan, Philip and Paul. They will also have the opportunity to visit five countries and learn more about each one. All this is done through video segments, a travel journal, country stories, recipes, games, songs, and crafts.
Why do children need to learn about missions and ways in which they can help fulfill the Great Commission? The reason is found in the answer to the following question: How many stories are there in the Bible? The answer is "one". That one story begins with the account of creation and ends with the last day when we will stand before the throne of God with "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language" (Revelation 7:9). God's purpose in all that He has done is to have His name glorified among all the nations. He also wants them to know that He was and is the One True God. Missions did not begin with the Great Commission. The whole Old Testament is filled with verses like Psalm 105:1 which says, "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done." The greatest thing God did for us was sending His Son to die on the cross to take away our sins - this is the message we share. As we fulfill the Great Commission, we are fulfilling God's Mission that He set in place from the beginning of time. Children need to know that they can play a vital role in fulfilling both.
My hope is that you will find a desire to share this curriculum with your students. God also mandates you to GO!... "and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:20
Mary Gruell
-- LBT Education and Mission Curriculum Coordinator
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