28 - John The Baptist
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen
Lesson No. ( 28 )
References:
Luke 1, Matthew 11, 4.
Notes for Servants
i The Baptist was a model of Christian modesty so the Lord prised him saying: Among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist.
i The Baptist was holy and righteous,so Herod was afraid of him... Modesty and holiness are the way of greatness.
i The Baptist bore witness to truth without showing anger, without defaming others or injuring their feelings... He spoke to the king and gently reproached him with love for he wanted to rescue him. He was ready to die for others.
Objectives
General: Christian courage.
Specific:
The children will be able to
- Know how saints become an image of the Lord in their lives.
- Understand that Christianity is not only coming to church Sunday, but it is a daily life we have to live.
- Learn how to live as Christians everyday.
Bible Verse
" For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy. " (Mark 6:20)
Teaching Aids
The pictures of John the Baptist carrying his head on a plate.
Instruction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
(4) Teacher should prepare the appropriate questions to emphasize the objectives during the lesson.
(5) Discuss the story of the Baptist with the pupils as it is well known to them.
Story Time
Zachariah and Elizabeth were righteous people. They lived good lives in God's sight. They prayed to the Lord that He might give thema son. They were very old... Zachariah was a priest. (his clothes, his work... the rituals inthe temple, hymns,Psalms, sacrifices, prayers, confession of sins) He always prayed... One day he was doing his work as a priest inthe Temple... An angel of the Lord appeared to him standing on the right of the altar. The crowd of people were outside praying. (Describe the angel and the surprise)... They spoke together. (Lively conversation from the Bible). The people outside were surprised at his silence. They kept silent and looked to one another... "Why is he late? ... Is he dead?.. standing, he came out and they asked him. He made signs to them with his hands. He had seen a vision. They all waited to see the meaning of that vision and the mystery of that wonderful expected baby.
Days passed... Old Elizabeth gave birth to a baby... All the people were surprised... they were happy... The neighbours came to congratulate... What will his name be? They asked his mother and she said, "John"... They refused that name as it did not appeal to them... They asked Zachariah... He wrote "John" ... They were amazed... He spoke again... They joy became double... strange things ... Zachariah spoke about the child... He is an angel sent by the Lord, before He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, to pave the way for Him... happiness... joys... The boy grew up and Herod desired to kill him... The angel took the boy to the wilderness with the angels.
He grew up and was now thirty years old. People were sitting on Jordan Bank... "This man is putting a leather girdle round his waist.. Who is this? a stranger? Who are you?" "I am a voice crying." They knew he was the Baptist and that he was to come before Christ... They all gathered to listen to him... "His words are like fire." He reproached people for their sins... They all wept. They asked him, "What must we do?" Traders, soldiers, officials... and he guided them... He who confessed his sins and repented was baptised in the Jordan... He said to the people: "Christ will baptise you with the Holy Spirit."
One day the Lord Jesus came and he saw Him and said, "This is the Lamb of God... This is the Son of God..." People were happy to see Christ. Christ was baptised. The voice and the dove... Jesus went to the wilderness to spend the time of fasting... The king heard of John... He called him and listened to him... He feared him because he was a holy man. John warned him... he drew his attention to his sin... he married his brother's sister while his brother is still alive... Herodias was a wicked woman... she encouraged him to do evil. John said, "This is not lawful..." The king desired her and she hated John... One day the king held a party... Her daughter danced... The king was drunk. His promise... she asked for John's head. He was obliged to kill him... Thus the Baptist went up to heaven... The witness that Christ bore to himis enough for him. "Among those born of women, there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist."
Exercise: Be brave - If you are asked to bear witness, say the truth whatever the consequences.
Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.
Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.
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