SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

OVERVIEW

This lesson covers the final moments of Jesus’ life here on earth. Do you think the disciples knew this was the end of the road? Were they ready? Put yourself in their position; would you have been ready? If you had been with the disciples, how would you have responded to Jesus’ final message?

OPENING ACTIVITY:
LIFE MAP

Supplies: paper and writing utensil

Instructions: 

• Ask each participant to think about the five most important events that have happened in their lives.
• Ask each participant to draw a representation on a map of those five events starting with their birth.
• Ask each participant to share (if they are willing) their map with the group.

QUESTIONS

• How difficult was it to define the five most important events in your life?
• Why is perspective important? 
• If you could change one event, what would you replace it with?
• What does a successful life entail?

TRANSITION

Jesus spent three and a half years with His disciples preparing them for a time when He wouldn’t be with Him. Was that enough time? Would His disciples have accomplished more if He had stayed longer? How do Jesus’ final moments compare to other important figures that we look at in the Bible?

BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Read Deuteronomy 34:1-4.

2 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

QUESTIONS

• How long was Moses the leader of the Israelites?
• In what ways was Moses a successful leader?
• In what ways did he make mistakes which affected his ministry?
• How do you think Moses felt when he couldn’t go to the promised land?
   

Read Joshua 24:19-25.

19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”

21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”

22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

"Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.

23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.

QUESTIONS

• How long was Joshua the leader of the Israelites?
• In what ways was Joshua a successful leader?
• In mistakes did he make?
• In what ways was Joshua more or less successful than Moses at getting the Israelites to follow God?

Read 2 Kings 2:9-13.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

QUESTIONS

• In what ways was Elijah a good leader?
• How do you think Elisha felt about seeing Elijah leave?
• What did Elisha mean when he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit being placed on him?

Read Matthew 28:16-20

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

QUESTIONS

• What is the big difference mentioned in the first sentence of this passage?
• Describe why you think some of the disciples had doubt.
• How much authority did Jesus have?
• Why did He mention His authority?
• How would you have felt about Jesus’ last message to you?
• What was Jesus telling His disciples to do?
• How is the farewell between His disciples and the other farewells looked at in today’s lesson similar?

APPLICATION

Jesus is calling His people to rise above the norms of society. In each of the stories we looked at His people were given the opportunity to be witnesses. Some leaders and people were very successful, but others weren’t and turned to the dark side. You have the same choice.

• Do you follow Jesus or not? 
• Do you go and make disciples, or do you remain silent?

No one is attempting to force you, but you must make a choice. Don’t let people or circumstances make the choice for you—it’s your choice.

FOLLOW UP

• Make a list of spiritual (or other) goals you accomplished over the past year.
• Make a list of spiritual (or other) goals you want to accomplish in the next year.
• Pray of over these lists for a week.
• At the end of the week revisit your list for the coming year and make any changes you feel the Holy Spirit is suggesting.

Keep this list handy and look at it throughout the coming year to see what God is going to do in your life.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Matthew 25:31-46

LEADER’S NOTE

For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.

You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.

Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.

Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.

DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT

OVERVIEW

Here we come to the end of the gospel story; here we listen to the last words of Jesus to His men; and in this last meeting Jesus did three things.

• He assured them of His power. Surely nothing was outside the power of Him who had died and conquered death. Now they were the servants of a Master whose authority upon earth and in heaven was beyond all question. Jesus’ statement “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” is a declaration of the ultimate victory of Christ. He now uses His Father’s investiture of authority. The word for “authority” is exousia, meaning Divine authorization. “Go therefore,” under this authority, is really saying, “Therefore, while going in the world, make disciples.” In other words, you make it happen with what I have given to you! The emphasis in verse 19 is on “making disciples,” this being the main verb of the verse; the others are subordinate: going, baptizing, teaching.

• He gave them a commission. He sent them out to make all the world His disciples. The commission of Jesus is to win all people for Himself. The commission is to teach the believers or new disciples “To observe all things whatever I have commanded you.” This statement is directly related to the content of Jesus’ ministry. Salvation is not simply a holier-than-thou experience of assurance that we are “justified by faith,” or “forgiven,” or “saved,” but is the assurance of a saving relationship with Christ whom we confess as Lord and serve as Lord by following His teachings. This is a righteousness of relationship, a new life in which we walk with Christ (Philippians 3:9).

• He promised them a presence. It must have been a staggering thing for eleven humble Galileans to be sent forth to the conquest of the world. Even as they heard it, their hearts must have failed them. But no sooner was the command given, than the promise followed. They were sent out—as we are—on the greatest task in history, but with them there was the greatest presence in the world. Matthew concludes the book with a most remarkable promise that Jesus would be with the disciples in the Spirit whom He would send from the Father, “until the consummation of the present age.” This is the ultimate assurance for the disciple, the mission of Christ; He is with us.
   

