Sermons 4 Kids
Sermon of the Week
The Baptism of Jesus, Year B
January 11, 2015

Sermon of the Week

Title: A Fresh Start

Theme: Our baptism marks the start of our new life in Jesus. The Baptism of Jesus

Object: None is required, but you could use a calendar or a list of New Year's Resolutions

Scripture: As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Mark 1:10-11 (NIV)

What an exciting time this is-the beginning of a new year. Some people make New Year's Resolutions. That means they make promises to themselves about things they hope to do in the new year. Did you make any New Year's Resolutions this year? Maybe some of you resolved to honor and obey your parents. Or perhaps you resolved to keep your room clean, or to make better grades in school. Those are very worthwhile resolutions for boys and girls to make. Don't you agree? Whether you make any resolutions or not, the new year gives you the chance to forget your past mistakes and look forward to doing better in the year ahead. I hope all of you will take advantage of the fresh start the new year offers us.

In our Bible lesson today, we read about a man called John the Baptist. John went all around the countryside in Judea telling people to turn from their sin and to ask God for forgiveness. After they repented of their sin and received God's forgiveness, John baptized them in the river Jordan. They were baptized to show others that God had forgiven their sins and washed them clean. God's forgiveness had given them a fresh start in life.

Jesus himself was baptized by John, and he commanded us to go into the all the world and make disciples, teaching them all that he taught us, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Because Jesus commanded it, the church still baptizes people today. When we see someone baptized, it shows the world that their sins have been forgiven and they have been given a fresh start in life through Christ Jesus.

God's forgiveness gives us a fresh start. Let us make the most of it as we live a new life in Christ.

Let us pray:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom
come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the
glory, for ever and ever. Amen

Coloring Pages and Activities

GROUP ACTIVITIES PAGE

COLORING PAGE

CROSSWORD PUZZLE (PDF) (HTML)

DECODER PUZZLE (PDF) (HTML)

DOT TO DOT PUZZLE (PDF) (HTML)

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ (PDF) (HTML)

WORD SEARCH PUZZLE (PDF) (HTML)

WORSHIP BULLETIN (DOC) (PDF)

Save the bulletin to your computer and personalize it with your church's name. Print side one then reinsert it into the printer and print side two.

Sermon Links

PRINTER-FRIENDLY AND ALTERNATIVE SERMONS

A PRINT-FRIENDLY VERSION OF THIS SERMON: "A Fresh Start"

ANOTHER SERMON BASED ON ON Mark 1:7-11: "A New Life in Jesus"

Financial Support for Sermons 4 Kids

Sermons4Kids is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported entirely by the voluntary donations of those who use our services and feel that our ministry is worthy of their support. If you are able, please consider making a donation to help us sustain our ministry.

To make an online donation using PayPal, click the button below.

If you wish to send a donation by mail, send your check or money
order to:

Sermons4Kids, Inc.
3273 Falcon Drive
Abilene, TX 79606-3312

Tools to Help Your Children's Ministry

CURRICULUM: A complete curriculum for a year. There is a lesson for each Sunday of the year which includes group activities, song suggestions, a coloring page, and several puzzles. All is on one CD in PDF format! We created this especially for those who may not have Internet access and because many of you asked for it for advanced planning. We hope you will not regard this as a replacement for your Sermon of the Week emails. Sermons4Kids is a work in progress and you will always see our latest efforts in the weekly emails!

� YEAR A CURRICULUM CD

� YEAR B CURRICULUM CD

� YEAR C CURRICULUM CD

� SERMONS IN PRINT: Three years of sermons are available on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. These are sermons only -- there are no coloring pages or other activities. Since these sermons are available on the CD below, there is no need to order both items. You may print the sermons as needed from the CD.

� KID CONNECTION CD ROM: This CD contains three years of sermons, a large collection of coloring pages, more than 300 Bible puzzles, and thirteen PowerPoint presentations featuring the art of Henry Martin plus the eight new presentations by Stacy Hagler. A great resource for enriching your lessons.

Click here to complete an order form. If you have the latest version of Adobe Reader, you can type directly on the form and then print it out for mailing. Even though there is no charge for our products or services, it is only through your voluntary donations that we are able to fund this ministry.