{"id":7501,"date":"2008-09-03T14:36:13","date_gmt":"2008-09-03T14:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"\/Christian-Education\/NT-Lesson-2:-John-the-Baptist-(birth-and-baptism).aspx"},"modified":"2008-09-03T14:36:13","modified_gmt":"2008-09-03T14:36:13","slug":"nt-lesson-2-john-the-baptist-birth-and-baptism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/nt-lesson-2-john-the-baptist-birth-and-baptism\/","title":{"rendered":"NT Lesson 2: John the Baptist (birth and baptism)"},"content":{"rendered":"

* LESSON<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/em>* HANDOUT–PART 1<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/em>* JOHN THE BAPTIST PLAY 1<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* LESSON: JOHN THE BAPTIST (BIRTH AND BAPTISTM):<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bible Memory Verse:
\n“…‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is hear.” Matthew 3:2<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the time of Herod, king of Judea, a priest named Zechariah was chosen by lot as was the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. This was a great honor—it only happened once in a lifetime and only to some priests. A rope was tied around the priest’s leg so that he was struck dead because he was not doing what was right, he could be pulled out.
\n <\/p>\n

Have children draw straws and put cape (or other symbol of honor) on person who wins. This is choosing by lot. The one chosen is chosen by picking the longest straw or the right number, etc. In our Bible story today, Zechariah the priest was chosen to go into the temple by lot.
\n <\/p>\n

When Zechariah was inside the temple, an angel appeared to him. It had been many years (400) since an angel had appeared to anyone, at least that we know about..
\n <\/p>\n

When Zechariah saw the angel he was gripped with fear.  But the angel said to him:  <\/span>“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nZechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
\nThe angel answered, “I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.” Luke 1:20<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>When Zechariah came out of the temple and could not speak, the people realized he had seen a vision. When his time of service had been completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. This was six months before the angel, Gabriel, appeared to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, the mother of John, were relatives.<\/p>\n

\nWhen it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. They asked her what she would name the child and she said, “He is to be called John.”  <\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>They said to her, ”There is no one among our relatives who has that name.” <\/strong>(It was the custom at that time to name children after their father or relatives).<\/p>\n

\nThey asked Zechariah what he would name the child. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” <\/strong>Immediately he could speak and he began praising God.<\/p>\n

\nEveryone who heard about this story wondered what all that had happened meant.<\/p>\n

\nThis baby grew up to be called John the Baptist. It had been told many years ahead of time that there would be a messenger sent to tell everyone that Jesus, the Savior of the world, was coming. The messenger that God sent was John the Baptist.<\/p>\n

\n“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”–”a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Mark 1:2-3 (Malachi 3:1 & Isaiah 40:3)<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>John was called John the Baptist because he baptized people.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BAPTIZED? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYONE BAPTIZED? Usually a pastor or minister (but it doesn’t have to be), puts people under the water and brings them up again to show that they have given up their sinful life and are going to follow Jesus. Jesus hadn’t come yet so John baptized people who wanted to show that they were going to stop doing things their own way and start doing things God’s way. He told them to stop sinning because the kingdom of God was coming: “Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, Jesus.” Acts 19:4
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When John the Baptist grew up, he lived in the desert. He wore clothes of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts (grasshoppers) and wild honey. He went about telling people to repent (change their minds so that they would obey God) because the Lord was coming. He said, “After me will come one more powerful than I, the throngs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:27<\/strong> (Jesus is coming and He is so much more special than me that I am not good enough to untie His shoes)
\n <\/p>\n

Large crowds gathered around John. They asked him what they should do to get ready for the Lord. He said that the person who had two coats should share with the person with none, and the person who had food should share with the person with none. <\/p>\n

\nTax collectors asked John what they should do to get ready for the Lord.  John told them not to collect any more money than what they were supposed to.<\/p>\n

\nSoldiers asked John what they should do in order to get ready for the coming of the Lord. John told them not to steal from people or to accuse them of things they didn’t do. They were to be happy with their pay. <\/p>\n

