Elevate Sunday Follow Up - Lesson 40

Dear Parents,

In this week’s lesson, we focused on the Great Commission that Jesus gave the disciples when He appeared to them after the resurrection. Students looked at Jesus’ call to share the Gospel with the world, and the promise that the Holy Spirit empowers them to be Christ’s messengers of the Gospel.

These were some of the last words that Jesus spoke before He ascended into Heaven. Together, we looked at the fact that this command was given not only to the disciples, but to us as well. Jesus made it clear that even His followers who did not see Him in the flesh would share in the blessing of carrying His good news to a lost and dying world. The best part? He also promised that we would not do it alone! The Holy Spirit empowers and equips believers to continue the work of Christ until He returns.

We looked at the following Scripture passages:

·         John 20:19-29

·         Acts 1:1-11

·         Matthew 28:18-20

Next Steps . . .

As a part of our discussion, students were encouraged to think about how our church works to fulfill the Great Commission. But, perhaps even more important, we encouraged them to think about how they personally are being used by the Spirit to make disciples.

Perhaps you can encourage your child by telling them how you have seen the Holy Spirit work in them to reach others. Are they especially friendly, compassionate, or discerning? It can be very encouraging to point out when you see God using someone to influence others toward Him. Not there yet? That’s okay, pray for God to show your child how they can be used by Him, and how you can model that for them in your own lifestyle of disciple making.

Consider asking your child the following:

·         What would it look like if our family were a Great Commission family?

·         How can we do a better job of making disciples and teaching God’s commands in our circle of influence?

This is a big task and that is why Jesus assigned it to all believers. It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit empowers us to do this, but it is also encouraging to know that we are all in this together. Let us know how we can help equip your family to be a Great Commission family!