LEADERS HUB
Year 1, Term 4, Week 2: Ideas for Senior Group
Week 2: Jesus is coming - John the Baptist prepares!
Lesson Objective:
God sent John the Baptist before Jesus to prepare the people and remind them to follow God.
Bible Passage:
Luke 1: 5-22, 57-66, Luke 3:3 (The birth of John the Baptist)
Memory Verse:
Luke 3:3 - So John went along the Jordan valley, telling the people, 'Turn back to God and be baptised! Then your sins will be forgiven.'
Story Idea: Kids Act It Out!
You will need:
- Costumes from the cupboard for;Zechariah - Bible Robe, Elizabeth (Old lady) - robe & glasses, Angel - White robe + gold tinsel, John - Biblical robes + crazy wig
- A baby doll and a small chalkboard with chalk (from cupboard)
- Download and print the John the Baptist Birth Script (5 copies)
- Bibles
Set up:
- Choose four kids to play the puppets and give each a costume and script
- Keep one script for yourself to narrate with
Prepare:
- Ask the kids if they remember last weeks lesson
- Prompt them to remember that Isaiah and Micah had a message - God was going to send a new King to save His people!
Act it!:
- Narrate the skit and have the kids come over for their parts at the correct time
- The rest of the class can sit and watch the drama unfold!
Have the kids read Luke 3:3 from the Bible
Quiz Questions:
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1. Who was Zechariah? A priest
2. What important message did the angel have for Zechariah in the temple? His wife was going to have a baby!
3. Why didn't Zechariah think his wife could have a baby? She was old
4. What strange thing happened to Zechariah when he didn't believe the angel? He couldn't speak
5. Did Elizabeth have a baby? Yes
6. What was the baby's name? John
7. How long did Zechariah have to wait before he could talk again? Until John was born - 9 months
8. Did God have an important purpose for John? Yes
9. What important message did John have for the people? Jesus can forgive, be sorry for what you've done and turn back to God!
Game Idea: The Great Spud Relays!
Before the lesson:
- Gather a pile of potatoes
- Write the word 'forgiveness' on each potato with a sharpie
- Set up two identical obstacle courses (things to dodge around/ chairs to go over/ tables to go under)
- Split the kids into teams and give each team a spud
- Have them race relay style over the obstacle course, carrying the spud across the room
- The fastest team to complete the relay wins!
- Make it harder by making them carry the spud on a spoon, or between their knees or under their chin
Remind the kids that God used John to take the message of forgiveness to the people!
Craft Idea: John's Message Flip Card
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Before the lesson:
- Download and print the John's message template - the first (cover page) on white card and the back page on coloured card
- Choose a cool painting method to decorate the front (and gather what you need, as well as scissors and glue):
Shaving Foam Marbled Effect
https://artfulparent.com/diy-marbled-paper/
Marble Painting:
https://artfulparent.com/marble-painting-for-kids/
Pulled String Painting:
https://tinkerlab.com/how-make-captivating-pulled-string-art/
Have the kids:
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- Paint their white cover sheet using the chosen method
- Cut around their two speech bubbles
- Fold the white sheet along the dotted line (once dry)
- Glue the top sheet to the base sheet at the flap
