5 Object Lessons to Teach Kids About Baptism

Baptism is a very important step to take after you've entered a relationship with Jesus. It lets everyone know that Jesus has forgiven your sins and you are a new person in Christ.

It's important to help children understand what baptism means before they are baptized. Here are 5 object lessons you can use to help children understand the important step they are about to take.

The Wedding Ring

Show the child a wedding ring. Explain what a wedding ring represents. It doesn't make you married. It simply shows people that you are married and that you love the person you are married to.

Getting baptized doesn't make you a follower of Jesus. That happened when you invited Jesus to come into your life. Baptism is simply a way to show people on the outside what has happened to you on the inside. It's a symbol of your love for Jesus.

The Sport's Team Jersey

Show the child a jersey that has a team name on it. Ask them why people wear a jersey during the game? It is to show people which team they are on.

Getting baptized is like putting on a sport's team jersey. You are saying to everyone that you are on Jesus' team. You belong to Him. You are on His team forever and you want everyone to know it.

Arm Motions - Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus

Take your arms and cross them to make the shape of a cross. Explain what Jesus did for us on the cross. Take your arm that's making the top of the cross and take it down behind the other arm. This represents Jesus dying and being placed in a grave.

Bring the arm back up to form a cross again. Share with the child that Jesus died and was buried in a grave for 3 days. After 3 days, He rose from the dead and came back to life. When you go under and then back up out of the water, you are saying that Jesus died, was buried and rose again so you could be forgiven. This is very effective. Have the kids do the baptism motion with their arms several times.

"He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day,

just as the Scriptures said."

I Corinthians 15:4

Yes Sir.

Explain that baptism is the first step Jesus asks us to take after we invite Him into our life. Have the kids make a salute and say "Yes Sir!" Baptism is an opportunity for you to obey Jesus. It shows everyone that you are serious about following Jesus for the rest of your life. It's saying "Yes Sir" to His first command.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:

The old has gone, the new is here!"

2 Corinthians 5:17

A Big Smile.

Have everyone either do a big smile or draw one on a piece of paper. Hold it in front of your mouth so it looks like you have a big smile.Explain that when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Heavenly Father said,

“This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

When we get baptized, it makes heaven happy. The Heavenly Father rejoices in the person's obedience and decision to follow Him.

Do you need a plan for helping the children in your ministry follow Jesus in baptism? I have created a great resource that can help you reach the kids in your church and community. Baptism is a very important step to take after you've entered a relationship with Jesus. It lets everyone know that Jesus has forgiven your sins and you are a new person in Christ.

Using this strategy, I saw over 430 children follow Jesus in baptism in one year (along with dozens of parents). The class is designed for children and parents to experience together. No drop-offs. When parents go through the class with their children, many will understand baptism and will follow their children in baptism.

The baptism resource is available this link.

I also have a salvation class available at this link. It's important for kids to go through the salvation class before they go through the baptism class.

As children's ministry leaders, there is nothing we do that is more important than proclaiming the Gospel and leading people to become followers of Jesus.