Teaching

Have a child select the first Signpost card from the pile and read it aloud. Tape the card to the wall or prop it up against the wall so children can see it. Lead a discussion with the information below. Repeat this for the two remaining Signpost cards. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Signpost 1— Gabriel and Zechariah

Zechariah was offering incense in the Temple when Gabriel appeared to him. Gabriel told Zechariah not to be afraid. He said that God had heard Zechariah’s prayer, and that Elizabeth and he would have a son and name him John. Gabriel said that John would be great in the eyes of the Lord and he would be filled with God’s Spirit even before he was born! John would touch the hearts of fathers and cause rebellious people to accept godly wisdom.

Gabriel was referring to John as an adult. John would become a powerful preacher who would call others to turn to God and stop sinning; this is called repentance. Gabriel said that John would have the spirit and power of Elijah and would prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. The prophet Elijah lived about 850 years before John the Baptist was born. It was predicted that someone like Elijah would come before the Messiah, who is God’s Son, Jesus. And Jesus told people that John represented the prophet, Elijah.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Luke 1:11–13:

¹¹ While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. ¹² Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. ¹³ But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.

Luke 1:15–17:

¹⁵ For he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. ¹⁶ And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

Matthew 3:1–2:

¹ In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, ² “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Malachi 4:5–6a:

⁵ “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. ⁶ His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers.”

Matthew 11:14 (cev):

“And if you believe them, John is Elijah, the prophet you are waiting for.”

Signpost 2 — Gabriel and Mary

God’s angel, Gabriel, brought a message to Mary about her cousin Elizabeth, saying that she would have a son even though she was old. We know her son was John the Baptist. Gabriel also told Mary that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and she would give birth to God’s Son. The baby’s name would be Jesus. Gabriel said that Jesus would be great and be called the Son of the Highest! We have many similarities:

• Gabriel brought the good news of both births.
• Both births were humanly impossible.
• Both sons were named by God.
• Both had a great purpose in God’s kingdom.
• John’s ministry would prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Luke 1:35–36:

³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God. ³⁶What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.”

Luke 1:30–32:

³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you will name Him Jesus. ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David.

Signpost 3 - Zechariah Prophesies about John and Jesus

After John was born, the Holy Spirit filled Zechariah. When he said that the baby’s name was to be John, Zechariah could speak again! He spoke of how God would redeem His people through the coming Savior who was spoken about by the prophets of old. Zechariah then spoke of how his son, John, would prepare the way for Jesus by telling the people to repent of their sins.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Luke 1:63–64:

⁶³ He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” ⁶⁴ Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

Isaiah 11:2:

And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Luke 1:67–68:

⁶⁷ Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: ⁶⁸ “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.”

Luke 1:76–77:

⁷⁶ “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. ⁷⁷ You will tell His people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.

Read about John the Baptist in Luke 1:80:

John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

Read about Jesus in Luke 2:40 (nkjv):

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Both men came into the world through miraculous births. They grew strong in God’s Spirit to perform the great works God planned to redeem His people! Yes, the birth of John the Baptist pointed to Jesus in many ways.

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give a Prayer Journal Pattern and materials to children who missed Lesson 1. Have them follow the instructions on the pattern to assemble their craft at home. Show them the sample craft that is assembled.

Did you use the Prayer Journals we made?

What kinds of things did you praise God for?

Would anyone like to share something that you prayed about?

Can someone tell us how God answered one of your prayers?

Keep using your Prayer Journals at home. You can even add more pages to continue on your journey with God! As your prayers are answered, make an entry—you will be amazed over time to see how God answers and speaks with you! God’s promises can still be trusted today; they are as powerful today as when He first spoke them into being. That’s because God’s Word never fails!