A Mission Lesson

Adapted from Teacher's Swap Shop, March 1975 by Elsie Delap

Preparation: Print the word "mission" on stock paper, laminate if possible, then back it with flannel. Also print cards with "com", "sub", "trans", "ary", and "o" on them and laminate them.

Place the word "mission" on a flannelboard and leave it on for the entire lesson.

The word "mission" means a special duty or errand that a person or group of people is sent out to do. Let's find out what the mission of a Christian is according to the Bible.

In Matthew 28:19 we find the great commission, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (place "com" card in front of the word mission). "Com" in the front of a word means "with or together." Together our mission as Christians is to tell others about Jesus.

Before we can tell others about Jesus we must have submission. (Take down "com" card and put up "sub" card.) Submission means we must surrender our lives to Jesus and let Him have control. James 4:7 gives us instruction to "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

After we have received our commission and have submission to Jesus, we must know how to have transmission. (Remove "sub" card and replace with "trans" card.) A transmission in a car transmits the power of the motor to drive the wheels. Even with a perfect transmission a car will not move until the transmission has been put into gear. Even though the Holy Spirit indwells Christians, He must be allowed to work through them. Many Christians are "racing their motor", making a lot of noise, burning up a lot of fuel and getting nowhere. We must transport the message of Christ to others--that will be the transmission of the gospel. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

Next, let's make the word missionary. (Place card "ary" after mission.) What is a missionary? Yes, a missionary is a person who is sent out to tell others about Jesus. Can we all be missionaries? Yes! Did you notice that for the word missionary, we put "ary" after the word mission? All the other cards were put in front of the word. First, we must have a commission, submission, and transmission before we can be missionaries.

If we aren't all missionaries, then we will be guilty of the sin of omission. (Take away "ary" card and place the "o" card in front of mission.) Omission means to omit or leave out something. Omission of telling others about Jesus means we would be leaving out our chief responsibility as Christians. In James 5:20 we are given this blessed assurance, "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

Let's all remember our great commission from Christ found in Matthew 28:19-20. " Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Paul also reminds us in Romans 10: 13-15 how important it is for us to fulfill our responsibility as a missionary for Christ. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear with out a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!