Memory Verse:
John 3:30. He must increase, but I must decrease.
Memory Vesre Craft:
Cut out three circles, large, medium and small. On the lagre one around the rim write 'He must increase', around the rim of the medium one write 'but I must decrease', and then in the middle of the smallest circle write John 3:30. Glue circles inside each other.
Story:
John 3:22-36
Our story from the Bible for today, still in the book of John, we read in Chapter 3 that after Jesus’ visit with Nicodemus, Jesus and His
disciples left the city and were baptizing. People were coming to Jesus,
maybe because they had seen Him change water into wine, and as they
believed in Him and trusted in Him, they would be baptized.
That means that they were lowered into the water, usually a river.
They went under the water and then were brought back up. They were being
baptized, not because being in the water did anything special to them, but
because they wanted everyone to know that they had decided to
follow Jesus.
Baptism is a way to say “Hey, I believe that Jesus is God’s Son
and because I believe, I am choosing to follow Him and be obedient to
what He teaches!”
At that same time, someone else was also baptizing. Further
away, up the Jordan River, there was a man named John, also
known as John the Baptist. Does anyone remember something about John
the Baptist from our earlier lessons? John was sent by God to tell
people about Jesus and to get people ready to believe in Jesus. John was
the one who baptized Jesus. And he was still baptizing. He was at
the Jordan River with some of his followers. His followers were upset about
something. They told John that Jesus, whom John had baptized, was
also baptizing and that a lot of people were following Him!
What would you have said? How do you think John might have reacted?
We don’t have to wonder, because the Bible tells how John reacted. John reminded his followers that they had heard him say “I’m not the One everyone has been waiting for.” John had come to
tell others about Jesus, to get them ready to follow Jesus so that everyone
could have the chance to believe in Jesus through what John said.
John explained to his followers that what was happening was thatmany were following Jesus (even some of John’s followers), because it was what God wanted.
John even told a little story about a wedding. He shared that just because you are not the one getting married, it does not mean that you should be sad or upset. It is a happy thing when a friend gets married.
And Jesus was John’s friend. John explained that what was happening
was like a wedding. Jesus is the Bridegroom and everyone who follows
Him and puts their trust in Him is the Bride. When Jesus called people
to believe in Him, just like a groom invites people to his wedding, it
made John happy!
John knew why God had sent him. John knew that he was not the One people would believe in and John was okay with that because he trusted God. John knew that Jesus was more important than
he was because Jesus had come into the world to make a way for us to live obediently for God and to spend forever and ever with God one day.
John said something very important. He said, “Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.” John knew that He was not supposed to be the center of attention. That was Jesus’
place!
And John was happy to point people to Jesus. John knew t hat the person who believed in Jesus, not himself, would have eternal life.
How about you? Have you believed in, trusted, and chosen to follow Jesus? There is no one more important and nothing more important to do! If you have not, please talk to me. If you are a follower of Jesus, are you like John? Do you realize that it is more important to be obedient to Jesus than to do whatever we want to do? Are you pointing people to Jesus? You have an awesome opportunity at home and at school to tell everyone you know that Jesus died for them!
Prayer:
“God, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for showing us how to be Jesus’ friend.”
Craft:
Make and decorate cards to give to different people in the church that the children think would like a card. (make sure children don't give all cards to same person!)
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