John the Baptist - Preparing the Way
Drama Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activities:
John lived a simple life in the wilderness to prepare himself for the ministry that God had chosen for him. When he came from the Judean wilderness, he was an unusual man in his dress; he wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. He was also unusual in his food choices; he ate locusts and wild honey. The Bible tells us that when he was a little boy, he greatly loved God. He definitely was living with God’s will as one who would prepare people for the coming of Jesus by urging them to repent, be forgive, and to live lives worthy of God’s salvation. Perhaps in part because he chose to live in the wilderness, he was especially sure of God’s plan for his life.
Lesson Objective:
- Students will learn that John prepared for the ministry that God chose for him by living a simple life in the wilderness.
- Students will compare the way that John prepared for the coming of the Messiah and how we prepare today for the Christmas season where we celebrate the coming of the Messiah.
- Students will understand the value of finding “A place in the wilderness” to concentrate on the true meaning of Christmas in our lives.
- Students will understand the necessity of “wilderness experiences” to continue to find God’s will for our lives.
Leader Preparation:
- The drama room should be prepared with different stations where props are laid out for all the various activities that we do at Christmas to get ready.
- A card table with Christmas cards and envelopes and fake stamps and pens or pencils laid on it.
- A card table set up to look like a little store with a cash till and various empty perfume bottles or toys set out for purchase.
- A card table with wrapping paper and boxes and tape and scissors.
- A card table with a rolling pin, cookie cutters and some cookie sheets.
- A small Christmas tree with tinsel and ornaments setting beneath it.
- A heap of dress up clothes, hats, scarves, old jewelry to get ready for the party.
- One wall should have the camels and a natural background, a wilderness area.
Presentation
Opening-Welcome and Lesson Introduction:
Welcome students to Stage Trek Productions.
Open with a prayer.
Dig-Main Content and Reflection:
If this the children’s first workshop in the John the Baptist rotation read the story of John the Baptist from a Bible storybook.
Read Luke 1:80; Matthew 3:4; and Mark 1:6 from a modern language
version of the Bible.
Brainstorm activities that we do to prepare for Christmas. Write
them on a large piece of paper as the kids say them.
Assign students parts (voices) in the play.
Show them all the props.
Read the play through once. Then have all the children do what the
voices tell them to. There should be mad rushing about in the first
part of the play. Kids should be getting frustrated as they barely
begin one activity and then are rushed to the next. Then the pace
should slow as they begin questioning what they are doing, and
finally they should be sitting peacefully in the wilderness area
listening quietly for the ‘voice in the wilderness.”
Have the children sit very quietly without speaking for at least 3 to
5 minutes. Play some background music
Discuss the importance of finding a wilderness place and the
importance of being still and quiet in order for God to speak to us.
Try to help the children come up with places in their homes or ways
that they could make time for use their wilderness time.
Older children should write in their journals places and times that
they could sit
For Younger Children:
The workshop leaders can read the play aloud as the shepherds direct the kids through the activities. Make sure that one voice does all the VOICE 7 parts representing the voice of God.
VOICE 1: SHOP FOR PRESENTS
ADDRESS CHRISTMAS CARDS
WRAP THE GIFTS
VOICE 2: MAKE CHRISTMAS COOKIES
GO TO CHOIR REHEARSAL
VOICE 3: FIND THE RIGHT TREE
GET OUT THE ORNAMENTS
DECORATE THE TREE
VOICE 4: GO CHRISTMAS CAROLING
WRAP MORE PRESENTS
RATTLE YOUR PRESENTS TO SEE WHAT IS INSIDE
VOICE 5: BUY MORE GIFTS AND WRAPPING PAPER
FIND THE TAPE AND SCISSORS
ATTEND SOME CHRISTMAS PARTIES
VOICE 6: STOP! WAIT! IS SOMETHING MISSING HERE?
VOICE 7: GO TO THE WILDERNESS!
VOICE 8: I can’t go to the wilderness. I’m getting ready for a
party. What are all these parties for?
VOICE 7: GO TO THE WILDERNESS!
VOICE 8: Wait! Why are we celebrating? Whose birthday is it?
VOICE 7: GO TO THE WILDERNESS!
VOICE 8: I can’t go to the wilderness. I’ve got shopping to do and
presents to wrap. Christmas is coming.
VOICE 7: GO TO THE WILDERNESS!
VOICE 6: What does going to the wilderness have to do with
Christmas?
VOICE 5: Didn’t John the Baptist go to the wilderness?
VOICE 4: Yes, the same John who lived a simple life, wore clothing
of camel’s hair and a leather belt, who ate only weird
stuff like locusts and honey.
VOICE 3: And he went around saying “Get ready for the Lord. Make a
straight path!”
VOICE 2: Christmas is all about preparing for Jesus. John prepared
for Christmas too . . .
VOICE 1: He stayed in the wilderness. It was an area in which few
people lived. It was not used for farming and the land was
more or less in its natural state.
VOICE 2: John stayed there and meditated about preparing for the
ministry that God had chosen for him. God wanted John to
help prepare people for the coming of Jesus by urging them
to repent and be forgiven for their sins. He wanted people
to change and to live lives worthy of salvation.
VOICE 3: But what does this story about John in the wilderness mean
for us?
VOICE 4: Perhaps we need to find our own wilderness, a quiet place
where we could be still and think - -
VOICE 5: But it’s BORING to be still and think!
VOICE 6: But maybe it’s a way to meditate, to spend time in quiet
thinking –
VOICE 5: To consider with careful and thoughtful attention while
you’re alone - - -
VOICE 4: A way to let God speak to me about the real reason for the
joy at Christmas- - -
VOICE 3: Amid the hectic preparation for Christmas Day –
A way to realize that my life is a preparation for God’s
call - -
VOICE 2: And about God’s plan for my life - - How HE can use ME!
VOICE 1: I can follow John’s example of going to our own quiet place
away from the boombox, the TV, and my friends and family,
to seek GOD’S WILL in MY life!- - -
VOICE 2: And not just seeking a wilderness experience at Christmas
only, but for every season- every day ---
VOICE 3: A way to be closer to the Lord in my wilderness place - -
VOICE 7: Be still and know that I am the Lord Thy God! . . .
VOICE 4: And in the quietness I can hear God speak to me.
VOICE 5: I, too, want to go to the wilderness
VOICE 6: And in the quietness, I can hear God speak to me.
VOICE 7: Be still and know that I AM THE LORD THY GOD.
Closing:
End with a prayer.
A lesson from Desoto Presbyterian Church
Dallas, TX
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