John the Baptist (Luke 3:1-6)
Today's story looks how John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus. John the Baptist anticipated a messiah who would be greater than himself. John is portrayed as the forerunner of Jesus who prepares the people for Jesus' ministry. John baptised Jesus and was beheaded by Herod.
Road Sign talkSermon given on Luke 3:1-6, where John the Baptist talks about making the way straight to the Lord.
Talk uses roadsigns as a visual prompt. What you'll need:
Road Sign QuizWhat you need:
Interactive journey prayersWhat you need:
A journey to JesusWhat you need:
Create a simple obstacle course, but keep a clear path down the middle from the beginning of the course to the end. Make sure the beginning and end are clearly marked. Invite 3 people to come up and go from the start to the finish. (note- have the second and third people turn their backs to the course so that they can’t see what the people ahead of them have done). Some people might choose to go through and around the obstacles, others might go straight from one end to the other. Say something like: When roads are built, the engineers who design them work really hard to make the roads as easy as possible to drive on. They work so that the mountain roads aren’t too steep. Sometimes if the mountain is too high and rocky, workers might build a tunnel straight through the mountain to make driving easier. Instead of scarey, wild turns, engineers smooth the roads as much as possible so that they’re mostly straight. In our course, there was both a twisted obstacle way to go and a simple, straightforward way to go. Some people chose to go through the obstacles, others went straight to the prize. (if that’s the case) In our Bible reading today, we heard about John the Baptist helping people get ready for Jesus’ coming. Can you think of some ways that we get ready for Christmas? (allow answers- buying gifts, going to church, lighting Advent candles, putting up the Christmas tree, etc). Those are good answers and you’re right. December is a really busy time for most of us with all the getting ready that we do! Some of it’s really important and maybe some of it isn’t so important, but it’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement of the season. In our Bible story today, John is a bit like a road engineer. He wants it to be easy for people to get to Jesus, so he reminds them about what’s really important. John the Baptist was living in the desert. He was helping people get their hearts ready, not their houses or their clothes or anything like that. He wanted people to be able to recognize Jesus when he arrived and to know that Jesus was coming to offer them love and forgiveness. By helping people open their hearts to Jesus and his love and forgiveness, John the Baptist was making a straight, easy road for people to follow. Today it’s the same. We are asked to spend time getting ready for Jesus, opening our hearts to him and being excited that he’s in our lives. Sometimes with all the busyness and craziness in our lives- especially in December, it can feel like we’re on a steep and wildly curvy mountain road, but it doesn’t have to be like that. We can take the straight and gentle path to Christmas. Memory VerseIn the desert someone is shouting, “Get the road ready for the Lord!” Luke 3:4
What you need:
For younger children use “Get the road ready for the Lord” Luke 3:4 |
I wonder...
Gospel ConversationsEnter John the Baptist! Preparing the way for Jesus, preaching in the wilderness, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of one who will point towards a time when all people will know the salvation of God. A wonderful Gospel this week, and Michael Godfrey is joined by Alec Clark, Judy Ringland and Anne van Gend to unpack it together.
Helping our children find peaceRegularly we each experiences challenge and disappointment along with joy and successes. Children are just the same. At times our homes can be hotbeds of discord and acting out- often because we feel safe when we’re with our family and are less controlled. But, children need opportunities to experience real peace, even when things are rough, and that peace can start with us.
The following are a few tips that can help parents create peace at home:
Making it easier for childrenSometimes, without even thinking about it, we can put obstacles in the way of our children coming to Jesus. We can expect a certain kind of behaviour or a certain way of dressing. Perhaps we have an expectation that children will sit quietly or speak kindly to each other. These are all good things, but they don’t necessarily have anything to do with our children’s relationship with God. This week, let’s make it easy for the children in our care to get to know Jesus, by allowing them to come just as they are to a God who loves them, just as they are.
Journey gameWhat you need:
Have the groups play the game by rolling the die, moving their marker and doing what’s written on the board. Note: you can make enough game boards to send one home to each family. If possible, include 4 playing pieces and a die in a small bag. 
