At Home ResKids Lessons

SPRING 2020: THE RESCUE BEGINS

March 29:  Jesus was Baptized (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:19-34)

EXPERIENCE THE STORY

  • Paper Plate Dove (craft)
    Supplies required:  Paper plate, glue or tape, scissors, crayons or markers
    Explain that John the Baptist's job was to get people ready for the Messiah.  God told John that he would know who the Messiah was because the Holy Spirit would come down and rest on Him [John 1:33]
    ​Give child a paper plate and follow these instructions:
  1. ​Cut the paper plate into thirds.  The two outer strips will be the dove's wings.
  2. On the center third, draw a body of a dove:  small circle head on top of a large oval body (like a snowman).  Extend the bottom of the body outward to form a tail.
  3. Cut out the body shape.  Tape or glue the wings to the body.  
  4. Use crayons or markers to add feet, a beak, and eyes.  As your child works talk about the Bible story and ask them to explain in their words what baptism means.

    Jesus obeyed God by being baptized.  When Jesus came out of the water, the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and rested on Him.  His baptism was an example for us, but also pointed on what He was going to do.  Jesus never sinned, but he died on the cross for out sins, and rose again from the dead!  Baptism shows that we are dying to our ourselves and our sinful ways and being raised up to new life for Christ!​
  • Wash It (cleaning activity)
    Tell kids that we're everyone in the family is going to do a spring cleaning job using water.  As you're cleaning mention that when people turn from sin and trust in Jesus they talk about being cleansed fro their sin.
    Give child a job of washing something using soapy water for example: washing dishes, washing a car/porch furniture, or washing the kitchen floor/appliances.  
    Explain that Jesus cleansing us from sin means making us clean "inside".  Baptism shows on the outside what Jesus has done on the inside - that your heart has been changed by Jesus to love and follow Him.  When we trust in Jesus, He gives us His righteousness. John baptized Jesus even though He never sinned.  

  • Remember Your Baptism
    If your child has been baptized, show them pictures or video from their baptism, or their baptism certificate.  Light their baptismal candle, if they received one.  Consider talking through the promises made on their behalf if they were baptized as an infant. Ask if they have any questions about their baptism or baptism in general.  Remind them that baptism isn't what saves us faith in Jesus is what saves us.  When we trust in Jesus we start a new life - a life lived for Jesus instead of for ourselves.

  • Jesus' Baptism Craft* 
    *craft materials for this project are included in the bag of ResKids lesson supplies that can be picked up in the ResKids trailer
    Supplies required:  John & Jesus printable, paper plate, brass fastener, blue paper, tape or glue, scissors
    Help child cut out the John and Jesus figures.  Then use the paper plate as a template to trace a semi-circle on blue paper and cut it out.  Glue or tape blue semi-circle to the paper plate to make a pocket.  Tuck the John cut out behind the blue paper and glue or tape him so he looks like he is standing in the water. Do the same with the Jesus cut out but use a brass fastener so he can rotate to be dunked below the water. As you craft...
    Remind them that Jesus did not have any sin to repent of, but Jesus obeyed God by being baptized anyway. We are all sinners, but when we repent of our sin and trust in Jesus, we are saved.  ​
    ​
  • Pray 
    Pray, thanking God for gift of the sacrament of baptism and how it points us to the beauty of salvation found in Jesus - how we are saved from sin and death and raised to new life.  Thank Jesus for becoming human and being baptized even though he never sinned.