YEA Lesson Library
He Changed the World
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that after Jesus’ resurrection, He gave His disciples (and every one who claims to be a Christian) the Great Commission to share the gospel.
Scriptures
Mark 16:9-20
Luke 24:44-53
John 14:12
John 16:7-8
John 18:36
Acts 1:6-11
Hebrews 7:24-25
Words to Know
PRIMARY - an election to select the presidential candidate
EULOGIZED - to praise or extol
MALADIES - a disorder or disease of the body
The Lesson
In 1968 Robert Kennedy won the California primary for the Democratic presidential nomination. He was a handsome young man with a lovely wife and many children. Life could have not looked more promising. But this was short lived. On his way to his hotel room disaster struck and he was shot dead! His brother, Senator Edward Kennedy eulogized his slain brother at his funeral. “As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him; some men see things as they are and say, ‘Why?’ I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” Had Robert Kennedy lived, he may have changed the world.
Surely Jesus, even more than Robert Kennedy, dreamed things that never were and said “Why not?” He was born of a young virgin, and lived a perfect life. He grew in wisdom and in favor of men. He healed the sick, cast out demons, raised people from the dead. And He was constantly teaching the way of God. He gave Himself as a sacrifice so that all mankind might come to the knowledge of God and be saved. He changed the world from then through eternity.
As a teenager, one of the last things you may want to hear is that you’ve gotta work. And it may really sound dumb to say work is a source of happiness. But if you want to change the world, you will have to work. “The most unhappy of all men is the man who cannot tell what he is going to do, who has got no work cut out for him. . . . For work is the grandest cure of all the maladies and miseries that ever beset mankind” (Thomas Carlyle, Rector of the University of Edinburgh.) After 33 years of hard, productive work, Jesus finished the work He was sent here to do. And He changed the world forever.
“It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus came back to life, and the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene – the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She found the disciples wet-eyed with grief and exclaimed that she had seen Jesus, and he was alive! But they didn’t believe her!
“Later that day he appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn’t recognize him at first because he had changed his appearance. When they finally realized who he was, they rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the others, but no one be- lieved them.
“Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their unbelief – their stub- born refusal to believe those who had seen him alive from the dead.
“And then he told them, ‘You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved. But those who refuse to believe will be condemned.
“‘And those who believe shall use my authority to cast out demons, and they shall speak new languages. They will be able even to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them; and they will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.’
“When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at God’s right hand” (Mark 16:9-20 TLB).
The Apostles watched with strained eyes trying to get the last glimpse of Jesus as this awesome event took place. While they watched two angels appeared to them and said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven, and someday, just as he went, he will return!”
Jesus hasn’t stopped working now that He is in heaven. What is He doing? Jesus told His disciples in John 16:7, 8 “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (NIV). The “Counselor” Jesus is speaking of is the Holy Spirit.
“. . . Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25). Day and night Jesus is there to go to the throne of God and make intercession for you. He pleads your cause to the Father when you pray. You were born to win! Jesus will do everything in His power to ensure that you do. He has sent His Spirit to help you.
Salvation is by the grace of God. But that doesn’t mean you can sit on your duff and never do anything. Jesus had to do the work of His Father when He was on earth. That work was never easy. But His rewards are wonderful! We are no better than Jesus. We must also do the work of our Father. That work requires our wholehearted belief in Jesus Christ. It requires a changed life. It requires enduring to the end and never giving up. Remember, Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father always willing to help you. But you must ask.
You too can change your world. And like Jesus, your rewards will be wonderful. Now go do it!
Student Prayer
Great God and Father,
You have called me to make a difference in the world I live in. I was born to win! Help me to do my part in changing the world.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Mark 16:9-11
Monday: Luke 24:44-53
Tuesday: Acts 1:6-11
Wednesday: John 16:7-8
Thursday: Hebrews 7:24-25
Friday: Mark 16:12-20
Saturday: John 18:36
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. List ways and devise a plan as to how they can change their families for the better.
2. List ways and devise a plan as to how they can change their community for the better.
3. List ways and devise a plan as to how they can change their church for the better.
4. Explain that when Jesus went to heaven, He sent His Spirit so they can do greater works than He did.
5. Recite their memory verse.
Topics & Themes
Great Commission
Holy Spirit
Jesus, Ascension of
Jesus, in Heaven
Jesus, Intecessor
Jesus, Resurrection of
Work
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students’ and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, songbook, CD or cassette tape, music player, paper, pencils, posters, pictures, awards, certificates, clock
How to Teach This Lesson
After you greet students warmly, ask those whose first names begin with A through D to go to one corner of the room. Ask for all of the kids whose first names begin with E through H to go to another corner of the room. And for all the kids whose first names begin with I through L to go to another corner of the room. Now even up the groups by having the remaining students count off one-two-three. If you always use the same way to group kids, they will tumble to it and begin to seat themselves so that they will be in a group with their friends – the same people every time.