Who was John the Baptist?
You can find more about John the Baptist in Matthew 3! Here are some activities that you may like to include, if you end up doing a deep dive on John.
|
Media
|
Advent 2 from St Albans Diocese
|
Saddleback Kids: Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist
|
|
Baptising with the Spirit (Luke 3:7-18)
Today's story looks how John the Baptist teaches about baptism and paves the way for Jesus
Going the Extra MileAs Christmas draws near, children will naturally be talking about Christmas and all the exciting things coming up. These conversations might include holiday plans, what they want (or are getting) for Christmas, what they want to do over the summer and more. This week, we want to shift the focus to giving and sharing, rather than getting. Saying it won’t necessarily make a difference, so instead, try living out the message that there is joy in giving, as well as receiving. Go the extra mile this week to help the children and others, and model the happiness it can bring when we give of ourselves and our things.
I wonder...
What's Behind My BackA game of guessing what's behind your back as an object is passed around.
What you need: 5-6 small objects (eg cellphone, pen, tape, hairbrush, etc) What you do: Players sit in a circle facing inwards. The ‘leader’ takes one of the objects and hands it (behind his/her back) to the player on his/her left. The object then travels around the circle. Each player must whisper in his/her neighbour’s ear what s/he thinks the object is before passing it on. When the object gets back to the ‘leader’, show the object to everyone. No looking! Continue play until all the objects are used or until the children lose interest. Swapping Clothes GameA fun and quick game where two players swap provided clothing
What you need: 4 of each: shirts (tee shirts or button down), sweatshirts, socks, hats, pants (these need to be fairly large) What you do:
|
Joke: Streets of GoldWe all want to help our children experience joy. Sometimes it can be tempting to accomplish this through giving our children what they want (or what we think they want), but there’s another way to encourage and facilitate joy in the lives of our family. Instead of giving to them, create opportunities for your children to give to others. Not just physical things, but rather, find situations in which your family can serve and help those who are less fortunate. At Christmas time there are a number of possibilities. Try contacting the Salvation Army, the City Mission or speak with someone at your church to find a way for your children to experience the joy of Christmas through giving of themselves to others.
The Right-Side-Up GlassWhat you need:
Put the plastic tablecloth on the table, covered with newspaper (to absorb the liquid) Place a cup upside down on the table and says something like, “I’m really thirsty today. A nice cool glass of water is just what I need.” Pour some water ‘into’ the cup. Naturally nothing goes in to the upside down cup. “I wonder what happened?” (allow the kids to answer). “You’re right. I have the cup facing the wrong way. No wonder it’s still empty and I’m still thirsty!” Put a cup the right way up. Pour some water, take a sip, and say something like, “Mmmm - that’s much better. Just what I needed! You know, this reminds me of our passage today. John the Baptist was trying to help people get ready for Jesus and I think he was looking at all the people around him and thinking they’re a bit like the upside down cup. They’re not in a very good place to receive the living water that Jesus is going to want to give them. So he gives them ideas to help them have open hearts - a bit like our empty and rightside up water glass. As people asked him what they should do, he gave them good, concrete answers - sharing what they had, not stealing or taking more money than they were supposed to, not to accuse people of doing bad things when they hadn’t. As we prepare for Christmas and get ourselves ready for Jesus- those are good things for us to remember, too. |
Jesus is Baptised by John (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)
John the Baptist anticipated a messiah who would be greater than himself. John is portrayed as the forerunner of Jesus who prepares the people for Jesus' ministry. John baptised Jesus and was beheaded by Herod.
Leaders input
Visio Lectio:
Visio Lectio is based on the practice of Visio Divina - the thoughtful contemplation of something visual that invites God to speak to us. A print design from Rev. Sarah West, Diocese of Auckland PNG Download Download w/ background Terms of Use |
Bible Project: The second in a five-part series on the Gospel of Luke. We watch Jesus launch his ministry of good news for the poor and how he brought together people from very diverse backgrounds to live together in peace.
