Jesus’ Baptism Felt board Activity
Mark 1: 1-11
Editor's Note:
The lesson author often writes "storyteller" lessons that use a feltboard. Not having a "feltboard workshop", we chose to move this particular lesson to this ART workshop thread and suggest that you invite the children to create their own felt board and felt pieces as an 'art' project, then have them practice telling the story with you. Intersperse your Bible study/comments/questions with the activity of having the children assemble the story in felt. Then see if they can do it without your help, -telling the story to each other.
In addition to this being an 'art' workshop project, it could just as easily be a storyteller's workshop with a "make your own felt kit" project, so that the kids can become the storytellers.
(Scene: outside - land, water/river, clouds/heavens that can split)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way.
This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
(Add Isaiah) Isaiah, the prophet wrote: God said a special messenger would arrive first to prepare the world for His Son. This messenger would live out in the wilderness and proclaim that everyone must straighten out his life and make the path straight for Him.
This special messenger was John the Baptist. (Add John-long hair) John lived in the wilderness. He preached and baptized people. John said, “Turn away from your sin and be baptized. God will forgive you!”
(Add 2 groups of people) Many people from Judea and Jerusalem went to hear John. They confessed their sins and were baptized in the Jordan River. (John baptized one man)
John wore clothes made of camel hair (Add fuzzy vest/clothes-)or put on a fuzzy vest yourself) and a leather belt around his waist. (Add belt) He ate locusts and wild honey. What are locusts? Grasshoppers. (Add grasshoppers and ‘honey pot John ate grasshoppers for supper!
John told the people of a special person. “Someone is coming soon who is far greater than I. I am not good enough to even untie his sandals. (Add Jesus in the background) I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
The Baptism of Jesus
Then one day, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee. (Move Jesus to the edge of the water) John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. (Baptize Jesus in the middle of the water) The moment Jesus came up from the water, he saw the heavens open up. (Split the clouds) The Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. (Dove from the sky to Jesus’ shoulder) A voice came from heaven saying, “You are my Son whom I love. With you, I am well pleased.”
John baptized with water. Today we baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is at work through the power of the Word. The Holy Spirit comes to stay in us, encouraging us to witness for the Lord and to live a holy life.
(Add ‘swimming pool) Some churches use “emersion” – dunking the person under the water. (Add baptismal fount) Some churches use “sprinkling” – wetting the head with a little water from a fount. Either way, God is present in the action of baptism. God claims us as a part of His family. The Holy Spirit is working within us. Baptism is our entrance into the Christian community.
Baptism is a Holy sacrament. What is a sacrament? A sacrament is a holy thing we do because God instructed us. Baptism and communion are sacraments. It is a special thing we do to honor God. Christ commanded us to baptize people. In Matthew 28, verse 19, Jesus says, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Go and spread the Good News of our Lord!
An activity written by: Rachel Haugland
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