Supplies:

Large poster paper or cardstock (1 per group or individual)
Old magazines or newspapers
Scissors
Glue sticks or tape
Markers, pens, or colored pencils

Note to the Teacher

This lesson, “Signs and Stories,” invites students to explore John the Baptist’s challenge to live by a different story in Matthew 3:1–12. The icebreaker, “Story Switch,” helps them experience what it feels like when a story changes direction — just as repentance calls us to turn toward God’s better story. The discussion focuses on understanding repentance, not as guilt but as transformation. In the “Living the Story Collage” activity, students use art to contrast old patterns with the new life God calls them into, discovering that Advent isn’t only about waiting for Christ’s arrival; it’s about choosing to live the kingdom story right now.

Icebreaker (10 min.)

Story Switch

Invite students to gather in pairs. Each person takes a turn telling a one-minute story about something ordinary that happened. Halfway through (30 seconds or so), you call out “SWITCH!” and the partner must finish the story however they want. After a few rounds, debrief: “What happened when someone changed your story? How did it feel to have your story go in a different direction?”

Connect this experience to the idea of repentance as turning, choosing to live a new story shaped by God’s hope and justice.

Bible Reading (5 min.)

Read Matthew 3:1–12.

Discussion Questions (10 min.)

Themes: Self-reflection, repentance. and forgiveness

What message was John the Baptist preaching in this passage?
What was the most confusing part of this passage? Which words sound strong and forceful?
What do you think the word “repent” means in this passage? Have you heard that word used before? When and where?
How does John describe what it means to “bear fruit”? Why do you think that is the metaphor the author chose?
What do you think caused John to react so strongly to the Pharisees and Sadducees? What do you already know about Pharisees and Sadducees?
Do you think repentance has more to do with feeling sorry, with feeling guilty, or reflecting to make different choices? (or something else entirely?) Why?
If you could design one symbol or image that represents “living a new story,” what would it look like?

Active Learning Activity (20 min.)

“Living the Story Collage”

Provide a large sheet of poster paper or cardstock for each small group (or for individuals, depending on the size of the group). Supply magazines, newspapers, scrap paper, scissors, glue, and markers.

Tell students they will create a piece of art that illustrates what John means when we choose to turn our lives from an old story to a new one and follow God into living lives of justice, peace, and kindness.

Explain that the left side of the poster will have words and images that depict the old story. In the middle, there will be something that symbolizes the act of turning, and on the left, there will be images and words that symbolize the new story.

After they have finished, give students a few minutes to share their collages and explain what inspired their designs.