Jesus got angry? He knocked over tables? This story can be a surprising one for children to hear, but is a fun one to teach and act out. Of course, the important thing to emphasize is that Jesus had a good reason to get mad. He was not having a selfish temper tantrum, but was defending the integrity of God’s house. The lesson that these crafts accompany reminds us that we are made to worship God, and we want to honor Him with our lives and bodies. One of these crafts reminds us of the story with a simple “whip” made of yarn. The other craft encourages students to consider what it means to “clean out” distractions and focus on the best ways to love and serve God.
Verses or Captions to Consider… (Main Text: John 2:12-22)
And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.
-John 2:15
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
-John 2:19
Throw out distractions! Clean up for worship…
Worship in God’s temple
A House of Prayer…Respect God’s church.
Clean it up! Ways to worship
A life of Worship: our bodies are temples.
More Teaching Ideas:
- Watch the video of this children’s sermon or craft demonstration
- Compare our Sunday School lesson on John 2:13-22
- Compare an alternate Bible lesson on Jesus cleaning the temple
- Compare the John 3:13-22 children’s sermon from rfour.org
Craft one: “Temple Clearing Whip”
You will need:
- Yarn or string
- Markers
- Fabric (optional)
- Construction paper
- Markers or crayons
- Scissors
- Tape
Procedure:
- Choose what kinds and colors of string you prefer for your “whip.”
- Cut several strings in similar lengths.
- Tie a knot at the top of the strings, and secure with paper or fabric and tape (packing tape works best).
- Braid your strings together in a twist or traditional braid as desired.
- Snip the ends to have a fringe “whip.” Add a caption or verse to your soft lash-giver!
Craft Two: “Worship Methods Reminder”
You will need:
- Paper bag
- Paper plate
- Paper (construction)
- Markers or crayons
- Glue and/or tape
- Hole Punch
- Scissors
- Extra decoration
Procedure:
1. Decorate one paper plate with
2. Add descriptions and Scripture references to each shape.
3. Cut out the shapes and punch holes in them for the string.
4. Slide string or ribbon through each shape, taping it to secure. Display in a prominent setting to recall the fulfillment of God’s Covenant promises.