BAPTISM OF JESUS

Bible References: Mt 3:1-17; Mk1:1-11; Lk 3:1-22; Jn 1:19-34

ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING (at classroom door):

 

WORKTABLES / WORKSHEET:

  • Jesus went to the Jordan River to be baptized, not because He needed to confess sin (Jesus never sinned), but to give us an example of the right thing to do.  He showed us how to please the Father in Heaven.  God was so pleased with Jesus that He spoke from Heaven and said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased!” (Mt 3:17)
  • Printing: JESUS IS GOD’S BELOVED SON
  • Drawing: A DOVE step by step

 

SONGS AT CIRCLE:

 

BIBLE STORY MAIN POINTS / MANIPULATIVES (Jesus, John, water, children):

  • There was a man named John.  He was getting the way ready for the coming of The Mighty One (One mightier than I), The Messiah (The Righteous and Good King Forever), The Savior of the world!
  • John didn’t know exactly who the Mighty One was going to be, but God promised to give John a sign: The Holy Spirit would come down like a dove and rest on this Mighty One from God!
  • John was not the Mighty One.  John was His servant.
  • John decided to do everything he could to get ready for the Mighty One.  He went to live in the wilderness near the river where he could pray and listen to God.  He did not live a fancy life.  He wore plain clothes and ate simple food.  And he called other people to get ready, too. “Make straight the way of the LORD.  Get your hearts ready by telling God you’re sorry for disobeying Him.  And be baptized in the river.  I will baptize you on the outside with water but the Mighty One will change you on the inside by His powerful Holy Spirit!  He is MIGHTIER than I am, and He is close by! Come and get ready for HIM!”
  • Many people stopped what they were doing and came to the river to repent (say sorry to God) and be baptized (Use *Children’s Self Portrait Pieces to give examples of what it means to repent).
  • Girl Self Portrait #1: “I want to tell God I’m sorry for my sin. My mom asked me to stop playing and put my toys away. I said no.  I had to go in time out. God, I’m sorry for disobeying my mom. Please forgive me and help me to obey my parents.”
  • God forgives you when you tell Him you’re sorry for your sin.
  • Girl: “Thank you for forgiving me, God.  Change my heart and make it new.”
  • Demonstrate the Girl being baptized. “God loves you.  He is pleased with you. Now go and obey your parents!”
  • Boy Self Portrait #2:  “I want to tell God I’m sorry for my sin. I told my parents a lie.  I said my brother broke it, but I broke it! God, I’m sorry for telling a lie. Please forgive me and help me always tell the truth.”
  • God forgives you when you tell Him you’re sorry for your sin.
  • Boy: “Thank you for forgiving me, God.  Change my heart and make it new.”
  • Demonstrate Boy being baptized.  “God loves you.  He is pleased with you. Now go and tell the truth!”
  • Some of the temple rulers came to the river.  But they did not want to say sorry to God for their sin.  They thought they were good enough by themselves.  John called them poisonous snakes.
  • People must tell God they are sorry because everyone has sinned. If we say we have not sinned, we are lying.  The temple rulers went away with sinful hearts. They did not get ready for the Mighty One who was coming!
  • Then Jesus came to the river.  But Jesus was the Son of God.  He was like us in every way except He had never sinned.  He always obeyed His Heavenly Father. So He did not need to say sorry for sin. “Baptize Me anyway, John.  I want to show people the right thing to do if they want to please God.”
  • So John put Jesus down under the water. Something amazing happened when JESUS came up out of the water.  The Spirit of God came down out of heaven like a dove and rested on Jesus!   And suddenly, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son.  I am very pleased with Him!”
  • Then John realized that JESUS was the MIGHTY ONE.  Jesus had the power to wash and change hearts by His Holy Spirit.  He would make hearts new and help people do what was right.
  • John called Jesus, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
  • JESUS is the MIGHTY ONE! Only He can wash us on the inside and make us right with God.
  • Jesus wants us to be baptized with water (as an outward sign) and by His Spirit (who washes and changes us on the inside).
  • OPTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: Play a video of a child from the congregation being baptized; interview a child who has been baptized; attend a baptism service.

 

PRAYER:  pdf

 

FREE PLAY IN CENTERS:

  • Release children one at a time, with their play cards, to choose a center.
  • DRY TABLE: Cube Stacking/Counting Center:
  •       
  • TRAIN TABLE: Roadway with Cars, Trucks, Buses and Houses/Buildings
  • KITCHEN: Standard Set-Up
  • PLAY DOUGH: Assorted Playdough Colors / Shape Cutters
  • EASEL: Coloring Page
  • CRAFT:

 

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

CLEAN-UP:

Students must tidy up the centers where they were playing when the timer rang. Teachers/Helpers oversee this activity.  Students learn to sort and return items to their proper place.  In so doing, they are learning to take care of the classroom.  It also helps them be prepared for dismissal.  Once the centers are tidy, students move to the BOOK NOOK and quietly look at books.

GAME:

If parents have not arrived after 5 minutes of quiet reading, lead the children in a game (such as Bean Bag Toss, Duck Duck Goose, Doggie Doggie Who Has My Bone, I Spy, etc). Featured Game:

 

DISMISSAL:

Assign an adult to greet parents/guardians.

Call students ONE AT A TIME when families arrive.  Prompt the remaining student to call out, “GOODBYE (student’s name).”

Families check mailboxes.  Today’s TAKE HOME: dove worksheet; B+W Mini Booklet: BAPTISM OF JESUS