“Make it Happen!”

When have you felt very confident in your power to do something? What was that feeling like?

Read Matthew 28:16-20.

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

1.  When Jesus’ disciples saw Him what did some of them do?

1.   They ran because He was too holy for them.
2.   They offered a strong rebuke to Him and stoned Him.
3.   They gave Him shouts of adoration and praise.
4.   The disciples broke out in wild dancing.
5.   Some worshipped but some doubted (Matthew 28:16-17).
6.    They tried to kill him again.
7.   They ran to Pilate and took money as they turned Him in.
8.   They took some of His teachings and meditated upon them.
9.   They asked the little children to come and be blessed by Him.
10.   Other.

2.  What were Jesus’ first words to them?

1. “Have you no faith?”
2. “All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
3. “Give them something to eat.”
4. “Father, forgive them because they know not what they are doing.”
5. “One of you can sit to my right and the other to my left.”
6. “Many are called but few are chosen.”
7. “Why did you doubt my power?”
8. “You all are utter failures.”
9. Other.

3.  What was the first command Jesus gave His disciples?

1. “Stop being so soft.”
2. “Give half of what you have to the poor.”
3. “Go, make disciples of all people (Matthew 28:19).”
4. “Tell the people come to me.”
5. “We will all now use crypto currencies worldwide.”
6. “We fight our enemies until they are no more.”
7. “Seek me with all your heart.”
8. “Pray, that you do not enter into temptation.”
9. Other.

4.  What did Jesus commission His disciples to do?

1. To offer a set of new commands to all the people of the world.
2. To use their power to become the world’s biggest celebrities.
3. To baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
4. To add more food to the rations of the poor.
5. To get into the woods and offer wilderness survival classes.
6. To teach everyone all the things He has taught them.
7. To offer virtual reality lessons to all children.
8. Other.

5.  What was Jesus’ great promise to them all?

1. “I will be with you forever, even to the very end.”
2. “You will always have celebrity status.”
3. “The Holy Spirit will give you all the power you need.”
4. “I will give superpowers to the youth of this generation.”
5. “I am going to come back to take you where I am!”
6. “When you are converted, then I will send the Holy Spirit.”
7. “Tell everyone who will listen that they have hope in me.”
8. “Each of you will make it to the finals of American Idol.”
9. Other.

6.  The disciples that did not believe, what did they do?

1. They shook the dust off their feet and walked away.
2. They got together and ate a meal of remembrance.
3. They doubted it was Jesus.
4. They got together to discuss Judas’ unbelief.
5. They threw stones at Jesus.
6. They ran away and fell over a cliff.
7. Those disciples gave a history lesson to all who came to them.
8. They prohibited the people from entering the kingdom of heaven.
9. Other.

7.  Is your worship of Jesus from your own personal experience? Is it real?

8.  What are you doing with the power that Jesus has given to you?

SUMMARY

Jesus’ final words to His disciples is a divine summary of the evangelistic task of the church. It causes us to interface with the reality of bringing those who identify with the world into a new identification. It helps them see themselves anew as citizens of God’s kingdom, as children of God, as brothers and sisters of the Messiah, and as brothers and sisters with the rest of the family of believers. Our mission is to bring people to a point where they see themselves differently, because they have become different through the transforming work of God’s grace.

APPLICATION

If we sum up the entire passage that is the tent for this lesson, Matthew 28:18–20, I think it comes down to this—Jesus is saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore, make disciples of all the nations; and surely, I am with you always, to the end of this world.”

Below, find some application activities to reinforce this lesson. These are simply to provide ideas for your usage, or to invite you to imagine and create some of your own, as you impact the lives of teens for God’s glory.

1. Missionary Mimic

• Talk with a trusted person (youth pastor, senior pastor, personal ministries leader, or someone who has been on mission trips) in your church, who likes to go out and do mission work. 
• Ask them about their desire, ability, and means of doing this work. Ask about what a day in their life as a mission worker would look like.
• Ask them to share with you tips on how to talk with someone about Jesus. Also ask them if you could mimic them for a day.
• Take notes and share it with your class.

2. Go—In Your Own Town!

• There are lots of people in your town who need the help of missionaries.
• Look online (a simple Google search) and find projects that you can do as a class to share in the gospel commission.
• Select one project that most agree on. 
• Go and do it and offer time at the end for sharing about the things encountered and how it touched your life in the context of Matthew 28:16-20.

3. Go Game Maker

• Looking at the first word in the Matthew 28:19—"Go!”—come together and create “Go Games” for your group to play.
• If your group is large, then you can divide into smaller groups and create several “Go Games.” 
• Focus on the word “Go” and get creative coming up with different ways to share Jesus through play.
• Make sure you use the text Matthew 28:16-20 as the basis for your game content.
• Give time for your group to play these games and give feedback. (You can even share them with other classes, or churches in your area.)