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Sermon ideas

Ideas for sermon preparation on Matthew 3.13-17

The baptism of Jesus is no mere rite of passage. It heralds the inauguration of his ministry, modelling both style and content. John the Baptist rightly recognises the inappropriateness of baptism for Jesus: he has no need of washing or repentance. Paradoxically, however, it is entirely fitting for the Saviour to immerse himself in a world of woe, identifying with us so as to redeem us – ‘thus fulfilling all righteousness’ (v.15). It was a radical act of obedience endorsed by heaven that cost him his life. Perhaps we need to think more carefully of the meaning and the challenge of baptism. One commentator on this reading, Dean Lucking, describes it as ‘living wet’!¹ How can we live wet?
Are we prepared to allow God to surprise us, or are we held prisoner by our expectations? Robert Runcie, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, used to remark that one of the characteristics of divine activity was God’s habit of surprising us. John had preached about the coming one in apocalyptic terms (Matthew 3.11-12), but Jesus comes quietly and in humility like the servant in Isaiah 42. Only afterwards is heaven opened, the dove descends on Jesus, and the voice of God rings out in affirmation.
A reviewer of CS Lewis’ book Mere Christianity,² remarked that the author possessed ‘the rare gift of making righteousness readable’. The gospels show Jesus unashamedly valuing righteousness (v.15) and the following he readily drew demonstrates that he managed to make it attractive. Too often we concur with the young girl’s prayer: ‘Lord, please make the bad people good, and the good people nice’. It would do a great service to Christianity if we attempted to rescue righteousness from its bad press. A way of thinking through this might lie in studying Jesus’ humility and graciousness as he inaugurates his mission. William Barclay, in his commentaries, often talks of Jesus’ ‘winsomeness’.
Broadcaster Lavinia Byrne³ tells of the priest who asked Sunday school children: ‘What were the words which came from God when Jesus stepped out of the water?’ A child replied, ‘You are my beloved daughter, and I love you very much’. That child heard God’s affirmation; she knew God loved her. We must recognise in Jesus’ baptism the implication that, through him, we too are beloved.
William Temple (another former Archbishop of Canterbury!) described Christianity as ‘the most avowedly materialistic’ of all great religions⁴. Our sacraments use tangible elements such as water, bread and wine or oil. Jesus does not divide the spiritual from the material; he is at home in both. The beloved Son immerses himself at his baptism in our world which, though muddy and murky like the River Jordan, still retains its connection with its Maker. Consider the importance of the conjunction of water and the Spirit in baptism.

Respond to the Word

Activities based on Matthew 3.13-17, including A simple worship activity for all ages

Ideas to suit different interests, ages and learning preferences.

Be loved beloved

Distribute copies of the poem ‘Love is…’. John and the onlookers at Jesus’ baptism needed to know how much he was beloved. Invite people to write more verses for the poem.

Picture this

The baptism of Christ was a favourite subject for artists. The plethora of images is an indication of the importance attached to Jesus’ baptism in early Christian communities. Look at a collection of these images, using the links in Further Resources or your own image search, and then invite people to create their own. Offer paints or pastels. Or work together to create a mosaic.

Affirm each other

As church buildings developed and became permanent structures, special circular buildings for baptism, called ‘baptistries’, were sometimes created. The baptismal pool was let into the floor and often large enough for several people to be baptised. The roof was domed and bore a picture of the baptism of Christ, so as the new Christian was let down into the water to be baptised, the image of Christ’s baptism faced them. Gather together in tight circles, perhaps under patio umbrellas or parachutes, and say to one another, around the circle, words like those of the voice that spoke at Jesus’ baptism: ‘God says, “You are my child, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”’

A simple worship activity for all ages

As each group is called they stand up and shout – those who have difficulty in standing can raise hands.

Who does God love? Does he love children? Children: Yes!

Who does God love? Does he love young people? Y.P.: Yes!

Who does God love? Does he love women? Women: Yes!

Who does God love? Does he love men? Men: Yes!

Together: God loves us all. Alleluia! And he wants us to love one another.

Template: Love is...

