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GUESS MY FOOTPRINT |
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Follow foot prints of Jesus |
 Whose
footprints are these? Can you tell?
Scroll down guessing till you reach the animals picture. |
 Alligator |
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 Who
do you think made these footprints? |
 Does
this clearly marked set help? |
 Beaver |
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 Whose
prints? |
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 This
strange looking beast is a symbol used in prophecy to teach something. If
all you looked at were the footprints you would think it was a bear. This
beast of Revelation describes a group of people with beliefs from many
different cultures. It had feet of a bear, body of leopard, mouth of lion,
and 10 crowns. One of its seven heads was wounded and got
well. Later we will cover this strange animal and its meaning. |
 Guess
this foot print?
Whose is it? |
Our four children liked to follow in dad's footprints on the beach. They
were amazed at how huge his prints were. They could still see lots of room
when their feet were in the prints. They also had to stretch a long ways
to get from one print to another.
Mom and dad's example on the children is so very important. I pray for help to set the right foot prints for them to follow. |
 My
daughter when she was two, loved to wear the shoes of her brothers. It was
fun for her to try to walk in these. She copied everything they did. They
were her heroes.
Your example on the younger brothers and sisters needs to be a good example. They will think you are doing right and copy you. I hope you are copying Jesus, so your example is good. |
Who's footprints are you following? Big brother, dad, or Jesus? |
 John
the Baptist told God's people that they needed to be sorry for their sins
and be baptized.
SONG As soon as Jesus was baptized, He came up out of the water. Mathew 3:16 Jesus gave us the example. He had John the Baptist baptize Him. He was not sprinkled. The Bible says He came up out of the water. |
 Many
young people are ready to make this decision when they are between ages
8-10. At this age children should decide which team they will be
on. It is important to give your heart to Jesus early and begin
sharing the truth with others.
One 9 year old boy was told he was not old enough to be baptized.
He had heard the Bible truth and wanted to follow the example of Jesus. In
the eyes of heaven, he was old enough but the pastor did not understand.
He gently told the boy to wait. The boy was at first very sad then angry
and determined he would never give his heart to God if God did not like
Him at age 9. He became a very successful businessman and never again
entered a church. His heart became hard as a rock against God. How sad that he was discouraged while his heart was tender. This little 9 year old boy in Mexico almost had the same thing happen to him. He was told "no". He did not cry. He just got in line, found a robe and no one noticed him behind a crippled man. When the crippled man was baptized, everyone saw him step into the water. He again was told "no". His head dropped in sadness. The pastor looked at the child evangelist and asked for a vote from those watching. Most everyone encouraged the little boy to be baptized. He was so happy that day. He remained faithful. The next year when the missionary came back for a visit, he was on the front row singing all the Scripture songs. |
 Jesus
said, let the little children come to Me and refuse them not, for of
such is the kingdom of heaven. Mathew 19:14 |
| Many times if a young person has never come to Bible class, or if they are angry about something, they disturb meetings. These need to hear the message. They must not be thrown out. Often if they are drawn in by giving them some job, they will want to give their hearts to Jesus and be baptized. |
 Baptism
means to be covered up. Jesus can take all your sins and throw them
into the water, make them sink, and burry them into the sand at the bottom
of the sea.
Sin is breaking the law of God. Baptism is washing away sin like soap and water wash away dirt. It is really Jesus who is making you clean. Only Jesus can clean the inside of the heart. Jesus wants all sinners to allow Him to clean the ugliness from their hearts. He does not want them to kill or steal. |
 In
the sanctuary we studied, the bronze colored laver was where the priest
washed his feet before going into God's tent. While they were getting
their feet clean, they were to pray for God to clean their minds. They
were to think like Jesus. They needed forgiveness. They wanted to be kind
and unselfish. |
 This
same symbol is taught by Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus asks us to wash
each other's feet to show we can love and forgive each other. The bronze
colored laver in the sanctuary teaches about about baptism and foot
washing. |
 The
night of the last Passover Jesus celebrated, He washed the feet of His
disciples. Then He led them in a new thing. He asked them to wash each
others feet often.
