Joyful Moments in Christ

Preparing the Way: A Call to Repentance

This Sunday School lesson is intended for upper elementary students. All lessons on this website are protected by copyright, but you can use them for free in small groups or Sunday School classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not copy these pages and put them on other websites.

The Big Idea

God sent John the Baptist to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of Jesus, calling them to turn from sin and live in a way that honors him.

Lesson Objectives

1. Recognize that repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward God.
2. Understand that John prepared people’s hearts for Jesus through preaching and baptism.
3. Learn that how we treat others reflects whether our hearts are truly changed.
4. See that Jesus is the promised Savior who brings the Holy Spirit and salvation.

Class Setting Notes

1. Recommended for upper elementary Sunday School.
2. Lesson length: 45–60 minutes. Can be shortened or extended based on activities selected.

Opening Activity

“Get Ready!” Relay

• Divide students into small teams.
• Each team must “prepare the way” by clearing a path of small obstacles (books, cones, blocks).
• After the path is cleared, one team member walks through it holding a Bible.
• Repeat for each team.

This activity helps introduce the idea of preparing the way, just as John cleared the path for Jesus by calling people to repent and get ready for the Savior.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 3:1-20 aloud together or have one person read it.

• Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 3:1-20 (ERV)
• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 3:1-20 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 3:1-20 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 3:1-20 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 3:1-20 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 3:1-20 (ESV)

Additional Reading: Choosing the Right Bible Translation: A Comparison of 7 Versions

Suggested prompts:

As the class reads aloud, consider asking some of these prompts:

1. What stands out to you about John’s message?
2. What does John say true repentance looks like?
3. Why do you think John said he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals?
4. How does John describe the work that Jesus will do?

Teacher Background Notes

1. John the Baptist was the last and greatest prophet before Christ, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of “a voice crying in the wilderness.”
2. His message was not only about personal morality but about preparing for the kingdom of God through repentance.
3. Baptism symbolized a heart cleansed by God, a public sign of inward repentance.
4. The crowd’s response reveals a key biblical theme: true faith produces fruit.
5. John pointed beyond himself to Jesus, the Messiah who brings the Holy Spirit and final judgment.
6. John’s courage to speak the truth, even to rulers like Herod, ultimately led to his imprisonment.

Theological Insights

1. God calls all people to repent and trust in Christ.
2. True repentance bears fruit, leading to real changes in how we live and treat others.
3. Baptism is a visible sign of God’s grace and our response of faith and repentance.
4. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and brings salvation.
5. God is concerned not just with outward appearances, but with hearts changed by grace.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

1. Who gave John the message he preached?
2. What did John say people needed to do with their sins?
3. What did John tell people to do to show true repentance?
4. How did John respond when people thought he might be the Messiah?
5. What did John say about Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
6. What happened to John after he spoke against Herod?

Personal Reflection and Application

1. What does it mean for us today to repent and prepare our hearts for Jesus?
2. Can you think of a time you asked God to forgive your sin? How did it feel?
3. What are some ways you can show the fruit of repentance at home or school?
4. Why is it sometimes hard to live kindly and fairly? How can God help us?
5. What can we learn from John’s boldness and faithfulness to God’s Word?

Suggested Activities

Fruit of Repentance Tree

• Give students a tree outline with space for fruit.
• Have them write actions that show a repentant heart (e.g., sharing, telling the truth, asking forgiveness) on cutout fruit shapes.
• Glue or tape the fruit to the tree.

This activity helps children connect the concept of repentance with real-life actions that honor God.

John’s Message Skit

• Assign roles: John the Baptist, crowd members, tax collector, soldier, narrator.
• Act out verses 7–14, pausing to reflect on each person’s response.
• Optional: Include John pointing to Jesus as the greater one to come.

This activity invites students to engage with the story actively and consider what repentance means in different life situations.

Prepare the Way Poster

• Have students create a poster with the words “Prepare the Way for the Lord.”
• Around the border, write or draw ways we can prepare our hearts (praying, obeying, repenting, worshiping).
• Display in the classroom or take home.

This activity visually reinforces the central theme of the passage and encourages continued reflection.

Memory Verse

Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.

Luke 3:8a (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,

Thank you for sending John to call people to turn from sin and get ready for Jesus. Help us to listen to your Word, repent of the wrong things we do, and live lives that show your grace at work in our hearts.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The ESL Version

I also create materials for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) and ESL students. You can find my ELL Bible Study based on Luke 3:1-20 here:

ELL Bible Study: Luke 3:1-20 — John the Baptist Prepares the Way

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.