Sunday School lesson about Baptism

An apple led to baptism.

How do you explain the need for baptism to 3rd graders? I struggled with this question while preparing my Sunday School lesson about Baptism.

I figured that a crash course in Christian History was necessary. A sort of voyage through time.

So I created this questionnaire:

Who remembers Adam and Eve? They all did.
Who remembers the apple? They all did.
Who could tell me the link between the appel and Baptism? Hmmm, not so sure- and rightly so!

This video was a great introduction to the explanation:

Introduction to the Baptism Sunday School Lesson

I then recounted a rather unhappy school memory. I had a teacher who must have had strong musketeer leanings: she believed in All for One and One for All. If anyone talked during class, then the entire class would be punished. This was also my first case of rebellion. The strategy seemed extremely unfair to me. Why should I be punished for my neighbour’s incapacity to listen to the lesson?

This is how I simplified the concept to the children:

The same with Baptism, I explained.

Instead of all perishing because of one poor decision and one seemingly irresistible apple, we are all granted redemption through baptism.

“He who is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16)

Read more Sunday School lesson posts here: Teaching Children About Proper Church Etiquette.

Recommended Children’s Book about Baptism: Philo and the SuperHolies