CE: John the Baptist as the Forerunner
🚦 John the Baptist: The Forerunner
And Other People Who Helped Get Things Ready!
👣 What’s a Forerunner?
A forerunner is someone who goes ahead to get things ready.
Like when you clean up your room before your friend comes over—you’re preparing the way!
In the Bible, forerunners were people who got others ready for what God was about to do.
And the most famous one is…
📣 John the Baptist!
John was sent to get people ready for Jesus.
He:
✅ Preached in the wilderness
✅ Told people to repent (turn back to God)
✅ Baptized them as a sign of a fresh start
✅ Said, “Look! It’s Jesus—the Lamb of God!” (John 1:29)
All four Gospels say John was the one the prophets talked about:
“A voice crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord!’” (Isaiah 40:3)
🔥 Other Forerunners in the Bible
John wasn’t the only one! Let’s meet some other forerunners God used:
1. Elijah – 🔥 The Fire Prophet
- He told people to stop worshiping idols
- God said He would send Elijah before the Messiah came
- John the Baptist came “in the spirit of Elijah”—he even wore the same kind of clothes!
2. Moses – 🪔 The Law Giver
- Led the people out of Egypt
- Helped them get ready to follow God’s rules
- Told them: “One day, God will send a prophet like me!” (That was Jesus!)
3. Samuel – 👑 The King Chooser
- Spoke for God
- Anointed Israel’s first kings (Saul and David)
- Helped people listen to God before they had kings
4. David’s Mighty Men – ⚔️ Brave Warriors
- Helped David become king
- Fought battles and stayed loyal
- Got the kingdom ready for David—just like the disciples did for Jesus!
5. Zerubbabel & Joshua – 🏗️ Temple Builders
- Led people back home from exile
- Rebuilt the temple
- Got everyone ready to worship God again
6. The Apostles – 🌍 Jesus’ Messengers
- Told people about Jesus
- Started the Church
- Spread the Gospel to the whole world!
🌟 Final Thought
Every forerunner helped prepare the way for something big God was about to do.
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, and now…
We can be forerunners too—by telling others about Him!
📝 Activity Page: Who Got Ready for What?
1. 👣 What’s a Forerunner?
Match the person to what they prepared:
| Person | What They Got Ready For |
|---|---|
| John the Baptist | A. The kings of Israel |
| Moses | B. Jesus |
| Samuel | C. God’s laws and deliverance from Egypt |
| Elijah | D. People’s hearts for Jesus |
2. ✅ True or Not True?
Circle T or N
- A forerunner comes after something happens T / N
- John baptized people and said, “Get ready!” T / N
- David’s warriors helped prepare for Jesus T / N
- You can be a forerunner too T / N
3. 🏗️ Build a Path for Jesus
Draw a path in the wilderness with signs like:
- “Repent!”
- “The King is Coming!”
- “Get Ready!”
- “Here Comes Jesus!”
At the end of the path, draw a cross or a crown!
4. 🙏 Prayer Time
“Dear God, thank You for people like John the Baptist who helped others get ready for You. Help me be a forerunner too, pointing people to Jesus!”
(Draw or write your prayer)
🖍️ Coloring Page Idea
Title: “John the Baptist: Preparing the Way!”
Illustration Includes:
- John the Baptist standing in the wilderness with a scroll that says:
“Prepare the way of the Lord!”
- People walking down a path toward Jesus
- Other forerunners standing nearby: Moses, Elijah, Samuel, the apostles
- Signs along the path: “Repent!” “The Kingdom is Near!” “He is Coming!”