After baptism, we are not perfect. We are growing everyday to be more like Jesus. When we sin, we need to ask Jesus for help and forgiveness. We can go through a little miniature baptism during the church service of washing each other's feet. Our church does this service once every 3 months. It shows we love each other and want to forgive and help each other. |
 Also
after the foot washing, we join together for eating flat bread and
drinking grape juice. This comes from the symbol of the table of shewbread.
Jesus at the last Passover set up a request that His followers eat flat
bread and drink grape juice to remember His death for us and our need of
His help. He promised that He was going to wait in heaven never drinking
grape juice till the day He takes us home. Then He will eat and drink it
with us.
These are symbols. Jesus wants us to think of his broken body while we eat the bread. If we study HIS WORD we are getting strong just as the body gets strong by eating bread. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all were happy to take servant jobs like Jesus did? Who's footsteps are you walking in? Jesus set a wonderful example of baptism and service. Let's copy HIM. |
 Another
beautiful symbol is the wedding. The bride is God's people.
Being baptized is like becoming a bride to Jesus. You have a friendship with Him that leads you to trust and share all your thoughts with Him. Heaven promises all the help you need if you are ever in trouble.
In Zephaniah it says God sings about you. Zeph. 3:17 The Lord your God in the midst of you is mighty, He will save, He will rejoice over you with joy, He will rest in His love, He will joy over you with singing. |
Baptism is a birth into a new life with Jesus. We celebrate
the baptism birthdays in our family. To me it is more exciting when my
children choose Jesus than when they were first born.
There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents and is baptized. It is even greater than the joy a father has when he has a son born to him. Luke 15:7 & 10 They actually have a party in heaven. Wouldn't it great to make heaven have many parties? Let us share the good news. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all were happy to take servant jobs like Jesus did? Who's footsteps are you walking in? Jesus set a wonderful example of baptism and service. Let's copy HIM. Video clip of baptism Porvenir |
Quiz:
Now put on your thinking cap for a short quiz. |
| How was Jesus baptized?
Why was Jesus baptized? Did He have sins to wash away? What does foot washing mean? What happens in heaven when people choose to follow God and are baptized? What special thing does the symbol of grape juice represent? What in the sanctuary points to washing away sins? What does a wedding have to do with baptism? What does the bread and grape juice represent?
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MORE Bible Texts on Baptism Acts 2:37 & 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 8:33-39 Philip baptized the Ethiopian after some time riding in the chariot together talking about Isaiah and other Bible truths. They went down into the water and came up out of the water. This shows more than sprinkling for a baptism. It also shows the Ethiopian was ready and searching before Philip even showed up. (Off the subject, but interesting is the fact that Philip had four daughters which were prophets Acts 21:8) Mathew 3:6-8 Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized but they were warned that they needed to repent Mark 1:4 John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance, confessing sins. Luke 3:33 John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Romans 6:4-12 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. vs. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also in the likeness of his resurrection. For he that is dead is freed from sin. vs. 12 Therefore let not sin reign over your mortal body.
Ephesians 4:5 There is "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." Colossians 2:12 BURIED with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with (him) through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. |
 By His Holy Spirit, God is drawing the hearts of the
children to Himself while Satan is working to keep them away from him. The
most precious offering that the children can give to Jesus, is the
freshness of their childhood. When children seek the Lord with the
whole heart, he will be found of them. It is in these early years that the
affections are the most ardent, the heart most susceptible of improvement.
Everything that is seen and heard makes an impression on the youthful
mind. RH Dec. 17, 1889, par. 6)
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The next lesson will cover interesting facts on health. Lesson 20
God
can forgive and set the
sinner free from Satan. 
When we drink the grape juice we are to think of the blood He shed for us.
We are also to look forward with joy to the day when we will have a
special meal with God in heaven. He will serve the tables. He will make
sure all have enough to eat and drink. God is so loving. 
As
a bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Isaiah 62:5
Proverbs 23:26 "