Template: Pennant shape

Template: Doves

Template: Dove door hanger

Template: Baptism symbols

Template: Bracelet instructions

Template: Prayer doves

Children & Young People

Respond to the Word

A range of activities for Very Young Children (VYC), Children (C) and Young People (YP) based on Matthew 3.13-17

Respond Origami wristbands (YP; 10 mins)

Make paper wristbands as a reminder that we are all loved by God

You will need: origami (white on reverse), or two colours of paper and glue, origami instructions; sticky tape, felt pens. ?

Invite the young people to make an origami bracelet. Download the illustrated instructions for each person from here or share the following presentation: http://en.origami-club. com/accessories/bangie/anime-bangie/ index.html with the group. ?
When they have completed their origami bracelet, the young people can add a slogan to it, e.g. BELOVED or another reminder that they are loved by God.

Splash Water play (VYC 10 mins)

Experience the sensation of water for pouring, cleaning and baptising

You will need: a washing-up bowl, warm water, plastic plates and cups or containers, a cloth, a plastic doll, a towel; aprons (optional). ?

Let the children have free play with the water.
Model pouring, washing the dishes and baptising a baby so they can have a go themselves.

Make Dove door hangers (VYC+C; 10 mins)

Make door handle hangers as a reminder of God’s love for us

You will need: a door hanger and dove template printed on stiff white card for each child; scissors, felt-tip pens, glue. ?

Ask the children to cut out their door hangers and dove, or pre-cut these for younger children. ?
They then write their own name across the dotted line. ?
Invite the children to add words to the dove to remind them that God loves them.
Now attach the dove to the door hanger. Position the dove body so that its tail feathers overlap the curved edge of the door hanger, then carefully glue each wing in place, tucking the wing edges underneath the dove body so they spread out each side of the dove. Finally, glue the dove body in place on the hanger.
The children can decorate the rest of the hanger using colour and pattern. ?Invite them to take their door hangers home.

Gather Umbrella prayers (VYC+C; 10 mins)

Remember the voice of God from above

You will need: a garden parasol, a golf umbrella, a gazebo or similar, cloud shapes, string; stickers and a marker pen. ?

Beforehand, hang lots of cloud shapes from the spokes of the garden parasol (or similar-shaped item). Prepare stickers with the phrase ‘You are my child, I am pleased with you’.
Invite the children to lie under the canopy. They might need to take turns if you have a large group or a small canopy.
Encourage the children to settle quietly.
Ask them to look up at the clouds and imagine God speaking to them from above. What might God want to say to them? What might they want to say to God.
Naming each child in turn, ask a leader to speak from above the canopy saying, ‘You are my child, I am pleased with you’. ?
Give each child a sticker as they come out from below the canopy.

Make Baptism bunting (C; 15 mins)

Decorative bunting with symbols of baptism

You will need: coloured card, pennant shapes, baptism symbols, string or fabric ribbon, glue and stapler, sticky tape or drawing pins. ?

Print pennant shapes on coloured card and cut these out. Give each child one pennant. ?
Invite the children to look at the baptism symbol examples then choose one symbol to draw on each side of their pennant card. Children can do more than one pennant each, depending on group size, space and time constraints. ?
Space out the finished pennants along the ribbon and staple or stick these on to create the bunting. ?
Hang the bunting around room using sticky tape or drawing pins.

Pray Creative prayer using water (C+YP; 5 mins)

A practical way to experience forgiveness and be affirmed by God

You will need: some dirty stones or pebbles from the garden or beach, a bowl of warm water, kitchen towel. ?

Sit everyone in a circle round the bowl of water and let each person choose a stone or pebble. ?
Give everyone time to handle the stones and think of what they have done wrong and what they would like to say sorry to God for. ?
Let them wash their stone in the water, one at a time (change water between people if necessary), as a way of letting go of their wrongdoing. ?
Encourage them to dry their stone on some kitchen towel, then reflect on how it feels to have a clean stone and to be forgiven. ?
Afterwards, the leader turns to the person on his/her left and says to the group: ‘This is [name of person] the Beloved, with whom God is well pleased.’ ?
That person then introduces the person on their left in the same way. Continue until the leader is the final one to be introduced.