Children's Liturgy Series: 2nd Sunday in Advent (Cycle A)

In today's Gospel we learn about John the Baptist and and how he prepared people for the coming of Jesus.

Father in Heaven we praise and glorify you. We thank you for bringing us together for this children's liturgy lesson.Please send us the Holy Spirit. Fill our hearts with peace, love and wisdom. Help us to understand the lesson you have for us today and to be able to prepare our hearts for Jesus and the gift of his coming to us at Christmastime. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist.His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan Riveras they acknowledged their sins. 

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves,‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you,God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

OR

A man named John the Baptist lived in the desert. He wore clothes made from camel’s hair and ate bugs called locusts and sweet wild honey. He was a little wild, but he loved God very much.

John had an important job: he was getting people ready for Jesus! He told everyone, “Change your hearts! God’s kingdom is coming soon!”

People came from all around to listen to John. When they were sorry for the wrong things they had done, John baptized them in the Jordan River. That means he dipped them in water to show they wanted a fresh start with God.

One day, some religious leaders came to see what John was doing. But John knew they weren’t really sorry—they just wanted to look good. He said, “If you really want to follow God, show it by doing good things!”

John told everyone, “I baptize you with water, but someone much greater is coming—Jesus! He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and change your heart from the inside out.”

1. Who was John the Baptist, and what was his special job?
2. What did John wear and eat? Was that surprising or interesting to you?
3. Why did people come to the Jordan River to see John?
4. What does it mean to say “sorry” to God and want a fresh start?

Thinking About Baptism

1. Have you ever seen someone get baptized? What do you remember about it?
2. Why do you think water is used in baptism? What does it remind us of?
3. John said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. What do you think that means?


Living It Out

1. John told people to show they were sorry by doing good things. What are some good things we can do when we want to follow God?
2. If someone asked you how to get ready for Jesus, what would you say?
3. How can we be like John the Baptist and help others learn about God?