Kids Camp Session 4- Matthew 28:16-20

1 Peter 2:21 “For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

Tonight we have an opportunity to walk into the very calling that Jesus gave to the disciples. When we go home and we leave camp, what will come of you? Will you be obedient (listen) or will you be disobedient (not listen)?

Session 1: I can follow Jesus because His plan is best for me

Session 2: I can trust Jesus even when it’s scary

Session 3: I need to listen to Jesus to know how to follow Him

and finally our last session AWEEEEE

Session 4: I am to follow Jesus every day helping others know Him.

The first two sessions, we answered the question WHY? Why can I follow Jesus—> You can follow Jesus because His plan is the best for us and even when it’s scary, He is there, He doesn’t leave.

and in the last two sessions we answer the question HOW? How do I follow Jesus? —> I listen to His voice (read the bible, pray, sing praise to Him, to put it simply: You have a relationship with Jesus and lastly following Jesus involves a task that never ends. Bringing others to know Jesus more.

Let’s explore that task and what it looks like to follow in His footsteps:

Matthew 28:16–20 CSB

16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus Hold All Authority (So we should listen)

looking at v.16 we see that there were 11 disciples traveling to Galilee. They were to travel to this mountain where Jesus had directed them.

Would they have ever arrived to the mountain that Jesus called them to if they were not listening? No… they wouldn’t know where to go, how to get there, what to bring, etc.

Now we understand this story to be the end of Jesus’ ministry on Earth, so with that being said, Why did the disciples trust Jesus in the first place? Like why did they go where He directed them?

Well the answer is exactly what we have learned this far: They have seen this man do miracles, they have seen Him do GREAT things, they have been invited to do great things with Jesus, Jesus didn’t leave them, He always provided, He rose from the dead, etc.

What the disciples learned about Jesus is that He holds all authority; all of the power to something. We see Jesus use authority when he tells Satan to get behind Him when Peter tried to tell Him that was not going to die or we saw authority over death on the day that the tomb was rolled away and the place where Jesus’ body laid was no longer there.

The disciples had the privilege to learn and watch Jesus use His authority to sanctify his followers. They submitted to Jesus’ authority/power and were a product of it.

Something interesting pops up in verse 16 and it is this “When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted.” Some wavered in their faith… People who saw the same things: all of the miracles, all of the great things, and still some hesitated… “YOU OF LITTLE FAITH”

Are you hesitating following Christ or giving your life to Him? Just as the disiciples, you and I can quote off all of the GREAT things He has done, but do you have FAITH?

V.18 —> Jesus confirms to his disciples that He does have all of the authority on heaven and earth.

2. Jesus Leads Us to Mission

Look at verse 19 —> Jesus left heaven and came to earth to show us God’s love and save us (remember HE HAS BEEN THE PLAN to reverse the curse) He shows us that His mission was not just for himself, but it is also for us to experience it with Him. He shows us what missions involves.

Missions means that we think of how we can share Jesus and His teachings with those who need to know Him. Missions can include all the ways we do things so that others can come to know Jesus and learn to follow Him.

Jesus says in v. 19 “Go and make disciples of all nation.” This means we MUST be intentional— we must do it on purpose— helping others to know how to follow Jesus.

What does it mean to be a disciple? to be a learner/ to observe: one who learns from another. We as followers of Jesus are called to teach others how to follow Jesus faithfully (Which sometimes is a hard task because its sinners leading sinners) In doing this, you get to participate in the very work that these disciples participated in. “The Great Commission” everyone say

The Great Commission

My church quotes this every sunday to remind ourselves what exactly we as the church are called to. So if we are not going and making disciples, we are failing as a church and as a follower.

3. Jesus wants you to be a part of His Great Commission

Yes, even in your young age, God can and will use YOU. You can do BIG things for God, if you are faithful. He wants you to remember that He calls us to a life that He already lived. We have the perfect example of what it means to follow Christ. We have sinner examples as well in the life of David, Paul, Peter, John, Job, etc. -> Do you know what all of these people had in common?

They all faithfully believed in God, not in themselves, and we see that God used every single one of them. Why, because God wanted them to be a part of His mission.

Christ wants you to pray, to help, to serve, and to tell others about Him. He wants you to see opportunities He puts you in for His glory and for our good. To grow us. To teach us. To love us. In doing that we begin to want to tell others about this man named Jesus and how he is the reason we do what we do.

He wants you to be a friend who cares and shares the gift that was shared with you.

Hit on the end of V.20

Jesus wants you follow Him DAILY and Share Him with others

Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Matthew 5:16 “ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Well, here is the good news:

Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;”

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 “8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9–10 “9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”

Romans 10:13 “13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you are ready tonight to trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, truly knowing that He will never leave you or forsake you, this is what I ask of you, you go to your adults: Caden, Sarah, or Brother Chad and you tell them: “I am ready to follow Jesus and His steps” They will walk you through what that looks like just as I have this week.

ADMIT YOU’RE A SINNER

BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD AND REPENT OF YOUR SIN

CONFESS JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD