Bible Crafts and Activities for Sunday School

Gideon - Good News

Gideon

Gideon - Brave and Mighty Bible Lesson - (This Lesson is available to Members Only) - Good Guy Gideon hides from the Mean Men of Midian. Gideon learns he doesn't have to be afraid of the Mean Men of Midian. God is with him.

At the beginning of the lesson children learn about about threshing and winnowing wheat. Bring in some sheaves of wheat. (You can buy these at craft stores.) The teacher shows them how to do it just like Gideon did in the story. A complete explanation on how to do this is included in the lesson.

Play "Find Gideon" - Before class prepare some cards with pictures of things that Gideon might have hid behind like trees, rocks, hills, mountains, etc. Patterns for these cards are available to Members in the lesson. On the back of one card tape a picture of Gideon. Tape them to a wall or use thumbtacks to attach them to a bulletin board. Have the children take turns trying to find Gideon. Let each child pick a card until someone picks the one Gideon is hiding under. Play again if all your children have not had a chance to play.

Play "Find Gideon" - Depending on how big your classroom is, hide a "Gideon doll" or a picture of Gideon in the room. See who can find Gideon first.

Included in this lesson - Bible Verse Cards, "How many Israelites Can You Find?" Coloring Sheet, Lift the flap to find Gideon Craft, Find Gideon cards and three original songs about Gideon sung to popular tunes.

Copyright Notice - While many of the crafts on this site are free, they are still copyrighted. They are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, except for local church, school, or home use only. It is illegal to copy this material and publish it on another web site, news group, forum, etc. even if you include the copyright notice. You must have permission to copy the material. To request permission to copy this material for any other use contact me by email.

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Make Gideon's Torch - We constructed Gideon's torch in a pot using a small flashlight, a paper lunch bag, a toilet paper tube, a small strip of tag board and some tissue paper. (Make sure flashlight will fit in the TP tube!) Also need, tacky glue, rubber band.

1. Cut the top off the paper lunch bag about 1 inch higher than the tube. (about 3 inches) Save the top.
2. Cut the top to form a long strip. cut the strip in half to form two shorter strips. Cut one on these in half. Fold all strips in half lengthwise. Fold again.
3. Place the tube in the lunch bag. If needed add part of a crumpled newspaper around the tube to give the bag a rounded shape. put glue on the top 1/2 inch of the tube - then press the top of the bag around the tube. Use a rubber band to hold. Once glue has set, take the longest strip made from the bag top and glue this around to cover the raw bag edges. Use rubber band to hold.
4. Take the shorter strips and form in "C" shapes. Glue to either side of bag for "pot" handles. Hold to set.
5. Take a 1/2 inch strip of tag board and wrap around top of flashlight. allow enough overlap to glue easily. Don't glue yet.
6. Choose at least 3 colors - yellow, red, orange - to represent fire. Cut large and small flame shapes from all three colors of tissue and glue onto the strip of tag board. Layer and overlap some for a full effect. Allow to dry.
7. Glue the flame strip around the top of the flashlight. use the rubber band to hold.

Remind students to wait until all glue is dry before putting their "torch" in the pot.

This had a dramatic effect that evening when we turned down the lights and had all the children "light" their torches.

The youngest children were able to help cut and glue their flames. Older children are able to do most of the craft without too much help. Cutting the tops off the bags would streamline the craft as well as having the small tag board strips already cut. Be sure to do a practice one. Sent in by Loretta Wright

Gifts of the Spirit - 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians13

Concepts: The greatest of these is Love.

1. Unwrap a Gift - Write the words "the greatest of these is love"on the outside of an envelope.  Place inside the envelope pieces of paper with the words that describe what love is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.  Write one word on each piece of paper:  patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, it is not self seeking, is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong, etc.  Place the pieces of paper inside the envelope.  Place the envelope inside the box.  Seal it and wrap up the box using 10 layers of wrapping paper. On each layer write one gift of the Spirit.  Write the words wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, distinguish between spirits, speaking in tongues, interpretation, helping others, and administration. Play a game like musical chairs except have the children pass around the gift while playing some music. When the music stops let the child who is holding the gift unwrap one layer and read the word that shows after taking off the layer.  Keep playing until someone gets to open the box. The child that gets to open the box should read the outside of the envelope and pass out the pieces of paper inside.  When everyone has a piece of paper, have each child give an example of the words written on his piece of paper.

