Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
John 1:29-34
John testifies that Jesus is the Lamb of God, God’s own Son.

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3)

John the Baptist knew that his job was to prepare the way for Jesus. When John saw Jesus coming toward him, John acknowledged him as the Lamb of God and knew that it was time to announce the work that Jesus would do: take away the sin of the world.

Materials Needed

• Pictures of signs that read Stop, Keep Right, One Way, Do Not Litter, and Don’t Walk; pictures of a lamb and a dove

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask the children to explain the meaning of each sign as you show it.

2. Then show a picture of a lamb and ask them whether they know what it represents. (gentleness, innocence) Show a picture of a dove and see whether they know that it represents peace.

3. Tell the children to listen while you read the Gospel and to raise their hands when the symbol of the lamb and the dove are mentioned. Read John 1:29-34.

4. Say: The dove represents peace because back when God told Noah to build the ark and it rained for such a long time, Noah knew the land was finally drying up because he sent a dove out and it did not come back. It landed on a tree branch, which meant that the flood water had gone down far enough for the tree to be above it. The punishment of the flood was over.

5. Explain that when the dove landed on Jesus, it was a sign that Jesus would bring peace. Ask: What kind of peace did John the Baptist say that Jesus would bring? (John said that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.) Say: And Jesus did just that . . . he died for our sins and brings us the peace of knowing that we are friends again with God.

6. Pray that we will recognize Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins and the sin of the world. Then pray together the Lord’s Prayer.

Gospel Reading
John 1:29-34
John testifies that Jesus is the Lamb of God, God’s own Son.

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

The ministry of John the Baptist prepared for and pointed to the ministry of Jesus. In a similar way, our lives are to offer testimony to who we know Jesus to be for us and for the world.

Materials Needed

• A prism

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Bring a prism to your session. Show the children how the prism refracts light and can produce a rainbow.

2. Ask: Is the prism the light? (no) What is the source of the light? (the sun or the light source behind the prism)

3. Ask the children to keep this demonstration in mind as you read today’s Gospel. Ask them to think about how John the Baptist is like the prism.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read today’s Gospel, John 1:29-34.

5. Ask: How is John the Baptist like a prism? (He is not the light, but Jesus’ light shines through him. People came to know who Jesus is because of John.)

6. Say: As disciples of Jesus, we can be a little like this prism. Jesus is the light, the source of all the good that we do. If we let the light of Jesus shine through us, others might recognize Jesus for who he is, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” What are some things we can do to show Jesus’ light? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

7. Conclude in prayer together that, like John the Baptist, we might make Jesus known to others. Pray today’s psalm, Psalm 40, or pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Gospel Reading
John 1:29-34
John testifies that Jesus is the Lamb of God, God’s own Son.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Young people at this age are often self-occupied and want attention. John the Baptist is an excellent role model of someone who directed attention away from himself and toward Jesus.

Materials Needed

• Pictures of traffic and road signs
• Small poster boards (one for each student)
• Art materials

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Arrange the young people into two teams to play a road-sign identification game.

2. Have one student from each team begin the game. Show a picture to the students and challenge them to explain what it means. Award a point to the first student to answer correctly. Continue to play with new volunteers until all the signs have been identified.

3. When the game is finished, observe that signs have many purposes, but one of their most important functions is to point people in the right direction.

4. Tell the young people that John the Baptist was like a road sign pointing to Jesus.

5. Invite volunteers to read aloud John 1:29-34

6. Distribute the poster boards and art materials and ask the young people to create signs with messages that John the Baptist might preach today. Invite volunteers to share their signs with the group.

7. Say: John the Baptist pointed the way to Jesus. Similarly, we are to live our lives in such a way that we point to Jesus.

8. Conclude in prayer together that like John the Baptist, we might make Jesus known to others. Pray today’s psalm, Psalm 40, or pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Gospel Reading
John 1:29-34
John testifies that Jesus is the Lamb of God, God’s own Son.

Family Connection

The ministry of John the Baptist prepared for and pointed to the ministry of Jesus. In a similar way, our lives are to offer testimony to who we know Jesus to be for us and for the world. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. How does the witness of our lives give testimony to the reconciling presence of Christ?

As a family, identify as many titles for Jesus as possible, such as Lamb of God, Son of God, Prince of Peace, and so on. Talk together about what these different titles mean and what they tell you about Jesus. Then read together today’s Gospel, John 1:29-34.

Consider how John the Baptist gives testimony to who Jesus is. Talk about what people might come to know about Jesus by observing your family life. Pray together that your family life will show others that Jesus is the Son of God, the lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Pray the Lord’s Prayer.