1. Starter Game The idea of the game is that JB prepares a people fit for the coming of the Son of God and his message, by turning them from their sin. – Choose John the Baptist – Chose a Jesus – Rest of class stand in two lines opposite each other, with one arm sticking out into corridor. Each person is given a post-it note stuck on them with the name of a sin. – JB standing at one end, calls out “Repent of…” and the name of that sin. Anyone with that sin puts their arm down. Jesus standing at far end, tries to get through the corridor to reach JB past the block of hands, until the hands drop and the way is made clear.

2. Prayer Lord, help us to recognise and repent of our sins, so we can welcome you with loving hearts. Amen.

3. John the Baptist Lesson Aims To know that John the Baptist preached repentance, so Jesus could start his mission among the people. To understand the difference between describing and explaining What does REPENTANCE mean? Give an example of something you might repent of.

4. 6. John lived in the desert. He wore a tunic made of camel’s hair and a leather belt, and he lived on locusts (grasshoppers) and honey. 2. God called John from an early age and told him to go into the desert and prepare people for the coming of his Son. 5. John baptised people as a symbol of washing them from their sins. This made them feel ready and committed to receiving Him when he came. 1. John’s mother Elizabeth was a relative of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jesus and John were cousins. 3. John knew that God was somehow going to appear among his people. His job was to prepare everybody to be ready to receive Him, for when it happened. 4. Elizabeth, who was very old, became pregnant after an angel announced it. His father was struck dumb until John was born, because he didn’t believe this was possible. Who was John? Write a short description using any relevant information from the boxes below.

5. “John the Baptist preached repentance because…?” Which of the sentences below are REASONS ? There are 2. Use them to complete the sentence above. 6. John lived in the desert. He wore a tunic made of camel’s hair and a leather belt, and he lived on locusts (grasshoppers) and honey. 2. God called John from an early age and told him to go into the desert and prepare people for the coming of his Son. 5. John baptised people as a symbol of washing them from their sins. This made them feel ready and committed to receiving Him when he came. 1. John’s mother Elizabeth was a relative of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jesus and John were cousins. 3. John knew that God was somehow going to appear among his people. His job was to prepare everybody to be ready to receive Him, for when it happened. 4. Elizabeth, who was very old, became pregnant after an angel announced it. His father was struck dumb until John was born, because he didn’t believe this was possible.

6. John Baptises Jesus Here comes God…! Why does the Sinless Son of God come like everyone else, to be washed from sin???

7. Cryptogram Use the letters already in the puzzle to work out what the words could be. When you think you know what a word is, add it to the alphabet, and that way you will know what number corresponds to that letter and can use it to work out the other words.