Copyright Notice - While many of the crafts on this site are free, they are still copyrighted. They are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, except for local church, school, or home use only. It is illegal to copy this material and publish it on another web site, news group, forum, etc. even if you include the copyright notice. You must have permission to copy the material. To request permission to copy this material for any other use contact me by email.

Giving - God Loves a Cheerful Giver

God loves a cheerful giver, giving to the poor - Talk about things we can give: Money, clothes that we have out grown, old toys, our time, and our talents. Tell the children that they probably don't have money they can give because they are too young to have jobs. They probably don't even get an allowance yet. But there are other things they can give. They can give their time by helping others, and use their talents like drawing, singing, and making things for fund raisers.

They can keep their toys nice and when they out grow them or they are tired of them, they can give them to the poor or sell them and use the money to send to the poor.

They can help decorate a big barrel in which they can bring in things they can't use anymore or would like to give. You can make it a class project. Make sure the children know that they have to ask their parents first before they give something away. Save up the items and then have a garage sale. Let the children know how much they made and where the money was sent.

Copyright Notice - While many of the crafts on this site are free, they are still copyrighted. They are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, except for local church, school, or home use only. It is illegal to copy this material and publish it on another web site, news group, forum, etc. even if you include the copyright notice. You must have permission to copy the material. To request permission to copy this material for any other use contact me by email.

God - God is always with Us -

Here's a great little poem to teach children about God's love.  This poem was written by Carolyn White who is a member of the Children's Ministries Onelist.  A place to exchange ideas dealing with children's ministries: bible crafts, play ideas, party plans, games, ways to involve children in the worship service AND exchange vacation  bible school ideas. Anything to do with Christian kids is welcome! Thank you, Carolyn, for letting us post your poem.

"This is my snowflake, I made it myself. 
If it were real, it would quickly melt.
It wouldn't be around forever and ever,
But there is one thing that won't leave us, no, never.
It is God's Love for each of us all.
He will never leave us, He's there when we call.
So if I feel sad or just need a friend,
I can always turn to God, on Him I can depend."
by Carolyn White

What you will need:  Paper and scissors.

What to do: Print out a copy of the snowflake poem and copy it onto different colors of paper.  (Printing Problems?) Cut out circles from white paper and have the children fold the paper in half and then in half again and show them how to cut snowflakes.

If you don't know how to make snowflakes, here are some links with directions that will show you how to make them.

 

Ben & Jerry's
Chrismon Snowflakes

God's Church - this idea comes from Elizabeth from our bulletin board.

"We recently did an activity with ages 2-5 for God's church where we drew a  picture of a church. The children colored the windows in bright markers to represent stained glass, and colored the doors and the walls of the church. To finish the picture they glued colored toothpicks on the roof. You need to use a heavy paper for this activity. It was fun. Thanks, Elizabeth, for sharing with us.

Good Behavior

Good Behavior Keys (© 2003, Carolyn Warvel)

Parents can use these keys to help make children aware of bad behavior in a fun way. For example, when your child is being mean you can say to your child, "Uh oh, I think we need some kindness. Where is your kindness door? Pretend to look all over your child's body to find the key hole or use your kindness key to tickle your child until he changes his behavior or is at least is aware of it.  If your child is whining, you can lock up the whining or open up the door and let it out. Bethany Davis sent in this idea.  Make a larger version of these keys and hang them up in your class.  Whenever a child is misbehaving use the keys on that child.

What you will need: Different colors of poster board, markers, scissors, and key chain (costs about thirty cents apiece)

What to do:
1. Cut out some key shapes (key pattern) in different colors and punch a hole in the tops. (Printing Problems?)
2. On each key write a certain behavior your child need to work on such as: kindness, patience, no whining, listening sharing, etc.
3. Put the keys together on a key chain ring with your child's name it. 

Tell the Good News

Scripture  Reference: Acts 16, Acts 8:26-38
Concepts:  Tell the Good News, God sent Paul from  town to town to preach the Good News, talk about traveling, discuss how we can spread the Good News today, (Acts 16:10)
Philip tells the Good News to the Ethiopian. Philip obeys God and tell the Good News.

Crafts and Activities

1. Discuss what Paul might have taken with him on  his journey.

2. Discuss what the children might take with them if they went on a trip and pack a paper suitcase

3. Before class make a suitcase out of construction paper for each child or use the pattern (Large file or small file). (Printing Problems?) To make the suitcase, fold a piece of construction paper in half to make a paper that measures 9" x 6". Cut a handle on  the 9" side unfolded side.