Gospel Conversations: The GC team normally take a break over January, but a group got together to talk through some of the summer readings. No editing, no structure, so not perhaps something you'd use instead of a sermon (as we know some places do occasionally do). Instead we're inviting you to drop in on us as we chat about our reactions and thoughts about each of the Gospel readings as they come up.
|
Bible stories with picturesWe stumbled across a great website with some John the Baptist lesson resources, with a John the Baptist story with illustrations, and group discussion questions
Download here ActivitiesWorksheet (Cartoon Church)
John the Baptist Games (Sermons 4 Kids) Baking Paper Craft (Jesus without Language) Story Boxes (Pretty or Practical) Colouring in sheet (Flame Creative) Fuzzy Felt (Flame Creative) 
Glitter bottlesWhat you need:
|
Kids TalksEasy and interactive story and prayer for littles
The Baptism of Jesus: The second of a series of three sessions looking at three 'signs' or 'clues' of who Jesus is. Involves making a wall display pirate map. See also Part 1: Epiphany - Wise Men: and Part 3: The Wedding at Cana. Talk for younger kids Sit the children down and ask them if they know what baptism is, have they been to one etc? Do they know if they are baptised? Then read them the story from the Beginner’s bible of Jesus’ baptism. Talk about the symbol of water - it washes us clean, makes us feel fresh. Often people like to shower first thing in the morning so they are ready to start the new day! Jesus didn’t need to be baptised but he chose to start his work on earth by being baptised, it marked the start of his work of telling people about God his father and teaching them how to live as God wants us to. God was so happy with Jesus and all the good work he was doing that he said it aloud for everyone to hear! God is also pleased with you when you try hard to be kind to other people and love them and to remember all the things Jesus taught us. We will make a picture of Jesus’ baptism to help you remember! Talk for older kids Baptism! What is baptism? Why do we get baptised? What are some of the symbols? Get out the bibles and find and read the passage together, taking turns. Then talk about - do they think Jesus needed to be baptised? Why did he choose to be baptised? Why did God choose to speak out loud and send a dove? Talk about the symbols of baptism. Talk about how when you baptised the priest signs you with a cross on your forehead, like a secret sign of belonging to God. If you have been baptised then you will always have that invisible sign of God’s love on your forehead! If you haven’t been you might like to think about arranging to, just talk to the your church leader! Children's Talk You'll need: A bowl of water, hand soap, towel. Set these up on a table. When was the last time you got dirty? I mean really dirty! Maybe you were playing in the dirt or fixing a car or clearing out the attic. Can you think of what you were doing? Tell the person next to you. What did you do to get clean again? (allow a few answers). My hands are a bit dirty, so I'm going to wash them in this basin. Maybe you used soap and water or got in a shower or bath or jumped in the pool or used a hose. Those are all great ways to get clean on the outside. But what happens when we're dirty on the inside? What happens when we've lied or hurt someone or taken something that doesn't belong to us? Will washing in this basin help those things go away? No, not really. We can be spotless on the outside, but still be full of mess on the inside. When we're baptised, and when Jesus was baptised, it looks like a washing up on the outside, but it's more than that. Baptism is a way of showing that we want to be washed up and clean on the inside, too. When we're baptised, it's like saying that we're sorry for the bad things we've done and we want a new start. And God always forgives us. That makes a lot of sense for us, because we do bad things a lot. Sometimes we do them without knowing, sometimes we know that what we're doing is wrong. We need to be cleaned up on the inside. But Jesus never did anything wrong. He didn't need to be cleaned up or forgiven, but he still got baptised to show us how important it was. When God looked at Jesus, he sent his holy spirit, in the form of a dove down. Then God said that he loved Jesus very much and was really, really pleased with him! God is pleased with us, too, when we want to be clean on the inside and on the outside! Preschool Playdough MatFlame Creative have put together a printable Playdough mat, so that the youngest of our children can enjoy Jesus' Baptism too.
You can find it on their website! Play dough recipe
Reflective Colouring
|
Media
|
|
|
|
