Baptism in Jesus’ Name: Oil and Water | Object Lesson
Main Point: Sin separates us from God, but Jesus Christ has made a way for us to be forgiven. Through repentance and baptism in Jesus’ name, we respond to the Gospel and receive the promise of remission of sins.
Scripture: Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Additional Scripture: Acts 8:35–39
Lesson Overview
Why won’t oil and water mix? This simple science demonstration provides an opportunity to teach children about sin, repentance, and the importance of baptism in Jesus’ name.
Using a clear jar, colored water, and cooking oil, children will observe how two liquids separate into distinct layers. This visual illustration can help introduce the biblical truth that sin separates us from God and that we need the salvation Jesus Christ provides.
The lesson then connects the demonstration to the story of Philip and the Ethiopian official in Acts 8. After hearing Philip preach Jesus, the Ethiopian recognized his need to be baptized and immediately asked to do so.
This activity provides a natural opportunity to explain Acts 2:38 and answer children’s questions about repentance, water baptism in Jesus’ name, and receiving the Holy Ghost.
Supplies Needed
- Large clear glass or plastic jar
- Water
- Food coloring
- Cooking oil
- Tray to catch spills
- Spoon or stirring stick
- Bible
- Paper towels for cleanup
Preparation
Before class, fill a clear jar approximately halfway with water. Choose a jar large enough for the children to see the separation between the liquids.
Add several drops of food coloring to the water and stir until the color is evenly distributed. A darker color, such as blue or red, will make the water easier to distinguish from the oil.
Keep the cooking oil in a separate container until you’re ready to begin the demonstration. Place the jar on a tray to protect your table from spills. Practice the demonstration before class so you know how much oil to add and how quickly the liquids will separate.
Teacher Tip: Cooking oil is less dense than water and does not readily mix with it. When poured into the jar, the oil will form a separate layer above the colored water. You can briefly stir the liquids to create small droplets, but they will gradually separate again.
How to Teach the Object Lesson
Step 1: Introduce the Experiment
Begin by showing the children the jar of colored water.
Ask: “How many of you have ever seen oil and water mixed together? Do you think they’ll become one liquid if we pour them into the same jar?”
Allow the children to make predictions. Hold up the cooking oil and slowly pour a small amount into the jar. Ask the children to watch carefully as the oil rises and forms a separate layer above the water.
Say: “Look at that! They’re both inside the same jar, but they aren’t mixing together!”
Use a spoon to stir the liquids briefly, then allow the jar to sit undisturbed.
Say: “Even when I stir them together, they begin separating again. The oil and water have different properties, so they don’t naturally stay mixed.”
Explain that this demonstration will help introduce something important about our relationship with God.
Step 2: Sin Separates Us from God
Point to the two layers in the jar.
Say: “Do you see how the oil and water are separated? This can remind us of something the Bible teaches about sin.”
Explain that God is holy and righteous, but sin is disobedience to His Word. Sin damages our relationship with God and separates us from the fellowship He wants us to have with Him.
Ask: “What are some things the Bible tells us are wrong?”
Allow the children to mention examples such as lying, stealing, disobeying, or treating others unkindly. Explain that everyone has sinned and needs God’s forgiveness.
Say: “Sometimes people think they can fix their sin problem just by trying harder to be good. But we cannot save ourselves. We need Jesus!”
Remind the children that God loves us so much that He made a way for our sins to be forgiven through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Important Teaching Point: The oil and water are only an illustration of separation. Sin is not a physical substance, and baptism is not a chemical process. The purpose of the demonstration is to help children understand why we need the salvation Jesus provides.
Step 3: Philip Meets the Ethiopian Official
Leave the jar where the children can see it and open your Bible to Acts 8:35–39.
Explain that Philip was a man who preached the Gospel. One day, God directed him to meet an Ethiopian official who was traveling in a chariot.
The Ethiopian was reading from the book of Isaiah, but he didn’t fully understand what the Scripture meant. Philip approached him and asked whether he understood what he was reading. The Ethiopian invited Philip to join him and explain the passage.
Read Acts 8:35: “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
Explain that Philip told the Ethiopian about Jesus Christ and the wonderful message of salvation. As they continued traveling, they came to some water.
Read Acts 8:36: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”
Ask: “Why do you think the Ethiopian wanted to be baptized after hearing Philip preach about Jesus?”
Allow the children to respond. Explain that baptism was part of the Gospel response Philip had taught him. The Ethiopian understood that following Jesus involved more than simply hearing a good message. He needed to respond to what he had heard.
Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Step 4: What Does the Bible Teach About Baptism?
Return the children’s attention to the jar. Explain that the separation between the oil and water reminds us of our need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
Then open your Bible to Acts 2:38 and read the verse aloud.
Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Explain that Peter gave clear instructions to the people who wanted to know what they should do after hearing the Gospel.
First, Peter told them to repent. Explain that repentance means being genuinely sorry for our sins and making the decision to turn away from sin and toward God. Repentance is more than simply saying, “I’m sorry.” It involves a sincere change of heart and a willingness to obey God’s Word.
Second, Peter told them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Explain that water baptism is an important part of our response to the Gospel. In the book of Acts, believers were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is not simply taking a bath or washing dirt off our bodies. It is an act of faith and obedience connected to the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. When we are baptized, we are immersed in water in the name of Jesus Christ, identifying with His death, burial, and resurrection.
Third, Peter promised the gift of the Holy Ghost. Explain that God doesn’t simply want to forgive our past sins. He wants to fill us with His Spirit and give us power to live for Him. The Holy Ghost is a wonderful gift that God has promised to those who respond to His Word.
Step 5: Why Baptism Matters
Hold up the jar again and ask: “Could the oil and water fix their differences by themselves?”
Explain that the illustration reminds us that we cannot remove our own sins through human effort. Only Jesus Christ can save us.
Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus made salvation possible. The Bible teaches us to respond to that Gospel through repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name, and receiving the Holy Ghost.
Remind the children that the Ethiopian official didn’t wait until he returned home or until a more convenient time. When he heard the message of Jesus and saw water, he wanted to be baptized.
Ask: “What does that tell us about how important baptism was to him?”
Encourage the children to understand that baptism is not something we should ignore or treat as unimportant. It is part of the biblical response to the Gospel.
Bringing the Lesson Home
Point to the jar one final time.
Say: “Today we watched two liquids separate from one another. That simple picture reminds us of something very serious: sin separates us from God, and we need Jesus to forgive our sins. But here’s the wonderful news! Jesus loves us, and He has made a way for us to be saved!”
Explain that God doesn’t want us to remain separated from Him because of sin. He wants us to repent, obey His Word, and experience the new life He offers.
Remind the children of the Ethiopian official’s response when he heard the Gospel. He didn’t simply listen to Philip and continue on his way. He wanted to obey what he had learned.
Encourage the children to take God’s Word seriously and respond with faith and obedience.
If children have questions about baptism, allow time for them to ask. Explain why baptism is performed by immersion and why the apostles baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
For children who have not yet been baptized, encourage them to speak with their parents, pastor, or Sunday School teacher about what the Bible teaches.