\nWhen people decided to repent of their sins (change their mind to know that sin was wrong and stop sinning) then John would baptise them. He was getting them ready for when Jesus would come. Since they were sorry for their sins, they would be ready to hear the good news that Jesus would bring.<\/p>\n

\nWe have all sinned. Jesus died on the cross so He could pay the penalty for our sin. Only Jesus can take away our sin. We just have to ask Him to take away our sin, and be willing to live like He wants us to. <\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* HANDOUT:<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOHN THE BAPTIST—Part 1<\/p>\n

\nBible Memory Verse:
\n“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew 3:2<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Words to choose from: HONEY, BAPTISM, JOHN, REPENT, SINNING, ANGEL, DESERT, PRIEST, JESUS. STEALING<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Zechariah was a __ __ __ __ __ __ in a Jewish temple.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. An __ __ __ __ __ told Zechariah that he would have a son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Zechariah was to name his son __ __ __ __.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. John lived in the __ __ __ __ __ __ when he grew up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

5. John ate locusts and wild __ __ __ __ __.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

6. John the Baptist told people to __ __ __ __ __ __.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7. Repent means to change your mind and stop __ __ __ __ __ __ __.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

8. Tax collectors were to stop stealing and be __ __ __ __ __ __.<\/p>\n

\n9. John the Baptist came into the world to tell people that __ __ __ __ __ was coming.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

10. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ is a sign to show the world that you have repented of your sins and decided to follow Jesus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* JOHN THE BAPTIST PLAY 1:<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bible Memory Verse:
\n“…‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” Matthew 3:2<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 CHARACTERS: Jolly the Giraffe, Polly the Polar Bear, Leo the Lion<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: (enter)<\/em> Hi, Kids! Welcome to Kid’s Club.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: (enter)<\/em> Hi, Kids! (wait for response) Jolly, I have a question.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: What is your question, Polly?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: I think I heard from God, but how can I be sure?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: Well, first of all, does what you heard line up with what is in the Bible? Is it something God would say?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: What do you mean?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: For example, if you thought God was telling you to steal something, that wouldn’t be God because God says, “You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: I get it. If I thought God was telling me to disobey my parents, it wouldn’t be him because one of the Bible verses we learned was, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LEO: (enter) <\/em>In fact, it’s probably the devil telling you to disobey your parents because the Bible tells us that the devil is a liar. It says that he is the father of lies. Bye the way, Hi everyone!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY & POLLY: Hi, Leo!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: Polly was saying that she thought she heard from God.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: I think God was telling me to be nicer to my brother. Do you think He would tell me something like that?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: Yes, that does sound like God is talking to you.
\n <\/p>\n

LEO: Whops! I think God tells me things like that, too, but I don’t always listen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: I try to do what God tells me. Usually, it’s easy, but sometimes it’s hard. But remember, God never asks you to do something that he won’t help you do, and whatever He asks you to do is because He loves you and knows what is best for you. It’s also the best for other people, too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LEO: Thank you, for telling me that, Jolly. It makes it easier to obey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: You’re welcome. Another thing to remember is that we have it pretty easy compared to some people. It must have been hard for John the Baptist to obey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: I know. He had to live in the desert and eat locusts and wild honey!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LEO: And tell people they were sinning. I bet some people didn’t like him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: That’s right. In fact, we are going to learn about someone that didn’t like John the Baptist telling her she was sinning next week. Also, see if anyone can hear God speaking to them this week.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LEO: I can’t wait! There are lots of exciting things to learn next week!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: I can’t wait, either!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: I love Kid’s Club. It’s worth leaving Africa for.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LEO: I don’t know about that, I would like some warm weather. Just kidding! I’d miss you all too much. Good-bye everyone!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY & POLLY: Good-bye, Kids!
\n(Puppets exit)<\/em> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

* LESSON * HANDOUT–PART 1 * JOHN THE BAPTIST PLAY 1     * LESSON: JOHN THE BAPTIST (BIRTH AND BAPTISTM):   Bible Memory Verse: “…‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is hear.” Matthew 3:2     At the time of Herod, king of Judea, a priest named Zechariah was chosen by lot as was<\/p>\n

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