Baptism Class Leader's Guide Before Class
Baptism Class Leader’s Guide Here are some tips for hosting a baptism class and making the baptism experience intentional and memorable!
Before Class 1. Go to MyBaptismStory.com to download the free resources available! a. A baptism certificate to help commemorate the important day! (There are two to choose from.) b. An image with the My Baptism Story graphic to use in your advertising, announcement slides, postcards, etc. 2. Get the word out several weeks ahead of time to give kids plenty of time to talk with their families and let you know they’re interested in baptism! 3. We suggest doing the baptism class in two one-hour sessions, perhaps over two Sundays or two Wednesday nights. It can be difficult to cover the entire book in just one hour. Copyright © 2017 by The Foundry Publishing. Permission to copy for local church use only. User must contact publisher for any additional use.
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4. At least one parent/guardian/trusted adult should attend the class with each child when possible. Baptism is something to be celebrated together! 5. Go through the book on your own before class so you can be prepared for questions and aware of your church’s liturgy and baptism process. Provide each child with a copy of your church’s liturgy if it is not in the book. 6. Plan baptism on a Sunday when kids can join the service to see their friends being baptized and experience the celebration! Pro Tip: While you’re hosting a baptism class for the candidates, mention the sacrament of baptism and its place in our Christian walk to everyone else in kids’ worship. Prepare others for the experience of baptism.
during Class 1. As the facilitator, make sure each child has a book of his or her own. Provide pens and Bibles if needed. 2. Put your mind at ease! No other lesson has to be taught other than what the book provides for this class, so don’t feel like you have to write any big speeches. Welcome everyone to class, pray together, and Jump Right In! 3. Read each section of the book and each scripture out loud, then pause to allow kids and their parents/guardians time to work through the activity on the page. 4. Let kids work with their parents/guardians as they answer the questions. The book is about making discoveries, so encourage these trusted adults to participate, but allow the child to lead. This is also an opportunity for those adults to remember their own baptism. 5. Allow kids to share some of their answers after each section if they feel comfortable (and if there’s time). 6. If you’re going through the book in the recommended two sessions, go through page 15 until you get to Explore Your Baptism Story in week 1. Assign this section and the Explore Another Baptism Story section as homework to be done the week between classes. Copyright © 2017 by The Foundry Publishing. Permission to copy for local church use only. User must contact publisher for any additional use.
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7. In week 2, finish the book. 8. In the On That Day section, plan a field trip to the sanctuary to see the baptismal, changing rooms, meeting space, etc. Kids will feel more comfortable if they know exactly where to go that Sunday. 9. Have kids send postcards to friends, family, teachers, etc., inviting people to their baptism. 10. Encourage the parents/guardians to celebrate their child with a party, a special meal, etc. to honor their decision to be baptized. Pro Tip: Buy some 3-5 oz. plastic bottles and fill them with water from the baptismal the morning of the baptism. Give a bottle of baptism water to each child being baptized as another way to remember.
After the Baptism 1. Follow up with the kids a week later to make sure they fill out the Remember Your Baptism section of their book. 2. You can even follow up with kids a year after their baptism and challenge them to re-open their books, remember the experience, and thank God for His continued grace!
Copyright © 2017 by The Foundry Publishing. Permission to copy for local church use only. User must contact publisher for any additional use.
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Before Class 1. Go to MyBaptismStory.com to download the free resources available! a. A baptism certificate to help commemorate the important day! (There are two to choose from.) b. An image with the My Baptism Story graphic to use in your advertising, announcement slides, postcards, etc. 2. Get the word out several weeks ahead of time to give kids plenty of time to talk with their families and let you know they’re interested in baptism! 3. We suggest doing the baptism class in two one-hour sessions, perhaps over two Sundays or two Wednesday nights. It can be difficult to cover the entire book in just one hour. Copyright © 2017 by The Foundry Publishing. Permission to copy for local church use only. User must contact publisher for any additional use.
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4. At least one parent/guardian/trusted adult should attend the class with each child when possible. Baptism is something to be celebrated together! 5. Go through the book on your own before class so you can be prepared for questions and aware of your church’s liturgy and baptism process. Provide each child with a copy of your church’s liturgy if it is not in the book. 6. Plan baptism on a Sunday when kids can join the service to see their friends being baptized and experience the celebration! Pro Tip: While you’re hosting a baptism class for the candidates, mention the sacrament of baptism and its place in our Christian walk to everyone else in kids’ worship. Prepare others for the experience of baptism.
during Class 1. As the facilitator, make sure each child has a book of his or her own. Provide pens and Bibles if needed. 2. Put your mind at ease! No other lesson has to be taught other than what the book provides for this class, so don’t feel like you have to write any big speeches. Welcome everyone to class, pray together, and Jump Right In! 3. Read each section of the book and each scripture out loud, then pause to allow kids and their parents/guardians time to work through the activity on the page. 4. Let kids work with their parents/guardians as they answer the questions. The book is about making discoveries, so encourage these trusted adults to participate, but allow the child to lead. This is also an opportunity for those adults to remember their own baptism. 5. Allow kids to share some of their answers after each section if they feel comfortable (and if there’s time). 6. If you’re going through the book in the recommended two sessions, go through page 15 until you get to Explore Your Baptism Story in week 1. Assign this section and the Explore Another Baptism Story section as homework to be done the week between classes. Copyright © 2017 by The Foundry Publishing. Permission to copy for local church use only. User must contact publisher for any additional use.
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7. In week 2, finish the book. 8. In the On That Day section, plan a field trip to the sanctuary to see the baptismal, changing rooms, meeting space, etc. Kids will feel more comfortable if they know exactly where to go that Sunday. 9. Have kids send postcards to friends, family, teachers, etc., inviting people to their baptism. 10. Encourage the parents/guardians to celebrate their child with a party, a special meal, etc. to honor their decision to be baptized. Pro Tip: Buy some 3-5 oz. plastic bottles and fill them with water from the baptismal the morning of the baptism. Give a bottle of baptism water to each child being baptized as another way to remember.
After the Baptism 1. Follow up with the kids a week later to make sure they fill out the Remember Your Baptism section of their book. 2. You can even follow up with kids a year after their baptism and challenge them to re-open their books, remember the experience, and thank God for His continued grace!
Copyright © 2017 by The Foundry Publishing. Permission to copy for local church use only. User must contact publisher for any additional use.
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