Backpacking

Backpacking with the Apostles

Introduction

Today we are going to find out about ‘The Great Commission’ Jesus gave to his disciples and the journeys they took to tell people from all nations about the Good News of Jesus’ love.

Story

Kate is in charge of our storytelling today. (If you would prefer to read it, it is from a few different places in the Bible: Matthew 28:16-20 (The Eleven). Also suggested: Acts 8:1-8 (Philip), Acts 9 (Saul/Paul), Acts 12:25-13:5 (Paul and Barnabas).

And the disciples took the Commission very seriously. News travelled quickly! You may find this video by 'What's in the Bible?' helpful to realise quite how far. This is just Paul's big journeys...and remember he didn't have a car or plane!

I wonder how the Apostles were feeling when Jesus told them to go and tell the whole world about Him?

I wonder if you can think of a way that you might be able to tell people about Jesus this week?

Jesus gave his disciples what is known as ‘The Great Commission’, telling them to go and make disciples of all nations. The apostles took this seriously and made many travels, meeting people from different countries and telling them about Jesus. We can follow in their footsteps and tell people about Jesus too. There are some important messages we must put in our backpack to share with other people.

Activity

Jesus was telling all of us to go and spread the word of God's love. So let's see how far you can travel on a rocket! Jen will show us how to do it.

How to make your rocket:

Cut your paper in half width ways.
Roll the paper around the straw. Roll it all the way up and then stick the edge down with sellotape.
You can take it off the straw and flatten one end and cover that end with sellotape. Then decorate the rocket.
Draw a little version of you on a small piece of paper. Cut it out and stick it onto the top of your rocket.
Pop the open side of the rocket back onto the straw and blow through it to see how far you can travel. Have a competition with everyone who's with you to see hwo can get theirs the furthest.

You will need:

Piece of Paper
A pen
Colouring pens
Sellotape
Scissors
A drinking straw

Prayer

Today there are two choices for prayers. You may use them both at once or at different times or pick the one that best suits you.

Prayer 1

Abby is helping us to pray for ourselves using the story of the Great Commission and simple actions.

Prayer 2

Put on your music and think about everything that you have heard and thought about today. What do you think about the Apostles journeys? What about how brave they were? Our journeys of spreading the word of Jesus won’t necessarily look the same as the Apostles, what might yours look like? Take some time to talk to God and start to pray about this.

Grab your pen and write a key word or phrase in the middle of your paper. We’ve written ‘Spread the word’ here but you could write anything to do with this!
Start adding other words, pictures and doodles to your Doodle Prayer. Keep talking to God and listening for him. Remember, this is a lifelong task, not something just for now. God will always be there to help us along in this, you can always pray and ask for him to guide you!
Take five or ten minutes completing your doodle prayer. When you feel you are finished, say this simple prayer ‘Dear God, please help me to always be brave, to spread your message and to live out your lessons wherever I go, Amen.’

Worship song

St Giles, Exhall are singing 'This little light of mine'. Join in the actions, sing at the top of your voice or find somewhere cosy to listen to the words.

Passport reflection

Colour in the backpack. Think about why the message of Jesus is called the ‘Good News’.

You have now completed your ‘Holiday at Home’. What was your favourite day and why?

Meal chatter

Later on take time to sit together and ask and answer these questions together. Make sure everyone in the family has the opportunity to share:

Why is the message of Jesus ‘good news’?
Is there anyone we should be giving this good news to?
How can we do that as a family?

Venture out

On their travels the Apostles will have seen all kinds of things and met all kinds of people.

Find a local park, woods or field where you can go and explore with an adult. As you explore and travel together keep an eye out for the things on this list...tick them off as you find them. Thank God for the beautiful and unusual things in his world.

Downloads for the session

Click to download:

Notes for leading