WELCOME TO WEEK 2

We have all made mistakes, whether on purpose or on accident. We usually say we are sorry and then wait to be forgiven. Did you know God has forgiven you? We can be forgiven and we can also forgive those who have wronged us. We can’t do this on our own, but we have the Holy Spirit to help. This week we will see how baptism is more than just getting wet.

Mark 1:4-11. Acts 19:1-7

BIBLE STORY

We all make mistakes sometimes, even when we are trying really hard not to. Our mistakes can be sinful because we have chosen to disobey or do the wrong things. Our sins can also be a mistake because we were careless or unaware. We don’t have to fear making mistakes and we don’t need to worry if God will love us less because of them. Let’s try this challenge activity. Using a white sheet of paper and a white crayon, choose your favorite animal to draw. You won’t be able to see your picture as you draw but do the best that you can. Once your drawing is complete, use watercolors to paint over your drawing to reveal what you drew. 

How was your drawing? Did it turn out exactly as you planned? Did you make any mistakes? Although we make mistakes in life, we don’t have to be discouraged or give up, because we can know forgiveness through Jesus. John the Baptist prepared the people’s hearts for the coming of Jesus. He wanted them to realize they needed a savior to rescue them from their sins. We can know forgiveness through Jesus and the Holy Spirit will help us make better choices.

Materials: white drawing paper, white crayon or white oil pastel, water colors

Read or listen to the scripture story in Mark 1:4-11

How did the Bible describe John the Baptist? (He wore clothes made of camel hair, a leather belt and ate locust and honey)

Where did John the Baptist baptize those confessing their sins? (In the Jordan River)

What did John say the one who came after him will baptize people with? (With the Holy Spirit)

When Jesus was baptized what happened? (The heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove)

What did the voice from heaven say? (You are my son, whom I love; with you I am very pleased)

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

It is hard to confess when we have done something wrong. We want to keep it a secret or pretend it never happened. Although it is hard to admit our wrongs, we can ask Jesus for forgiveness for the wrongs we did. We can be sure that God will forgive us of our sins. 

Activity

Print the following emoji faces or have your child use their own face to show emotions. Sometimes we do wrong things on accident and sometimes we do the wrong thing on purpose. We might say things to hurt others or disobey our parents. God does not like the bad things that we do but He always loves us and will forgive us. Sometimes we show others God’s love by the kind things we do to others. These things don’t make God love us more but they are pleasing to Him. Listen to the following scenarios and hold up a smile face if you think the actions described were pleasing to God. Hold up the frown face if the things described were not pleasing to God.

Materials: printed scenario cards (or viewed on device), printed emoji faces (Optional)

Alternate

Watch this object lesson on forgiveness of our sins through Jesus.

Materials: device for viewing video

Create activity:

Create a tie-dye picture using a white coffee filter, washable markers, and a spray bottle. This activity can become messy and damage the surface underneath the coffee filter therefore, use a washable mat, plastic tablecloth, or newspaper to cover your work area. On your coffee filter write as many sins you can think of, using a different colored washable marker for each sin. Fill your coffee filter with the sins. Once you are finished, use the spray bottle to make your coffee filter wet and wash away your sins. This will create instead, a colorful design on your coffee filter. God forgives our sins and then remembers them no more. Only God can truly forgive and forget the wrongs we have done, and even make something beautiful from our mess.

Materials: White coffee filter, washable markers, spray bottle with water

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

create a paper plate scene of Jesus’ baptism. Color the paper plate with water, sky, and background. Then color and cut out a Jesus and John the Baptist. Attach Jesus to a craft stick, then cut a small slit into the paper plate for the stick. Glue John the Baptist next to the slit. Add the small dove in the sky.

Materials: paper plate, printed characters, crayons, scissors, glue, craft stick

Craft 2

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons

FOLLOW-UP

Read or listen to Acts 19:1-7

Being baptized by the Holy Spirit is what brings true change to our hearts. We can not change ourselves, and we can not be forgiven simply with water. The Holy Spirit changes our hearts, which in turn changes our actions. We can be forgiven because we believe in Jesus, the son of God, who died to save us from our sins. 

What did John say he baptized with?

What did John say Jesus would baptize with?

What do you think it means to be baptized by the Holy Spirit?

What can the Holy Spirit do in our lives?

Has there ever been a time when you desperately wanted to be forgiven for a wrongdoing?

Have you ever had to forgive someone, even when it was really hard?

How does having the Holy Spirit help you show forgiveness to others?

Practical Application at Home

When we understand how much we have been forgiven, we are better able to forgive others. When we are believers in Jesus, God will forgiven our sins whether we think they are big or small. Listen to the following scenario and determine if there was any forgiveness shown. Although you may not have an experience exactly like this one, think about a time you have been forgiven a lot, and if you then returned that forgiveness to the next person who wronged you. 

You stole $25 from your moms dresser, thinking she wouldn’t notice. She finds out and you are punished, but she forgives you and doesn’t stay mad at you the rest of the day. You wonder if your mom has really forgiven you, but she does not remind you of your error nor does she start to hide all of her money from you from fear you may steal again. You are relieved as you realize your mom has given you a clean slate. A few days later your younger brother takes apart your Lego design to use a piece of your legos for his new Lego build. You are very upset. You worked for hours on your build and were proud of it. He says he is sorry and returns the Lego piece. You say you forgive him but for the next few days you decide to let him suffer. Every time he asks to play, you refuse to play with him. When he speaks to you and tells you stories about his day, you don’t talk with him but just give yes or no responses. You plan to forgive him at some point, but for now, you want him to suffer for what he did to you. 

Who truly forgave in this story?

Did you truly forgive your brother?

Which act would have been harder to forgive?

How can the feeling of being forgiven for something big, help you forgive someone else when they wrong you?

How can we show true forgiveness, especially when someone has asked for forgiveness for the wrongs they’ve done against you?

When we realize the wrongs we have done against God and how much he continues to love us and forgive us, even when we make the same mistakes again, we can share that forgiveness with others. Unlike in the scenario above, we should forgive others in the same way God has forgiven us. That means, when we say we forgive, we also need to let it go and not remind the person of how much they wronged us or try to make them suffer. Although this is not an easy thing to do, we can ask Jesus to help us remember how much we have been forgiven and to share that forgiveness with others.

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.