1. Ice Breaker:

If you were able to travel anywhere, where would you go? Why?

What would you make sure you packed for that trip?

What if you could only bring one backpack for the entire trip? What would you put in it?

Who would you take with you? Why?

Idea for more: Bring some items you would put in the one backpack– passport, swimsuit, compass/GPS, hammock, water filtration system, and ask students to pick one and explain why they would take it …get creative!

Bridge: We all like to be prepared when we travel and most of us would rather travel with a friend than alone – do you agree?

2. Read Scripture

This is the beginning of the disciples going out from Jesus to share his message and they would need to travel. Jesus gives them specific instructions before they go.

Read Mark 6:6-13

3. Discussion

Make a list: What were Jesus’ instructions to the disciples?

Share each one and why you think Jesus may have given these guidelines.

Follow Up:

Why were they to shake off the dust of an unwelcoming town?

Why did they take so little?

Why did they travel in pairs?

Would you have been willing to go? Why or why not?

In verse 7 it says that Jesus gave the disciples “authority.” What do you think this means? Does this connect to what the disciples were able to do in verse 13?

4. Activity and Discussion - Healing Hands

Take this lesson to the next level by getting students engaged physically with a simple hands-on creative element and application discussion: Trusting and Falling. Complete instructions on how to make this happen are at the Youth Worker Collective online at https://youthworkercollective.com/trusting-fallling-and-mark-6-a-powerful-activity

5. Closing

Read John 13:35.

What if this was the only thing we brought with us each day?

How can we apply the disciples’ mission to our own?

Close in the manner that is typical for you. Consider taking joys/concerns from the students, then asking for a volunteer to close in prayer.