“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The rich ruler in this story came to Jesus with the wrong question. He thought that somehow if he had enough or did enough or tried enough, he could earn his way into Heaven. Yet he was not willing to do the only thing necessary in putting Christ first. Sometimes we tend to use this story as a sort of warning against the evils of riches, but that’s not
How can we focus on the most important things? In this story, Jesus met a rich young man who thought he could save himself, and was unwilling to part with his earthly possessions. Encourage children to contemplate the most important things in life and think about what it means to put Jesus first. Craft a coin bank to save money to give away. A “sewing heart” uses the “eye of the needle” element while practicing creative coordination
What would you give up? This children’s message focuses on the story of Jesus and the rich young ruler, who thought he could earn himself salvation but missed out on the most important asset available, Christ! This message challenges kids to consider how we can become distracted by wealth or “stuff”, and forget about the most important things in life. Law/Gospel Theme: Many times, when we look at this passage, we focus on the wealth element, emphasizing
This message uses a familiar idea of trading items to illustrate the Gospel principles of salvation. Children will consider what it means to give one thing up to get another, and how that concept relates to the life and death of Christ. When we accept His free gift of life, Jesus takes on our sin and “bad stuff” and in return makes us children of God. He has paid the ultimate price to give us a new
We often teach children how Jesus came to Earth to live and die for us. However, we don’t always elaborate the essential reasons behind why He did so. The sacrifices Christ made for us included relinquishing a Heavenly throne in order to embrace humanity and take the punishment for our wrongdoing. These crafts aim to recount those essential truths. A “Journey of Jesus Wheel” traces His life, death, and resurrection. A “Cost of the Cross Collage” uses
“Let’s swap!” Trading one item for another is something children are familiar with, but we usually aim for an even swap. When we think about how Jesus came to Earth and died in our place, it doesn’t sound fair at all. God sent His son to give us new life, and through Him our sins are traded for salvation. In Christ, we see the fullness of God’s love for us, and celebrate what He did on our
These days, being “salty” isn’t much of a compliment…so what does it mean to have “salt” in our lives as Christians? Jesus calls us to flavor and influence the world for Him. He commands us to do all things in His name. Although we struggle on our own, in Christ we can do all things. This lesson focuses on a somewhat tricky passage in the Gospel of Mark, examining what it means to follow the Lord wholeheartedly
These days, being “salty” isn’t a good thing…however, the Bible calls us to be the salt of the world, and Jesus invites Christians to be patient and “full of salt.” We can “flavor” and preserve the world around us when we are connected and devoted to Christ. These crafts remind kids of this word image in fun and creative ways. Salt dough can be used for fun molding, or to make more permanent baked crafts. Salty art
Children can have a challenging time understanding metaphors and abstract concepts. In this Gospel passage, Jesus offers some hyperbolic statements that can be hard even for adults. The focus of this message emphasizes the “salt” element, though. Kids are encouraged to think about the importance of our influence on the world as Christians. Just as salt can add flavor to food (among other things), we can “flavor” those around us and maintain an essential impact on those
Use this coloring page when teaching about Elijah, the prophet featured prominently the book of Kings. His ministry was during a dark time in Israel’s history and he often was the messenger of God’s judgement. This is another illustration in our Bible Heroes Coloring Book. This line art illustration shows Elijah with hands raised in prayer. Visual elements of a raven, fire, water, and oil jars will remind kids of the main miracles in Elijah’s story. Download the
“Me first!” This is a cry that is likely heard by anyone working with children. Kids are often short on patience, and can also be a bit competitive. This message communicates to them the principles that Jesus taught, which turn our ideas of greatness upside down. Discussing this Gospel passage with kids emphasizes to them how dependent we are on God, who is truly the greatest. We encourage children to rely on the Lord and seek to
Who is the greatest? It all seems upside down…These crafts focus on the interaction between Jesus and His disciples in Mark 9, when He instructed them in humility and explained that to be “greatest”, they needed to think less of themselves and depend on God. This idea might seem upside down or “topsy turvy” to what we normally expect. But God’s ways are always right on! These crafts celebrate that “upside down” element as well as the
