The Pearl of Great Price is one of the stories Jesus told about the value of being in God’s Kingdom. It’s a very short story found in Matthew 13:45-46.
The Pearl of Great Price Story idea
Jesus told a story about how valuable it is to be part of his family.
Once upon a time there was a man whose job was to buy things and sell things. He was looking for something very special. He was looking for a beautiful, expensive piece of jewelry called a pearl.
He went form one market to another. He looked at all the things on sale. But nothing was quite what he was looking for. But he didn’t give up. He kept looking..
Until one day.. there it was! The most perfect and beautiful pearl.
He looked in his pockets – he had some money but it wasn’t enough. Oh no! What could he do?
He went home and started to collect all his things together, his clothes, his furniture, his carpets, his books .. everything he had and he took his things to the market and sold all of them.
Then he took his money and he bought the pearl. It was worth more than everything he had sold! He was happy!
Jesus told this story to help us understand that being in his family is worth more than anything else.
For younger children you can do the cutting beforehand. Here’s a picture gallery of the stages. The pearl is made of scrunched up tissue paper. Make it large and be aware of chocking hazards.
Fold the plate and draw on the scallopsCut outCover the outside with tissue paper. I used yellow and light pinkOnce dry this is how the shell will look when foldedUnfold and add some scrunched tissue paper to the insideRoll a ball of white tissue paper and glue insideFold over and you are finished!
Pentecost Bible story for young children with some craft ideas courtesy of Pinterest.
I’ve started the story in Luke 24:36-53 so that we can set the day of Pentecost in the context of the great commission. The disciples were told to tell others about the Lord Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit enabled them to do just that. The rest of the story idea is based on Acts 2
Bible story idea
Bible Truth for toddlers – Jesus keeps his promises
The Lord Jesus had died and come back to life again. Many people saw him and he spent time with his disciples. He had a very special job that he wanted his disciples to do. What could it be? He told them to tell everyone about him. Not just the people close by but people who lived far away too. But how could they do that? It was a huge job to do! The Lord Jesus promised that he would send God the Holy Spirit to help.
And then Jesus went back to heaven, where he still is now.
His friends waited. If Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit they knew it would happen. Jesus always keeps his promises.
The friends and followers of Jesus all met together in a house. It was a special time, there was a big festival called Pentecost and lots and lots of people were travelling to Jerusalem from all over the place to celebrate. They spoke different languages, wore different clothes and traveled from here, there and everywhere.
Meanwhile in the house there was suddenly a sound like the wind, and something that looked like flames rested above the heads of Jesus’ friends. Suddenly they could speak in languages they had never learned.
They were able to tell the people in Jerusalem who were from here, there and everywhere about the Lord Jesus! God, The Holy Spirit had come and he was helping them. And that day lots and lots of people believed in Jesus and became his followers.
Prop Ideas to help tell the story
I’ve used some picture from Lamp Bible Pictures and attached them to large lollipop sticks. Here’s the link to Lamp Bible Pictures. I purchased the Power Point and printed the pictures that i wanted to use.
Pentecost crafts Pinterest Board
Here’s a few craft ideas – look out for the super play dough mat idea.
Valentine collage to make using coloured tissue paper.
Tissue paper is a wonderful paper that can be torn, layered, crumpled and glued. It comes in a whole variety of colours and is relatively inexpensive. I use it a lot in crafts with children.
This Valentine themed tissue paper collage is very simple to prepare and make. The added hearts are a nice touch but if you don’t have a paper punch to make heart shapes stickers would be great.
All you need to make the valentine collage
A4 or A3 sugar paper
Glue sticks
Hearts cut from paper (and/or heart stickers)
Tissue paper torn into shapes – I used pink, red and yellow in large squares and some green in smaller shapes
Young children can be given the torn tissue paper shapes. Older children could select the colours they wish to use and tear the paper themselves. Tissue paper tears easily but usually there is a direction in the paper that tears in a straightish line – so experiment and see how the older children get on. If they are having trouble tearing the paper easily suggest that they turn the paper 90 degrees and try again.
Is Jesus the forever king? Is the final part of our story series, ‘Who is the forever King?’ We began with King David and God’s promise to David,
Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ 2 Samuel 7:16.
We have told simple stories about David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah. These kings are all mentioned in Matthew 1 in the genealogy of Jesus, the son of David.
Now we have arrived at the birth of the forever king – the Lord Jesus.
All of the previous puppets can be displayed – then add the Manger picture at the end.
To tell the story – you need
Mary
Angel Gabriel
Joseph
Donkey – optional as it isn’t mentioned in the bible
We are still looking for the forever King! The king that will be on the throne of David forever. Lets see if we find him today.
A long time ago there was a woman called Mary. One day she had a very surprising visitor with a very surprising message!
It was an angel, a big strong messenger sent from God who said to Mary, ‘ You are going to have a very special baby. You must give him the name Jesus. He will be God the son and God will give him the throne of David. His kingdom will never, ever end.’
