The Great Commission - Bible Lessons for Kids
There are many fun and engaging ways to teach the story of the Great Commission to kids. In Matthew 28:16–20, Jesus commands His followers to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey His ways. Whether through crafts, hands-on activities, or printable lesson plans, there are some fabulous ways to help children understand what it means to share God’s love and follow Jesus’ instructions. These ideas are perfect for Sunday school, Christian classrooms, or homeschool Bible lessons.
the STORY OF THE GREAT COMMISSION
The Great Commission can be found in Matthew 28:16-20. After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to many people and continued to teach and give final instructions. “The Great Commission” was the story of when He met His disciples on a mountain to give them instructions. He told them to go into all the world, make disciples in all nations, baptize people, and teach them to obey everything Jesus had taught them during His time on earth. Jesus promised to be with them to the end of the age.
The Great Commission Bible Lessons for Kids
Are you looking for an engaging way to teach kids about the story of the Great Commission? Be sure to check out our scripted lesson plans with printable crafts, activities, and discussion questions.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE GREAT COMMISSION
A commission is a special assignment given to someone. The Great Commission is a really important job that Jesus gave His disciples: to tell the whole world about Him.
It can sometimes be scary to tell people about Jesus, but God wants us to share the Good News of Jesus, and we can't share Jesus by accident. We have to make a conscious choice to do it with both our words and actions. When we show love and kindness to people, they will notice we are different, and they might ask us questions. This is a great opportunity to tell them that we show love and kindness so we can be like Jesus.
Tell the world bible craft for kids
To help them remember that God wants us to tell everyone about Jesus, kids will create a fun “Tell the World” craft. Children will decorate the earth and then attach the arms and message that says, “I can tell everyone about Jesus.” The finished craft serves as a simple reminder that the good news of Jesus is meant to be shared with people everywhere. As kids assemble their earth, talk about how the whole world belongs to God and how He wants people in every country and community to know His love.
A version for bigger kids, and another for little learners…
Older kids will enjoy using a paint-by-number version from The Great Commission for Older Kids to paint the earth with blue water and green land. This craft helps reinforce the idea that Jesus’ command to share the gospel extends far beyond our own homes and churches. As they carefully paint each section, encourage them to think about the many people around the world who need to hear about Jesus and how God can use ordinary people to share His message.
Because painting can become messy with larger groups of preschoolers, younger children will color the earth instead. Their version can be found in The Great Commission for Preschool. Coloring is easier for little hands, while still helping them engage with the lesson. As they color the land and water, talk about how God made the whole world and loves every person in it.
Jesus wants us to tell the world about Him. As kids make their craft, encourage them to think about people they can tell the Good News of Jesus to. Remind them that sharing Jesus does not always mean standing in front of a crowd. It can be as simple as showing kindness, inviting someone to church, telling a Bible story, or letting someone know that Jesus loves them. The finished craft can be displayed at home as a reminder that every child can be part of sharing the good news.
OTHER CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE GREAT COMMISSION
Spread the News Relay Race: Have kids spread out around the room. One kid runs up to another and says, “Jesus loves you!” Then that kid runs to another kid to spread the message, until everyone has heard it: “Jesus loves you!” Challenge kids to do this as fast as possible.
Milk and Food Coloring Object Lesson: Use some simple supplies like food coloring, milk, dish soap, and cooking oil to create an object lesson about the Great Commission. Follow these instructions for the object lesson from Mission Bible Class.
Red Light/Green Light: This simple game can be easily connected to the Great Commission. Jesus wants us to GO into all the world! If you’re not sure how to play and would like some simple rules, check out the rules for Red Light/Green Light from Playworks.
Earth Crafts: There are some cute Earth crafts to remind kids that Jesus wants us to tell everyone about Him. Check out this Crumpled Paper Earth from Little Ladoo and this Paper Plate Earth from The Simple Parent. (Yes, this is an Earth Day craft, but it can easily get repurposed to the Great Commission because Jesus calls us to share His love with everyone on Earth.)
YOUTUBE VIDEOS ABOUT THE GREAT COMMISSION
YouTube can be a great resource for teaching kids about the Bible, but it’s important to preview all videos for content and ensure they are age-appropriate. Here are some suggestions for teaching about the Great Commission:
WANT TO CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESUS?
This lesson is part of an eight-week series on the life of Jesus. Other lessons in this series include Jesus Calls His Disciples, Jesus Tempted in the Desert, Jesus the Good Shepherd, Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet, Let the Little Children Come to Me, Zacchaeus, and The Transfiguration.
For more Life of Jesus Bible Lessons, check out:
