Curriculum

Ready for the Christ of Christmas

Christmas Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin, and he had an important job to do to tell others about the coming Messiah.

Scripture Summary

John the Baptist (not to be confused with John the disciple) was quite a unique individual. He was first mentioned in the Bible when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited her relative Elizabeth. While in Elizabeth’s womb, John the Baptist leapt for joy when Mary arrived (Luke 1:41).

John the Baptist spent time in the desert, wore odd clothes, ate odd things, and proclaimed a message of repentance. John had no power or position of authority in the Jewish culture, but he drew crowds wanting to hear more. John the Baptist spoke powerful truth that compelled people to turn from their sin, repent, and be baptized.

God chose John the Baptist for a special purpose–to prepare the way of the coming Messiah: Jesus. John the Baptist continued to preach and baptize those who had repented. As he was drawing crowds, John the Baptist was pointing beyond himself to someone coming. The coming powerful Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire and would separate the righteous from the unrighteous.

Not everyone embraced the message of John the Baptist. Because he confronted King Herod, Herod’s wife, Herodias, had John the Baptist killed.
 

Why Is This Important

John the Baptist’s work was fulfilling the prophecy of “a voice of one calling: ‘in the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God’” (Isaiah 40:3). Jewish people who knew the Old Testament Scriptures and saw the prophecies fulfilled were better able to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

Just as God chose John the Baptist for a specific purpose, He has a special purpose for each and every one of us as well.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

1 Peter 1:13

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13)

It’s happened more than once. I have a craving for a sweet treat, so I head to the kitchen and grab a few necessary ingredients. I’m mea- suring and mixing while anticipating that first luscious bite. And then I realize that I’m missing a key ingredient. I could run to the store, or I could find a substitute. (That hasn’t always turned out well.) If only I had prepared and checked that I had all the ingredients before I started, I could have saved myself some heartache.

Prayer

Preparation is a choice. We all have a decision to make as to how intentional we are at preparing our minds for action. Honestly, there are still times I wing it, and it doesn’t turn out well. Other times, God blesses my preparation with His grace, and the outcomes bring Him glory.

God called John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus the Messi- ah. What an important calling! John took this responsibility seriously and powerfully proclaimed the message given to him. While John the Baptist didn’t have a position of influence in the culture or the church, hundreds of people flocked to him to hear his message of repentance and of the coming Messiah.

God gives each of us things to do: big important things, mundane things, small but vital things, and even lifelong callings. Choose to prepare. Prepare logistically for specific tasks, and more importantly, prepare your heart. You’re doing just that by preparing for this lesson. You’re letting God prepare your heart and mind to teach children about His truths and His love.

Dear God, thank You for opportunities to use my gifts. I pray that You continue to prepare my heart as I prepare the way for You in the lives of children. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need:
“Changed Heart Pattern,” Red construction paper, Purple construction paper, Scissors, Glue, Markers

Get Ready:

Make a Changed Heart for each child by following these steps:

  • Lay one red heart down.
  • Fold the purple heart in half to the left.
  • Glue the purple heart to the left half of the red heart.
  • Fold the right side of the purple heart to the left so it’s the half purple and half red heart that’s visible.
  • Fold the second red heart in half to the right.
  • Glue the red heart to the top of the purple and red heart.

Give each child a Changed Heart. With each child, write “Change your heart” on the purple heart and Matthew 3:2 on the red heart.

SAY: You have a heart that changes. This will remind us that our hearts can change as we get ready for Jesus.

Have kids practice saying their paraphrased memory verse by using their changeable heart. Encourage kids to take their heart home to show their families and practice their memory verse.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need:
The “John the Baptist Story Strips” handout, Small tub of water, Towels for cleanup, Several dolls that can get wet

Tell kids that they’ll work together to tell the story about John the Baptist.

Read the “John the Baptist Story Strips” in order as kids use the dolls and water to act out the verses. Let kids take turns baptizing the dolls.

Afterward, SAY: John the Baptist would baptize people who confessed their sins and wanted to stop sinning. The Bible says that everyone has sinned. And to confess our sins is to tell God that we’re sorry for those sins.

Snack

Ants on a Log Snack

You’ll Need:
3-inch celery stalks, washed, Cream cheese filling or peanut butter (depending on food allergies in your class), Raisins, Paper plates, Plastic knives, Napkins

SAY: John the Baptist lived in the wilderness. He was so interested in telling people to get ready for Jesus that he ate bugs and honey. Today we’re going to make an Ants on a Log snack to eat so we can imagine what John the Baptist might have eaten.

Help kids follow these steps:

  • Fill the celery with the creamy filling.
  • Place the raisins (ants) on the log of celery.
  • Enjoy.

As kids eat, talk with them about what it would be like to eat like John the Baptist ate.
 

Game

Repentance Run Game

Get Ready:
Clear the floor for kids to have room to run during this game.

SAY: John the Baptist told people that they needed to repent and believe in Jesus. Let’s play a game to learn what it means to repent.

Have kids stand against a wall on one side of your room. Tell kids that you want them to walk across the room until they hear the word “repent.” When they hear “repent,” they must turn around and go the other way.

Keep calling out “repent” for kids to turn around and go the other way. When the game is finished, lead kids in this discussion:

Why do you think God wants us to stop doing bad things?

SAY: John the Baptist helped people get ready for Jesus by telling them to repent. This week if there’s something bad we’re doing, let’s turn around and go the other way so we can be ready for Jesus.
 

Craft

My Lovely Heart Craft

You’ll Need:
Completed hearts from the Memory Verse activity, Ribbon, Glue glitter, Stickers, Sequins, Glue sticks, Hole punch

SAY: John the Baptist helped people get their hearts ready for Jesus. What does it mean to get our hearts ready for Jesus?

With each child, write on the back of the hearts, “My Heart Is Ready for Jesus.”

Have kids decorate the hearts from the Memory Verse activity to make a Christmas ornament. Kids can use any of the decorating supplies you provide.

Once their ornaments are completed, punch a hole at the center of the heart and one inch from the top. String a ribbon through the hole and tie it off.

Kids can take their ornaments home to hang on their trees.
 

Prayer

Prayer of Repentance

SAY: The Bible says that everyone has sinned and needs to repent. Everyone has done something wrong. We’re going to do something to show how that is true.

Have kids stand. Lead them in the following (it helps if you and your volunteers participate):

  • If you’ve ever gotten angry, take one step back. (allow time)
  • If you’ve ever been mean to someone, take another step back.

(allow time)

  • If you’ve ever disobeyed your parent or another adult, turn around and face the other way. (allow time)

SAY: Now listen to these directions.

If you’ve ever been kind to someone, take one step forward. (allow time)

If you’ve ever been patient, take another step forward. (allow time)

If you’ve ever obeyed your parent or another adult, give the people around you a high-five. (allow time)

PRAY: God, thank You so much for sending Jesus to die for our sins. Thank You for forgiving us when we sin! In Jesus’ name, amen.