Bible Texts:
Luke 3:1-6; Mark 1:1-8
Children's Bible Story sources:
"John the Baptist," Spark Story Bible, p.234
"John the Baptist,” DK Children's Everyday Bible, p.222
"Heaven Breaks Through," The Jesus Storybook Bible, p.200
Children's Story Resources
Out of the Way! Out of the Way! by Uma Krishnaswami
A young boy spots a baby tree growing in the middle of a dusty path in his village. He carefully places rocks around it as the local mango seller rushes past shouting, "Out of the way! Out of the way!" As the tree grows bigger, people and animals traverse the path until it becomes a lane, flowing like a river around the tree. Over time, the lane becomes a road, and a young man crossing the road with his children remembers the baby tree from long ago. By the time he is an old man, the tree has become a giant. The city traffic continues to rattle past, noisier and busier than ever, but sometimes the great tree works its magic, and people just stop, and listen.
How these stories are connected: People are giving instructions to do things: go around a tree; repent from your sins. Sometimes we have to take special action in order for good things to happen.
Questions about Out of the Way! Out of the Way:
How was the little tree protected from the people on the road?
Why was everyone shouting “Out of the way!” ?
Now people have to go out of the way to go around the tree. Why is that a good thing?
Questions about the Bible story:
Why were people going out of their way to see John?
What was he telling them to do?
Why is that a good thing?
Questions about our lives:
Why were people going out of their way to see John?
What was he telling them to do?
Why is that a good thing?
Prayer
God, thank you for the amazing people and things you send to help us go out of our way to find you. Help us see you everywhere. Amen.
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