Free Bible lesson for kids · He Is Risen
The Great Commission
On a mountain in Galilee, Jesus told His disciples to go and teach all nations, baptizing them, and promised to be with them always.
- Bible passage
- Matthew 28:16–20 · Mark 16:15–16
- Big idea
- Jesus sends us to tell everyone about Him.
- Memory verse
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
After Jesus rose, He sent word for His disciples to go to Galilee (Matthew 28:10). There the eleven met Him on a mountain, as He had told them (Matthew 28:16). When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some still doubted (Matthew 28:17). Jesus came to them and said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).
Then He gave them a great job: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19). They were to baptize new believers in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and teach them to obey all He commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Then Jesus promised, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
Read it in the Bible: Matthew 28:16–20 (KJV)
16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Read it in the Bible: Mark 16:15–16 (KJV)
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Questions to ask
Where did Jesus meet His disciples?
On a mountain in Galilee.
Who did Jesus say to teach?
All nations.
What promise did Jesus give?
“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
What this story teaches
- Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).
- Jesus sends His followers to tell all nations about Him (Matthew 28:19).
- New believers should be baptized and taught to obey Jesus (Matthew 28:19–20).
- The gospel is good news for every person everywhere (Mark 16:15).
- Jesus is always with His people, wherever they go (Matthew 28:20).
Jesus Is Always With Us
Jesus has all power in heaven and earth. He sends us to tell others, and He promises to be with us always.
Matthew 28:18–20
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Pray for someone we can tell about Jesus. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus sends us to tell everyone about Him.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Matthew 28:19 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors or out · about 12 minutes
All Nations Relay
You need: Signs for five places taped around the room (Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, the islands), a “good news” card for each team
- Teach “Jesus loves you” in a few languages: Jesús te ama (Spanish), Yesu anakupenda (Swahili), Jésus t’aime (French).
- Teams run the good-news card to each place in turn and say “Jesus loves you” in a language there.
- The first team back from every place wins.
Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,” and “Lo, I am with you alway.”
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 15 minutes
Pray Around the World
You need: An inflatable globe beach ball
- Toss the globe around the circle.
- Whoever catches it reads the country under their right thumb.
- They pray one sentence for the people of that country, then toss it on.
Jesus sends us to all nations. We can start by praying for them by name.
Pray
Pray for someone we can tell about Jesus.