Sunday Spotlight is where we share our Calvary Kids Bible lesson topic each week for kids of all ages. Use this lesson for a Family Night devotion or a preview/review time to talk about what your children are learning at Calvary on Sundays. These lessons correspond to the take-home cards your child receives each week. We post a new lesson here every Wednesday.

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Sunday, July 5

Lesson Title: John’s Ministry Begins

Bible Passage: Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3; John 1

Key Passage: John 1:14

Big Picture Question: Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is fully God and fully human.

Lesson Summary

The early ministry of John the Baptist is recorded in all four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This preacher whose dress, diet, and living conditions may have seemed eccentric to some, proclaimed the good news of One greater than himself: Jesus, the promised Messiah.

Two Old Testament passages tell us about John the Baptist, the first being Isaiah 40:3—a verse cited not only by the Gospel writers but also by John himself when questioned about his identity. The second passage is Malachi 3:1, in which the Lord declares, “See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me.”
The people were expecting to witness the arrival of the Messiah and wondered if John was the one they had been waiting for. Many were drawn to John, traveling from far away to confess their sins and be baptized. 

John, however, embraced his role of a messenger to the Messiah. John began his ministry, humbly declaring both his unworthiness and the supremacy of Christ. He ventured throughout the area near the Jordan River calling the people to repent and receive forgiveness from sin. He spoke against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Sadducees, calling them, too, to repent and be changed through faith.

The crowds asked what God would have them do. John called them to love one another and be content with what they had. He exhorted them, yet proclaimed the good news, professing that Jesus is the Son of God and the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. These were weighty statements for one man to say about another, but John trusted God’s Word and proclaimed the same gospel we hear today—the same gospel you will teach to boys and girls this week.

Pray that the Holy Spirit would go before you to prepare the hearts of the children in your care to receive the good news for themselves. Ask the Lord to give you words to faithfully proclaim the truth that He alone is worthy of our repentance and trust.

 
Christ Connection

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: We can believe in Jesus, turn from our sins, be forgiven, and follow Him.
   
• Younger Preschool: John’s message for the people is a message for us, too. We can turn from our sins and follow Jesus.
   
• Older Preschool: John’s message for the people is the same invitation for us: “Repent and be baptized.” We can turn from our sins and trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
   
• Kids: John prepared the way for Jesus by calling people to repent of their sins. If we turn away from our sins and trust in Jesus, we will be saved.

Big Picture Question & Answer

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• All: Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is fully God and fully human.

Key Passage

John 1:14  This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: The Word became flesh and lived among us. John 1:14
   
• Younger Preschool: The Word became flesh and lived among us. John 1:14
   
• Older Preschool: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14
   
• Kids: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Next week: John Baptized Jesus (Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3; John 1)

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And check out our playlist on Spotify — these songs are featured in our Kid Zone and Zone 345 worship time on Sundays. Sing along at home or on the road!

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