Theme: Luke 3:1-6 Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.
Introduction
Hello, kids! Today, we’re going to learn about a special person who helped prepare the way for Jesus. His name was John the Baptist, and he had an important message to share with everyone. Let’s dive into our Bible story and find out more!
Bible Story: Luke 3:1-6 (NIV)
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—
2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
Lesson
John the Baptist had a special mission from God. He was to prepare the way for Jesus by telling people to turn away from their sins and be baptized. This meant that they would show they were sorry for the wrong things they had done and wanted to live in a way that pleases God.
In the Bible, we read about the prophet Isaiah who wrote about someone like John the Baptist long before he was born. Isaiah said that this person would be like a voice in the wilderness, telling people to prepare the way for the Lord and make straight paths for Him. This means that we need to clear away anything in our lives that might get in the way of Jesus.
Just like the roads in the old days, sometimes our lives can be a little crooked or bumpy. When we follow Jesus and make Him the most important person in our lives, we can make our paths straight and smooth.
Activity: Pathway to Jesus
Materials:
- Large roll of paper or poster board
- Markers or crayons
- Stickers or other decorations (optional)
Instructions:
- Lay out the large roll of paper or poster board on the floor or table.
- Draw a winding path from one end of the paper to the other.
- Along the path, draw or write things that can get in the way of our relationship with Jesus (e.g., lying, selfishness, not listening to parents, etc.).
- Now, it’s time to make the path straight and smooth! Use your markers or crayons to draw a straight line right through the obstacles.
- Decorate your path with stickers or other decorations to make it beautiful and inviting.
- Talk about how this activity represents clearing away obstacles in our lives to make room for Jesus.
Discussion
- Why do you think John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness?
- What does it mean to repent and be baptized?
- How can we prepare the way for Jesus in our own lives?
Closing Prayer
Dear God, thank You for sending John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus. Help us to clear away anything that might get in the way of our relationship with Jesus. Show us how to make our paths
straight and smooth, and help us to follow Jesus every day. We want to live in a way that pleases You and shows Your love to others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Take-Home Reminder
As you go through this week, remember that we can prepare the way for Jesus in our lives by repenting of our sins and making Him the center of our lives. When we do this, we make our paths straight and smooth, allowing Jesus to guide us in everything we do.
Don’t forget to share with your family and friends the lesson you learned today and how you can work together to make your paths straight for Jesus. Encourage each other and pray together as you grow in your faith.