1. CP Missions
    2. Youth lesson
    3. By Mark Snowden



CP Missions



Youth lesson



By Mark Snowden
 

Start lesson by asking them to grab a partner. Make sure everyone has a partner. Give each group of two a piece of string, curling ribbon, or a shoelace. Each person can use only ONE hand. They must try to tie a bow together. (ex: tie it like a shoelace) They cannot use their foot, arm, or a prop. They must tie it in the air. Give them a few minutes. Let whoever does it first show the whole group how they did it.
  
Debrief: What did you have to do in order to tie the ribbon? (If they don’t come up with work together or cooperate – lead them there). What does the word partner mean? (People who work together for a common goal)
 
This is a great lead-in for talking about why it is important for churches to partner and work together for a common goal. Ask, “What common goals should all churches work towards?” More specifically, why it is important that our church, work with other Southern Baptist Churches all over the United States to support missions in the name of Christ all over North America and around the world?
 

 
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV) says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Explain that the Southern Baptist Convention is made up of not just two or three churches, but 43,000 churches with 16 million members across the United States. These churches, including ours, voluntarily partner or work together to fulfill what we call the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of 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.”
 
ASK: Do we have a Biblical example for this kind of partnership? Open Bibles to Acts 11:19-30. Just tell the story to youth. Remind them that the Book of Acts tells us about the early church immediately after the death and resurrection of Jesus. STORY: Basically there are two churches. One in Jerusalem and one in Antioch. They are about 500 miles apart. The church in Antioch is really growing and they need someone to come and tell them about Jesus Christ and His teachings. The church in Jerusalem hears about their need. There is a man named Barnabus in the Jerusalem church and he is willing to go and teach the people about Jesus. He travels the 500 miles (remember, there were no cars or planes back then!), and when he gets there he is overwhelmed. So many people want to know more about Jesus. He decides to go over to Tarsus (about 40 miles) and gets Saul (later known as Paul) to help. So Saul and Barnabus teach the people in Antioch about Jesus. The people learn so much about Christ and His teachings and become so Christlike that people start calling them “little Christs”. Point out the verse where Christians are first called Christians at Antioch.
 
The story does not end. Back in Jerusalem a prophet named Agabus hears about what is happening in Antioch and decides to go and see them. He and some of his prophet friends travel over. While there Agabus gets a vision, the Holy Spirit comes upon him and he prophesizes about a famine that will affect Jerusalem. He tells the people of Antioch and they decide to take up an offering to send to the people in Jerusalem. They do and Paul and Barnabus take it to them.
 
ASK: Do we have a Biblical example of a church reaching out? Get them to answer and give the two examples. Do we have a Biblical example of a church sending out a leader to teach others about Christ? (Let them answer and give the example). Do we have a Biblical example of a church giving financial support to another? (Let them answer)
 
Ask them to empty their pockets, wallets and purses and set all of their money in front of them. Total it up. Ask, “How many missionaries do you think we can support with this? How many people can we expose to the word with these resources?” Now if every Southern Baptist Church were to do this, how many missionaries do you think we can support? (Currently over 10,500) How many people can we reach? (In 2003 over 887,000 were baptized).
 
Cooperative Program (CP) Missions is a voluntary commitment on behalf of churches like ours to share our resources and partner together with our sister Southern Baptist Churches to fulfill the Great Commission. By ourselves we can have a minimal impact. Partnering with 43,000 other churches allows us to have maximum impact.
 
Explain that Southern Baptists are the only denomination that fully supports our missionaries. They do not have to worry about travel money, house payments, car payments, etc. They are free to follow and fulfill God’s call on their lives as they serve Him as missionaries.
 
OPTIONAL SKIT: Have a girl and guy come to the front. Dress up the girl with wig, funny glasses etc. Dress up the guy with hat, funny glasses, etc. They are Mr. & Mrs. Joe Church. Give them a bunch of monopoly money. Call up a youth to be missionary (not a Southern Baptist missionary) All the rest of the youth are the unsaved lost, some who have never heard the name of Jesus. Give the missionary about a 2-minute page to read about Jesus. This would explain his birth, life, death, and resurrection, and what you must do to be saved. Let him read from the paper, but every 10 –15 seconds tell him he is out of money and must go home to ask for support. He goes to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Church to plead for money. He has to explain why he needs it. Sometimes they give him money, sometimes not. Debrief them beforehand.
 
Next ask for a Southern Baptist missionary. Give him the paper to read and ALSO give him all the money. He has the money with him for all his needs.
Let him read the whole paper. DEBRIEF: Which missionary was most effective? Why? They can come to the conclusion.
 
Ask them how many of them have been on a mission’s trip? Let them briefly share their experience. Ask them how long they were gone? Who is continuing the work after they leave the field? Finish up by explaining that CP Missions is a 24/7/365 response to missions in literally in every time zone around the world. During our class, the gospel has been shared with someone around the world through the efforts of CP Missions. That is awesome!
 
Conclude the lesson by sharing a story from Missionary Moments. You can download the current weeks Missionary Moments at www.cpmissions.net . The stories are very brief.
 
Remind them of the exercise at the first part of the lesson. Partners are people who work together to achieve a common goal. In a partnership each partner has a specific responsibility. Encourage them to partner with other Baptist youth by:

 
· Praying. Pray regularly for our Southern Baptist missionaries in your state and around the globe.
· Going. Be involved in some sort of missions endeavor. Talk with your Youth Pastor about the opportunities available. Remind them that they are God’s missionary right where they are.
· Giving. Out of love for the Lord, encourage them to give regularly to Him through your church. If they are not tithing, encourage them to start and also discover the blessings of giving beyond the tithe. Encourage your church to increase its gifts to CP missions so more people can be sent resulting in more people being reached.

Write this definition on a marker board before you close your lesson in prayer, “CP Missions simply defined, Caring People – together touching the world.”
 
End with prayer

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