OVERVIEW: John the Baptist - Lambs and Locusts!
Scripture References:
*Mark 1:1-11, *John 1:19-34, Luke 1:5-25, 57-80, Luke 3, Matthew 3, p. 284, 287, 293, 294 Little Kids' Adventure Bible (*Mark and John's accounts are the shortest versions, accounts of Jesus' baptism are found in all four gospels, only Luke contains the story of Gabriel visiting Zechariah, foretelling John's birth and his actual birth. During this rotation we will vary the use of the different versions as we focus on different parts of the story. See your particular workshop lesson plan for specifics.)
Memory Verse: "Look! The Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 (p. 294 Little Kids' Adventure Bible)
Themes: Prophecy fulfilled, repentance of sins, meaning of baptism
Objectives and Life Application:
- Children will read and discuss the different gospel accounts of John the Baptist's birth and life. (All)
- Children will locate the River Jordan and Nazareth on the map. (Bible Quest, CyberSpace)
- Children will recall some of the events surrounding John the Baptist's foretold birth and actual birth. (Sunday Morning Live, Solid Rock Cafe)
- Children will describe the appearance and calling of John the Baptist. (All)
- Children will define the following words/concepts: prophet, repentance, sin, witness, baptism. (All)
- Children will recognize some of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus as Messiah (from the previous Messiah lesson) to which John the Baptist refers. (Bible Quest, HolyWord Theatre)
- Children will recognize that Jesus' baptism was a sign of his obedience to God. (All)
- Children will identify some of the common symbols of baptism. (Raiders of the Lost Art, Bible Quest)
- Children will discuss the historical meaning of baptism in Jesus' time. (Bible Quest)
- Children will discuss the meaning of baptism today. (All)
- Children will explain John the Baptist's description of Jesus as the Lamb of God. (All)
- Children will reflect upon the story through journaling. (All)
- Children will memorize John 1:29 (All).
Overview of the Workshops:
Music: For Younger Children: Music should be played during activities or used if you have extra time at the end of a workshop.
Songs: Come to the Water, Isn't He? I Will Follow Him.
Raiders of the Lost Art: make soap (wash away your sins!) with small shells or doves inside, older children will make a baptism banner.
Focus: symbols of baptism, meaning and purpose of baptism
Sunday Morning Live: act out the foretelling of the birth of John the Baptist and his life before Jesus
Focus: birth and life of John the Baptist up to Jesus' baptism
Bible Quest: Bible Jeopardy (older children), Bible Concentration (younger children),
Focus: Bible skills, comparing gospel accounts
Solid Rock Cafe: Honey and Locust Ice Cream
Focus: John's early life and calling to be a prophet, meaning of repentance and subsequent change
CyberSpace: 1-2 Play and Learn Bible (baptism of Jesus story) - write and illustrate Bible verse, Grades 3-6 Life of Christ CD - baptism of Jesus, John the Baptist (make Bible verse magnets?)
Focus: familiarity with characters and events of the story, learning the memory verse, geography
Holy Word Theatre: Grades 1-4: view video of story (Nest: The Animated Stories from the New Testamen, John the Baptist)
Focus: familiarity with characters and events of story, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies