Scripture: Matthew 3:1-17

FAMILY DISCUSSION

Prepare the Way! 

We spend a lot of our time getting prepared for what is next. As a family discuss the following questions:

  • How do you prepare for your day in the morning?

  • How do you prepare for a test at school?

  • How do you prepare your heart and mind so that you have a good attitude?

  • How do you prepare to do something difficult?

In today’s Epic story we’re going to hear about a man named John. John spent his time telling people to get ready for the coming of the promised Messiah. He said, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” 

GOD’S EPIC STORY

Our Kid City Lesson this week is presented by Kids on the Move.

 
 

After Story Wonderings... 

  • The Jordan River is a small river, more like a creek in most places. I wonder what it looked like when John baptized people in this creek.

  • I wonder if everyone heard the voice from heaven and saw the dove-like figure.

  • I wonder if people were afraid to let John dunk them under the water. I wonder if people were afraid to allow God to change their lives.

  • I wonder what people were thinking when they heard God’s voice from the sky.

  • I wonder how John felt to be part of that story, to be in the presence of God.

  • I wonder what you would have been doing if you were at the river, if you heard God speak about Jesus.

EXPERIENCING THE STORY

Baptism Object Lesson

In today’s Epic story we heard about something we can DO that tells other people the story of what we believe and how we feel about Jesus and it involves water. 

We heard about John the Baptist, and about how he was baptizing people. If anyone in your family has been baptized ask them to share their baptismal story.  

Baptism literally means to “be dipped.” Back in Jesus time, the cloth merchants would color cloth by dipping it in a dye. When it came up out of the solution, it was a different color. 

Ask an adult for help and get a pitcher of cold water, food coloring, and a paper towel. Squirt some food coloring into the pitcher with water. Next, take a piece of paper towel and examine what color it is. Then dip it into the pitcher with the colored water. What color is the paper towel now?

The paper towel changed colors!!!

When people are baptized they walk into the water and dip under the water and come up again. This is something we do to show other people how Jesus has changed us. Like the cloth is changed, our lives are changed by Jesus. When we are baptized it shows that we want to obey Jesus and we want to follow Him. 

Colossians 2:12 (NIRV) says, “When you were baptized, you were buried together with him. You were raised to life together with him by believing in God’s power. God raised Jesus from the dead.” 

When a person is baptized they go under the water in baptism, showing that they have “died to sin.” That means sin doesn’t control them anymore, Jesus does! They have been changed. When they come out of the water, it shows that they are “alive in Christ.” That means Jesus lives in them. Whenever you take a shower or bath, you use water to wash away the dirt. When you are baptized, the water is to remind you that Jesus has changed you and washed your sins away. 

Romans 6:4 (NIRV) says, “By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death. Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father’s glory. And like Christ we also can live a new life.” 

MEMORIZING THE STORY 

Memory Verse:  “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9

Print off the Memory Verse Flash Cards, cut them out, and use them to memorize 1 John 4:9. 

**Lesson adapted from Epic Curriculum with Word Publishing.