The forever king was going to be born! He was going to be the very best king and the most powerful king in the whole world.
Mary listened to the angel and she was willing to be the bay’s mum.
But then just before the baby was going to be born Mary and Joseph had to go on a long journey to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was their home town (and it had also been King Davids home town). They might have taken a donkey to carry their bags. It took quite a while.
‘Are we nearly there yet?’ No not quite. They carried on. Are we nearly there yet? Almost. They carried on. Are we nearly there yet? Yes we’re here! But oh no there’s no where to stay.
Mary and Joseph ended up staying where the animals were. And that night the Lord Jesus was born. He was an ordinary baby – with fingers and toes and a nose and mouth and eyes. But he was God’s forever king too.
Outside Bethlehem there were shepherds looking after their sheep. It was really dark with stars shining in the sky. Suddenly an angel was there with them. They were terrified.
‘Don’t be afraid’, the angel said, ‘today in the city of David, a Saviour has been born. You will find him all wrapped up and lying in a manger.’ Then lots of angels filled the sky singing. And then they were gone and it was dark again.
‘Let’s go and find him’ the shepherds said to one another. So the rushed down the hill, through the town and they looked for the forever king who is the Saviour – and they found him.
Jesus is the Saviour sent for you and me. Is he the forever King? Yes! The shepherds found him and we can find him too.
Jesus is the forever king craft ideas
To make the stained glass nativity you need
Paper plates – I used a brown plate
Yellow tissue paper – this can be shredded like straw. This is quite messy so if you prefer less mess use torn tissue paper.
Crayons
Christmas wrapping paper odds and ends
Nativity picture printed on card – see download. This needs to be cut out beforehand. Older children could do this themselves – just cut the page in half for them.
To make – decorate the nativity first then fold and glue to plate. Cover the plate with tissue paper straw and add any other decorations to the rim of the plate.
Is Josiah the forever king? is the penultimate story in the series ‘Who is the forever king?’ We began with King David and in the final story we will find the forever King – The Lord Jesus.
All the different king puppets used to tell the stories are from Free Bible Images.
In the series we have told simple stories about different kings who are in Matthew 1. So far in each story there is a link to the House of God – the temple. It’s planning (David), it’s building (Solomon), going to God’s House to pray (Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah). It’s an important link. These men were all on David’s throne and they are connected both to God’s House-the temple and God’s House – the family kingly line from which the Lord Jesus would come. David had wanted to build God a house but God had promised to make David into a house.
Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ 2 Samuel 7:16.
So now we come to Josiah, and his connection with the temple is in repairing it and finding the Book of the Law. For ease we use the word Bible when telling the story.
Is Josiah the forever king? story from 2 Kings 22,23
Say hello to King Josiah! Josiah became king when he was very young. He wanted to obey God. But things had got very bad. The beautiful house of God that Solomon had built with the beautiful wood and stone and all the gold was in a mess. No one had bothered to look after it.
Josiah decided to sort out the mess. He sent in the builders! They moved out all the rubbish, they hammered, they sawed, they hammered some more and then they stopped. ‘What’s that? they said to each other. ‘It’s not just more rubbish. It’s not a stone. What is it?’
The builders had found something that had been lost for a long time. They found part of the Bible. It had been lost and forgotten.
They hurried to King Josiah. ‘Look what we have found?’
Josiah read the Bible. ‘Oh no’, he thought, ‘we haven’t been living the best way’.
Josiah called the people together to come with him to the house of the LORD. Josiah stood up and he read the Bible, God’s Word to all the people. And King Josiah and all the people made a promise to obey God.
King Josiah was a really good King but he grew old and died. Is Josiah the forever king? No. We still haven’t found him. Let’s keep looking.
Is Hezekiah the forever king? is story number four in the series, ‘Who is the forever king?’ These stories lead up well to the birth of Jesus, who is the forever King. We began with King David.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. – Luke 1:31,32
Say hello to King Hezekiah! King Hezekiah was a good King. He obeyed God and he trusted God and he cared about the people.
But he had a big problem. The King of Assyria wasn’t very nice. He came with his army and started to say horrible things to King Hezekiah. He wanted to get all the land for himself.
What could Hezekiah do? He believed that God was powerful. He believed that God would keep the people safe.
The King of Assyria didn’t give up. He wrote a letter, ‘ Dear King Hezekiah, your God can’t help you! We are more powerful than anyone. we always win. We are more powerful than your god. No one can stop us!’
King Hezekiah went to God’s house. He took the letter and laid it out and he prayed. ‘Lord God, the Assyrians are very powerful but please show them that you are greater than them, because you are the God of everything and the only true God.’
Could God hear King Hezekiah? Yes! Could God help? Yes!
God said to King Hezekiah, ‘I will defend this city’. And God did. The King of Assyria went home.
King Hezekiah did lots of good things but as he got old he wasn’t a wise king. He grew old and he died.
Is Hezekiah the forever King? No. We haven’t found him yet. Let’s keep looking.
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