This paper craft of the Centurions servant being healed used a little flip to expand the scene. It shows how the centurion doesn’t leave the room and yet conveys his faith through messengers to Jesus – pictured through the window outside. It’s a perfect craft for groups who love colouring or those with really, really limited time. Not only that, but it’s also a lovely craft for younger groups to assemble, as it goes together like a 2-piece jigsaw.
To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, scissors, some paper glue, and a craft knife.
I’d strongly recommend preparing the slit either first or in advance for all but older groups. Use a craft knife to make a square bracket shape where the double lines are drawn.
Cut out both shapes.
Taking the larger piece, fold along the vertical lines. These are marked with small valley and mountain icons to show which direction they go. (Mountain = Ink on the outside)
Once folded, you’ll see how the middle section covers the picture.
Carefully glue the missing picture piece into position
If you need to add colour, now is the time to do so. Take special care to use the same colours for the centurion. Tip : colour the image all folded first!
Talk with the youngsters about the various items and people, in and outside the centurions house. Start with the folded image and then have them open the image and describe what is happening.
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For each passage, there is a collectable card alongside high-quality character images and a colouring page. All other graphics are extra’s!
Click on the images below to see a larger version. Save the images by right click + ‘save image as’ (computers) OR long press + ‘save image’ (mobile).
These images are NOT copyright free.
These resources are provided for personal/classroom use only. Use can use them for teaching, games, publicity, decorations, big screen presentations, flannel graphs, stickers, or any other non-commercial activity in your church, school, home, or organised group. You may not use them in products you are going to sell (both printed and digital). Nor may you upload the original images online, on websites, social media or in YouTube videos. Any questions, please reach out to me using the contact page link at the end of the page.
The faithful Centurion is one of those biblical stories where the Sunday school picture is often the officer in uniform kneeling at the feet of Jesus begging for this servants’ life, an act not shown in the scripture. Unlike St Matthew’s retelling, in St Luke’s gospel, which this retelling is based on, the Centurion and Jesus don’t even meet. What plays out instead in a series of messengers running between the two. For the faith of a man to warrant praise from divine lips without being seen is quite remarkable in the gospel accounts. It’s also something totally relate-able to us as modern Christians, who can’t simply walk over to a nearby town and bump into the messiah.
This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.
Besides a sick man, a centurion sat on a small stool, his face a picture of sadness. Desperate, he called for his cape and rushed out the door. Capernaum was nearby, and the Jewish teacher Jesus of Nazareth was supposed to be there often. Jesus held the ability to heal. The centurion had heard all this from his favourite servant, his friend, the man who now lay dying.
His friend had helped him understand the Jews, the people he lived among, and why they acted the way they did. Alongside his servant, the Centurion helped to build a new synagogue. Still, it worried the Centurion now that he was not Jewish. Jesus was a Jewish teacher, would he even listen to a gentile’s plea for help? The small town came in sight, and he spotted a group of Jewish elders sitting at the town gate. He would send them. They were Jewish. The men agreed, and the centurion rushed home, hoping he wasn’t too late. Meanwhile, the Jewish elders found Jesus by the other gate, they pleaded with him to come and help their friend who had supported the synagogue.
The centurion heard a shout ring out around the house when Jesus’ crowd were spotted coming near. The centurion didn’t want to make Jesus unclean by asking him inside his house. But then, he knew how power worked. When he commanded his men, he said what would happen, and it did. He didn’t even need to be there. He received orders the same way, orders by messenger from those who were more powerful than him. The Centurion grabbed another Jewish servant and quickly told him to run to the party with a message. “Lord, do not trouble yourself to enter my house, I am not good enough to have you here or to even meet with you, but just say the word and I know my Servant will be well. I know how authority and power work, I command, or am told, and it is done.”
Jesus listened, his face amazed at the words he was hearing. The centurion didn’t think himself good enough, but his faith in Jesus was stronger than any of the people Jesus had met so far. He saw Jesus as powerful, not just a teacher or a prophet or a healer. Jesus sent the messenger home and turned to walk away. Those with him could hear the shouts of celebration beginning already.
After hugging his servant, the centurion ran upstairs to find an upper window. He scanned the crowd still walking away but could not tell which man was Jesus of Nazareth. At first, he was sad, but then he recognised that even if he hadn’t seen the shape of Jesus’ face or the colour of his robe, he had recognised the more important things, the ability to heal, to teach, to use power and authority. Perhaps now his servant was healed he would learn more about the Jewish faith and this man Jesus.
There are no shortage of sheep-based stories in the bible, and this little sheep craft could serve so many of them well.
To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, scissors, and some paper glue.
The pieces have both stars and glue boxes on them as guides. There is also a construction guide in the top left of the page.
Cut out all the pieces.
Start by gluing the head and the wing together by adding glue to the reverse side of the glue box.
Now let’s use the glue box on the printed side to add the wing onto the inside of the body. This must be done before folding the body. Use one of the marks on the body to line up where to glue.
Now glue the body into its tear-like shape.
Add the head – again, use the same glue tab on the head, this time adding glue to the printed side.
Fold the legs into a ‘M’ shape and use a little glue to ensure the foot lays flat.
Add the legs where the remaining guide mark is showing.
Lastly, for the bird, fold the beak into a slightly wonky triangle, gluing the two end tabs together and attach to the bird’s head.
Glue the manna onto the base and place or glue the bird into position.
If the bird doesn’t balance, you may need to either adjust the legs or glue the tail to the base.
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This worksheet looking at the story of the Quail and Manna ties to the wider Aaron lesson. It’s primarily a worksheet about recognizing why the Israelite’s grumbled and still God provided. This worksheet would work well as an extension activity or review, for an individual or as small group work – some of the questions would work well as small group discussions.
To complete the worksheet you will need some colored pens or pencils, a bible (specifically the book of numbers) and to turn your thinking caps on!
The PDF can can be downloaded by clicking on the image.