A pattern for a "Go Tell Others" suitcase made from a manila folder is available to members of The Resource Room. The suitcase craft goes with a complete Bible lesson on The Great commission.

4. Print out the picture of things that can go in the suitcase (Large file or small file). (Printing Problems?)

5. Have the children pick out items from the paper that they would like to put into their suitcase. They will have a lot of fun putting things in the suitcase they know would never fit in a suitcase. (For children who can't cut yet, have a bunch of pictures already cut out.) If you don't want to use glue, you can have the children color the pictures and circle the pictures that might go in a suitcase. My children loved this craft  and wanted to do more than one. They especially liked putting things in the suitcase that really didn't belong.

We used this activity during our children's ministry program this past Wed. The kids all loved it! From pre school - 6th grade (we provided pre cut pictures for the little ones to glue in). GREAT IDEA! We also played the Memory Game with a real suitcase... another hit with the kids!   Ann St. Peters, MO

Play a guessing game:  Bring a backpack or suitcase filled  with about 5 or 6 things that you  might take on a trip such as:  a flashlight, toothbrush, binoculars, comb and brush. Show the children all the items and name them. Put them all back in the suitcase. Pull out all the items except one and ask them which one is still in the suitcase then repeat with a different object. As an alternative, put at least 10 things in the suitcase, pull them all out and show each one. Put them all back in and as the children name each item that is in the suitcase pull them out.  Have the children take turns naming the items until there is nothing left in the suitcase.

Make a whispering tube: Have the children decorate a paper  towel roll with stickers or markers and use them to tell the good news. Discuss how Paul and his friends spread the Good News  and how we can spread the Good News today: television, telephone, talking to others,  books, etc.  Play a game with the whispering  tube.  Whisper some good news ("Jesus loves you")  to the child next  to you and have the children go around in a circle whispering  the same thing until it gets back to the last person who gives  the message out loud.

Also look at "The Great Commission Crafts" below.

Good Samaritan

1. Make Compassion Rolls - Wrap a TP tube in colored tissue paper and secure one end with ribbon. Have the children put different things inside the tube that can be used to show compassion: 1) a handful of Hershey's hugs--we all need hugs 2) a handful of Hershey's kisses--kisses are just as important as hugs 3) some band-aids--for boo-boos 4) clip art picture of praying hands--to remind us to pray for others and 5) clip art picture of a Bible--to remind us to share the Word of God with others. Secure the other end with ribbon. Tell the children to share their "compassion roll" with someone (parents, siblings, grandparents, or a friend). The children loved discussing the different things that we can do to show compassion and could wait to see what we were going to put inside our "rolls". Sent in by Theresa Bostick

The Great Commission

“Go” Light

What you will need: black, red, yellow, and green construction paper cut to 81/2x11.

What to do:

1. Print the Traffic Light and Bible Verse Page (NIV Pattern or KJV Pattern) onto white card stock. Use the Circle patterns to print circles on red and yellow paper cut to 8 1/2" x 11" so it fits in your printer. Or have your children color the circles in class. Print the "Go" Circle Pattern onto green paper. Or print them on white paper and have your children color the circles green. Cut rectangles the same size as the traffic light from black paper or have your children color them black. (Printing Problems?)

2. In class have your children glue the pieces on as you talk about The Great Commission.

Before gluing, explain that Jesus had spent many days with the disciples after He had risen from the dead. But the time came when He had to leave the earth because he needed to be with His Heavenly Father. Jesus blessed the disciples and told them that they needed to go out and tell others about Him. This is called The Great Commission. Read Matthew 28:19-20 from your Bible.

Explain that the stop light will remind us that Jesus wants us to tell others about him. Have your children glue the black rectangle on the traffic light pattern or color the rectangle.

Ask, "What color do you think we should use to remind us of The Great Commission?" Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations." What color represents "Go" on a traffic light? That's right, green represents "Go". Let's glue the green circle with the word "Go" on it at the top of the traffic light.

Ask the children what the red light on the traffic light represents. It mean you should stop. Let's glue the red circle on the traffic light. It will reminds us that we do not want to stop telling others the good news about Jesus.

What does the yellow light represent on the traffic signal? The yellow light means slow down. We don’t want to slow down, but be obedient to what God wants us to do.
Glue green circle: What about green? What does the green light mean? To go!. That’s what Jesus wants us to do: GO! We wants us to go and tell others about him.

Sent in by Theresa Smiley

Also look at "Tell the Good News" crafts above.