What does it take to be the best? This is a question that might arise when we contemplate the lives and efforts of sports stars or historical figures. Greatness in the eyes of society usually means recognizing those who work hard, achieve success, and operate competitively. Yet in this Gospel passage, we see that God has different concepts of being great. Jesus tells His disciples that to be great requires thinking less of ourselves and recognizing who
The tongue can be a tremendous tool…or a deadly weapon! It might seem simple enough, but our words have powerful impact. It’s important to teach young children that our words carry weight, and we want to use them wisely. These crafts remind students to think before speaking and to use kind words that build others up and glorify God. A “tongues in cheek envelope” offers ideas for using speech well. A “two-tongued puppet” warns of the dangers
This message emphasizes to kids the importance of using speech wisely. Children experience the impact that words can have, but they don’t always stop to think before they speak or consider how their words will impact others. This message reminds students that the things we say can be a helpful tool or a harmful weapon. Words do have lasting effects for good or for bad. We want to encourage our young people to use their mouths to
Jesus did many amazing miracles in His life on Earth…in fact, “He did all things well” as people said of Him! We can trust that He will do all things well in our lives, too. He loves us and promises His presence, even if we still struggle. These crafts celebrate the healing of a man born deaf and mute. Through them, children will consider the importance of having “open ears” to God’s Word and mouths that are
Wash your hands! It’s an important admonition and one that children are used to hearing. In this lesson, they’ll learn of a time when Jesus was criticized for not washing His hands…only it wasn’t about germs in His case. The story touches on Jewish traditions and customs, and how they distracted people from recognizing and understanding who Jesus was and how He came to heal. Unfortunately, sometimes we let rules and traditions get in the way of
How do we have good “heart hygiene”? These crafts recollect the importance of not only taking care of our physical bodies, but having the right heart intent as well. Children will consider the blessing and comfort of knowing that Jesus washes our inner sins away. A “Clean Up Box” provides a handy space for cleaning implements, as well as reminders of how to focus on Christ first and foremost. A hanging bathroom decoration serves to remind kids
Actions speak louder than words…and pure intentions speak louder than outer actions! Children are accustomed to following rules or going along with traditions, even if they often don’t quite understand the meaning behind them. However, it is important to recognize that in our Christian lives, heart intent matters. God cares about what’s inside of us, more than the details of what we look like or do outwardly. This message focuses on that “clean hearts” element, which we
The Armor of God is a fun visual to talk about with students, but it is important to communicate what it truly means, as well. As frightening as it might sound, there are evil forces at work in the world around us. The good news is that we know God protects and provides for us, no matter what. This message uses some protective “gear” to exemplify the importance and meaning of being protected from harm. Our spiritual
How do we protect ourselves spiritually? What is God’s Armor, and how do we clothe ourselves with it? These crafts are just a few fun examples of how to make great visual reminders of the elements that make up the Armor of God. A paper plate serves as the base for a “shield” of faith; a headband makes a “helmet” of salvation, and a paper towel tube offers a great start to a “sword” of the spirit.
Children can relate to the concept of admiring soldiers…whether the idea of armor comes from ancient Roman days, Medieval knights, or modern day military and police, donning a protective uniform is something kids appreciate. Wearing defensive gear offers a visual analogy to spiritual armor. It’s important to share with students that there is spiritual warfare going on around us. This might seem like an uncomfortable or frightening thought. However, when we know that God is on our
This message aims to describe for children what wisdom means and where it comes from. Young people might think of wisdom as mere knowledge or “head smarts”, but true wisdom comes from the heart. Wisdom is something that we should desire because God wants us to have it and practice using it. The message uses practical objects and misconceptions to elaborate on what wisdom is. Law/Gospel Theme: God wants us to act as wise and not foolish
What is wisdom? How do we get it and use it, and why is it important? Youngsters might imagine wisdom to be synonymous with intelligence, but it is helpful to explain that wisdom comes from the Lord, and that it involves decisions and discernment. These crafts highlight those principles. A “Decision Bag” allows children to create a re-usable tool for making choices. A “Treasure Box” reminds kids that wisdom is a true treasure. And an owl puppet
