Prepare the Way for Jesus
Prepare the Way for Jesus
(Bible Overview #31 of 54)
One Main Truth: God’s word promised that one, John the Baptist,
would prepare the way for Jesus
New to GameLife 123 Bible Discovery? Click here to see lesson essentials & how to use the “Three Thirds Method.”
1 GAME: Baton Relay Race
Game / Bible / Life Connection: In the Game One Player went before you in the Race / In the Bible John the Baptist went before Jesus / God’s Word Promised One would Prepare the Way for Jesus in your Life
This is Step 1
- Divide players into 4 teams.
2. Give the first player of each team a baton (this can be an item that can be easily passed from player to player like a small stick or sock). Have the first player run the first lap then pass the baton to the next player.
3. Important: The next player can’t go until they have the baton in their hand.
4. Run 5 players for each team. When the 5th player is done all 5 sit down, the first team sitting down wins. Those five players go to the end of the line then continue with the next 5 players from each team.
2 BIBLE DISCOVERIES: Gospel & Truth - Matthew 3
Game / Bible / Life Connection: In the Game One Player went before you in the Race / In the Bible John the Baptist went before Jesus / God’s Word Promised One would Prepare the Way for Jesus in your Life
Who is a forerunner? He is one who comes before the other, usually to announce their coming.
The President: What happens when the President comes to visit your city? The streets are swept clean. All the garbage is cleared. Beggars are removed from the area. Often, you see a white line of chalk powder on either side of the road, showing the way to the destination. There are smartly dressed policemen everywhere, busy talking to each
other on their walkie-talkies! As all traffic is stopped, many Pilot cars, with blaring sirens, make sure the roads are clear. The president’s car follows the pilot cars! It must be fun being President!
God’s Son: What do you think happened when God’s son was coming? There should have been a lot of preparation; a lot of cleaning up! There was only one kind of cleaning up that God wanted. He wanted a spiritual cleaning up! He wanted the people to repent from their sins and choose the path of God. There was one chosen man, John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who became the forerunner of the coming of God’s son. John, lived in the wilderness eating locusts and honey, wearing a camel skin, and a leather belt around his waist. He was set apart by God for a specific purpose.
John’s Ministry: He was a Preacher. Many People came from different places to listen his preaching in the desert. His main message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” The word ‘repent’ means ‘to stop living a sinful life and turn to God’. He was a Baptizer. He used to baptize people with water. People believed in his message and many repented and were baptized by him as a sign of cleansing from sin.
One day when John was preaching and baptizing, Jesus Christ the Son of God came to him to be baptized! John refused to baptize Him for he knew Jesus Christ was sinless and was the Son of God! However, Jesus replied, “It is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15). John baptizing Jesus Christ was important, because Jesus was
about to embark his great ministry on earth! He popularly came to be known as “John the Baptist.”
Are you fulfilling your mission? We too can be forerunners, by preparing the hearts of those who haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviors. Each of us should be a channel, leading others to Jesus Christ. In Him, we can find everlasting life.
After the President’s visit the city became dirty once again. Policemen did not do their job well. People littered the streets. Traffic was chaotic. Everything was back to the way it was earlier.
3 LIFE CONNECTIONS
Game / Bible / Life Connection: In the Game One Player went before you in the Race / In the Bible John the Baptist went before Jesus / God’s Word Promised One would Prepare the Way for Jesus in your Life
Memory Verse: “Repent for the kingdom of God is near.” Matthew 3:1b
Leader, ask God to connect to the children’s minds, the children’s hearts, and in the prayer to connect to the children’s soul.
1. Game
What did every player have to run with today? (a baton)
Can just one player run a relay race?
How did the first runner help the last runner?
2. Bible
Who came first John the Baptist or Jesus?
How did John the Baptist prepare the way for Jesus?
Boys and girls do you know what John the Baptist said about Jesus, he is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of he world. John also said about Jesus “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus!
3. Life
Repeat after me: “God thank you for sending John the Baptist to prepare the way for
Jesus. God how can I be prepared for Jesus to return? *pause*. Jesus please give me courage to obey and share this truth.”
4. Worship Song
Ask the children what is their favorite worship song and then sing several worship songs with hand-motions
(click here for worship songs “GameLife Strong & Powerful Worship Motions”)
5. Reinforcement
Use local resources and common objects.
(Optional)
Join hands, sit in circle. Choose one child to come to the middle. Enact baptism, one child at a time. Repeat the memory verse for each child. After each child is done, ask
them if they feel any different. Discuss their spiritual cleansing.