Locations & Times

There is only one person who is great, mighty, and powerful - that's Jesus! In this three-week series, kids will enter on the game-show site of Spin That Wheel Xs and Os to play giant games of tic-tac-toe, hear incredible stories of Jesus' life, and help the goofy professionals remember the stories. Kids will learn there really is no one like Jesus!

WORSHiP

BIBLE VERSE

"LORD, no one is like you. You are great. You are mighty and powerful," Jeremiah 10:6.

GROUP Q&A

1. Who baptized Jesus? (John)
2. How do people get baptized? (They get dunked under water.)
3. What happened when Jesus got baptized that showed everyone that no one else is like him? (The Spirit of God descended on him like a dove and a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved son.”)
4. What does it mean to get baptized? (It shows people you believe in Jesus and want to follow him for the rest of your life.)

PARENT BIBLE STUDY

Read: Matthew 3

We’re all sinners. We all need to repent. And once we repent, and we choose to believe in Jesus and his power to save, we get baptized. It’s an outward symbol and celebration of the grace and mercy of God in our lives.

But if baptism is an outward demonstration of inward repentance, then why did Jesus need to get baptized? He obviously didn’t have sin to repent of. He was perfect. So Jesus must have been baptized for other reasons. Here are two:

1. The baptism of Jesus affirmed John’s message—that the Kingdom of Heaven, the presence of God, was near. The presence of God near us and with us changes everything.
2. Jesus’ baptism also showed that he came to identify with sinners. Jesus’ baptism foreshadowed what he came to accomplish—our sin dying with him on the cross and his resurrection giving all who believe in him new life. John’s baptism symbolized repentance, but Jesus’ baptism symbolized complete redemption.

From the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus wanted one thing to be clear: he came to us and for us. And he is still with us. Just like the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus during his baptism we receive the Holy Spirit when we decide to follow Jesus. The power of God lives inside us.

Baptism is a symbol that reminds us of all of this. We are redeemed. Jesus gives us amazing grace and mercy. Now our lives are totally different because we’re following him.

How does the story of Jesus’ baptism help you understand his purpose in coming to earth?

If you have been baptized, what did it mean to you at the time? Does it mean something different to you now?