In the parable of the Vineyard owner’s Two Sons, the key idea is changing your mind. Visually, a yes and no can be easily expressed through a thumbs up or thumbs down and that’s what this craft captures. It’s a straightforward craft, and you get a nice prop that the kid can use – the prototype came in quite handy for video calls!
To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, some glue, some thick card or craft foam and a tongue depressor (though any flat stick like a popsicle stick would work).
Please note in the photos I have printed pink hands that photograph better — the template uses outlines only.
Roughly cut your four template pieces and lightly stick onto your thick card of craft foam.
Cut out all four shapes, don’t worry if the template buckles on soft materials.
If using foam, peel back the template layers.
Stick the finger ends to one of the two hands.
Stick the last piece to the other hand making sure the thumb is pointing in the opposite direction.
Add glue to one blank side of a hand and position the stick in place.
Add more glue to the stick before adding the second hand.
Your creation is finished. How many questions can you answer without saying a word?
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In the parable of the Vineyard owner, the men collect the grapes, and that’s as simple as this craft linking idea is. It’s wonderfully open-ended. Fill your bunch of grapes with coins that the men will be paid, scrunch tissue paper, dab paint, use glass beads or sequins, or anything you have on hand.
To make this craft, you will need the 1-page printout and some art materials.
If you want to recreate the exact version pictured here, you will need some glue, purple paper, a circle punch and green tissue paper.
Cut off the top of your page that has the instructions on.
Gather your art materials and get decorating. Try folding or scrunching flat elements to give your design depth. Here I’ve used purple circles folded in half.
Decorate the leaf and stalk with a complimentary colour so they stand out.
Fill in your grapes and you are done!
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In the parable of the Vineyard owner, each man receives a single coin, a denarii, a day’s wage. Alone it seemed insignificant, but when the men in the parable compared their wages they saw the level of unfairness. This craft gathers all those coins, each equal, and puts them together to represent something much bigger. This craft is simple but a little time-consuming.
To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, scissors, and some paper glue.
Start cutting all those circles.
Start folding along all the straight lines – you can fold either way but folding with a valley fold (ink to ink) makes it easier to construct later.
(Tip: use a ruler and a push pen to score the lines if you want to be exact)
Start joining the pieces together by glueing the tabs. The easiest way is 2 glue tabs at a time and pinch them between your fingers until they are dry.
Rather than making the entire ball at once, it’s better to make two halves separately.
Join your two halves together and you have a fun little ball to twist and play with.
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This craft is really just a bit of fun rather than something deep and theological, it depicts the three characters in the parable of the forgiven debt or unforgiving servant. Once made, it can be a storytelling prop, a way to ask more in-depth questions about forgiveness, or just a toy to play with.
There is nothing quite like acting out a simple story, and this story of the forgiven debt is perfect for that. These finger puppets are so simple, with the only mildly difficult bit is cutting the bars of the prison – and you could skip that at a push! They have finger holes, but you could stick them onto popsicle sticks instead if you prefer. If you have a 1.5 cm circle punch, then they really can be made in a matter of minutes.
When 2 or 3 are gathered, Jesus is with them – This craft takes that literally, piecing Jesus together as the different people join. There is nothing moving in this craft, and it’s deceptively simple.
To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, scissors, and some paper glue. It is strongly recommended to print on heavier paper or thin card if that is an option for you.
Cut out the pieces.
Concertina fold the biggest piece, so the words are on the outside to form the stand
The characters all have numbers on them to help us with the next steps, take a moment to find them all.
Place number 1 in the first position behind the words.
Repeat with the other characters.
You may want to glue them in position eventually, but it’s best to make sure they are all positioned correctly first.
Now see the single picture form by looking straight on from a slight distance, or with one eye closed 😉
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This craft is based on Matthew 18 verse 20 where Jesus speaks about where 2 or 3 are gathered in his name – though it plays with the wording a little. This is a perfect craft for a younger group as it’s so simple. It’s recommended to print this one in colour and allow the child to customise the final craft by adding colour to the words and details to the background.
Jesus’ words in this passage about carrying your cross have to be up there with some of his most famous sayings. While the focus of this passage could be that Peter gets it wrong, it could also be about this famous instruction. This craft pictures just that, a walking Jesus dragging a cross behind him. It’s a simple craft and the only time-consuming part is backing it onto thicker card.
To make this craft, you will need the printout, some card, scissors, a stick (chopstick is ideal), a spit pin (brad), an awl (or something to poke a hole) some tape and some glue
Back onto thick card and cut the pieces out.
Where the small circles indicate, make holes for the split pin
Thread the split pin and open up on the reverse of the design
Add a stick to the main body of Jesus using tape.
gently roll Jesus to see his feet ‘walk’ as he carries the cross forward.
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