Pass out a piece of paper and pencil to each group. Explain that they are to appoint a captain for their team. They will be given ten minutes for each group to come up with 1) a way they will improve their family life so that it can change the world. 2) A way they can get involved in their community and change the world. 3) A way they can become more involved in their church and help change the world. Then they are to devise a plan with specifics whereby these three things can be accomplished.
Start the clock. When the bell rings, bring the groups back to sit in a semicircle. Now have the captain of each team tell what they are going to do in their families, community and church to change the world and give specific plans as to how they will implement it.
Debrief - Which of these plans do you think will be the hardest to implement? Why? Which one do you feel will do the most good? Why? Which one do you think is the most important? Why? If you were in Jesus’ presence, how would that change the order of importance you gave to your plans? Why? Are you less in Jesus’ presence with Him in heaven than you would be if He were on this earth?
Jesus’ Work - Which of these plans that you devised do you think was most like the work Jesus did when He was on earth? What do you think was the most important work that Jesus ever did for you? What do you think He did that changed the world the most? Why?
Students’ Activity - Ask for a volunteer to share his or her letter written in their students’ book about how they plan to change the world.
Memory Verse - Have the students recite their memory verse. Ask: What kinds of works do you think you can do that Jesus did? As a flesh and blood human being, how do you think that you could ever do greater works than Jesus did? What did Jesus send to help you when He went to Heaven? Why does He want to give you His Spirit? Because you were born to win!
Teacher-Directed Activity
The lesson is the activity. At this time have the students repeat their longer memory work given to them ten lessons ago – at the beginning of this book. Give an award to every student who can recite John 15:1-15. Ask your minister if the students can recite it in the worship service. Give a certificate to all the students who have successfully complete the Life of Christ series.
REACH Activity
Spotlight Memory Verse
Read Matthew 28:16-20. How do Jesus’ words in the YEA lesson memory verse compare or parallel with His words in Matthew 28:16-20? Why have His words in these verses been called The Great Commission? Discuss these questions as a class or family. Find three supporting or connecting Scriptures relating to the memory verse.
Where in the World?
As teenagers, your time may be filled with work, school, and friends, but you can still make a difference in someone else’s life by volunteering to help others. Make a few calls or send out an email or two to find out what volunteer opportunities exist in your community. As a class or family, consider inviting one or more speakers from your community to discuss how volunteers are used in their groups or companies. You may find yourself donating your time individually, as a family, or as a class. Remember that you can change the world, but you must make the first step! Another way that teens can change the world is by sharing the Good News with their friends. Keep praying that God will direct you to someone who needs to hear the story of Jesus: His birth, ministry, death, and resurrection.
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander”(1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV).
They Did What Back Then?
In your Bible notebook, make a list of the names of each Apostle. Next to each name write their reaction, if it is given, to Jesus’ resurrection. Use all four Gospels for this activity. Create a poster of information and then share it with another YEA class.
Making It Mine
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:25). The biggest impact you can make in this life is to share Jesus Christ. That action has the potential for eternal consequences—in a very positive way. Imagine God using you as the tool to bring someone else to Jesus Christ, which results in them being in God’s Kingdom!
But in order for you to be able to share Jesus, you have to have an honest, personal relationship with the people you want to reach. Sometimes this means mowing their lawn with a positive attitude. Sometimes it means being willing to help without being asked. Sometimes it means filling a need for no apparent personal gain. So where do you start?
Start by praying and reading your Bible every day. You have to have a relationship before you can share that relationship. Then brainstorm ideas with friends. And look for doors that God may be opening for you. If you want to serve God, He’ll provide a way.
Worldview Collision
Christians are often ridiculed and denigrated. They are called wimps, ignorants, and weirdos. They are persecuted and shunned. In some places, Christians are killed. A secular worldview sees little value in being a Christian.
A Biblical worldview has the opposite viewpoint. Being a Christian is the only thing that really matters. Psalm 103:15 says, “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blow over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” This life will not last very long in the whole scheme of things. But a child of the King of the Universe? That’s where our future is! And someday “ . . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). Someday those people who thought Christianity was foolish and insignificant will have another think coming.
What about you? What do you think about being a Christian?
Song
“Pass It On” is on page 26 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and join hands. Lead them in prayer thanking God for what the students have learned in the Life of Christ series and how they have grown in love and obedience toward Him.
Printable Pages
