Go! I Am With You! (Trinity Sunday Gospel A)

by Myra Stanley

Download a printable PDF of the WordOne Bible Study for Trinity Sunday Gospel A.

Text: Matthew 28:16-20 for Holy Trinity Sunday, Lectionary Series A

Objectives

Participants will:

1. Have a deeper understanding of what Jesus told the disciples to do in ”the great commission,” and share practical ways they can tell others about what Jesus commands.
2. Grow in the knowledge of what Jesus meant when He said, “I am with you always.”

Materials Needed

Magazines
Paper
Glue/Tape
Pen/Pencil

Group Guidelines

Divide participants into groups of 4-5. The leader is the first person willing to share about a time when he/ she told someone about Jesus. Because of time limits, the leader should plan to keep the Bible study going. He/she should encourage involvement from all participants, but also make it dear that no one is obligated to share if he/she does not want to.

Building Community

1. Beginning with the leader, share with the group your most significant memory of learning about Jesus.
2. Share one meaningful quality about the person, resource or situation which influenced your learning about Jesus.

Looking at God’s Word

1. In Matthew 28: 18 Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Using the materials listed, have the group discover different aspects of all that Jesus has authority over. Some participants may wish to make a collage of pictures. Others may choose to individually list areas of life which Jesus rules.
2. With the group, discuss areas in life that can be either difficult or easy to accept the authority of Jesus.
3. Verse 17 explains that when the disciples saw Jesus, “They worshiped Him, but some doubted.” Discuss as a group why some of the disciples worshiped Him and why others might have doubted Him.
4. In verses 19-20 Jesus says to the disciples, ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptiz­ing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Beginning with the leader, have each participant answer two questions:
   1. How can I tell others about the saving love of Jesus?
   2. How can I remind myself that Jesus is with me always – especially when I am seeking to tell others about Him?

Reinforcing What Has Been Learned

Have each participant take a few minutes to complete the following sentences. Share completed sentences with each other.

1. I can understand the disciples wanting to worship Jesus in these Bible passages because .. .
2. I can understand some of the disciples doubting Jesus in these Bible passages because .. .
3. Something new that I learned about the authority of Jesus in today’s Bible study is …
4. When I read Jesus’ words, “Surely I am with you always,” I feel. ..

Closing

Gather the group together for the following dosing prayer. Have each participant insert the name of the per-son on their left in the blank space: “Dear Father, we thank you for __________ and the life you have given him/her. We pray for your grace for ________ in times of doubt, for courage to share your love with others, and to help him/her remember that Jesus is with _____ always.” When all have been individually prayed for, the leader doses with: ”Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”

Originally published in Discovery Bible Studies 11, 1998.
Updated for youthESource in April 2014