At Jesus’ baptism we meet the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit together. There is one God.
Print the lesson picture
Use the full-colour picture to teach, or revisit the lesson together with the colour-in page.
Get ready
Have beside you: a Bible open at Matthew 3 and the lesson picture on screen or paper. If the picture is unavailable, describe the river and the dove as you tell the account.
Read Matthew 3:13–17 before you begin. Keep the three names clear. We do not need an object or a pretend game to explain what God is like.
Open the Bible together
Bible background
Jesus came to John to be baptised in the Jordan River. After Jesus came up from the water, the Spirit descended like a dove and the Father spoke from heaven, declaring his delight in his Son. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct persons, present together. They are the one God, not three gods, three parts of God or one person taking turns in different roles. The Spirit’s appearance like a dove does not mean that he is a bird.
Open your Bible at Matthew 3:17. Show your child where you are reading and read the complete verse aloud. Listen again to these words:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”
Explain in your own words:
“Jesus, the Son, was baptised. The Holy Spirit came down like a dove. The Father spoke about his beloved Son. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the one God.”
Look at the picture together
- Find the river. “Jesus was baptised in a river called the Jordan.” Explain that this reminder picture does not show Jesus or John.
- Find the dove. “The Bible says the Holy Spirit came down like a dove. The Holy Spirit is God, not a bird.”
- Listen for the Father’s words. Read the highlighted words again. “Who was the Father speaking about?” Help your child name Jesus, his Son.
Listen for three names in one account
With your Bible open, tell the three parts once more: “Jesus the Son was baptised. The Holy Spirit came down like a dove. The Father spoke from heaven.” Pause after each name.
Ask one question at a time: “Who was baptised?” and “Who spoke about his Son?” Your child may supply a name or listen while you answer. For a child ready for more, ask who came down like a dove.
Bring the account together: “All three are here in this account. There is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Return to the river picture to remember the setting, without trying to match each person of God with a separate object.
Jesus came to carry out God’s saving purpose. After his death and resurrection, he sent his followers to make disciples, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18–20). We learn to trust and follow this living Saviour.
If your child uses the colour-in page, retell the baptism account while finding the river and dove. Keep the spoken Bible account with the picture so that the bird is understood as a reminder.
Pray together
Pray while your child listens, inviting a word or their own short prayer if they wish.
“Father, thank you for your beloved Son, Jesus. Thank you for the Holy Spirit. Help us to know you truly and trust the Saviour you sent. Amen.”
Remember during the day
At your next prayer together, recall the three names from the Bible account: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Praise the one God.
Notice the connection: Ask, “Who did the Father call his beloved Son?” Help with “Jesus.” Then ask a child ready to explain whether Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three gods. Return to the simple truth that they are one God.
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.