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Pentecost

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.

Here’s a link to a fuller retelling of the Ascension

Valentine Collage

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.

Some other ideas for Valentines Day

Card to make

Valentine heart wreath to make

God sees us – Hagar

God sees us is a truth from the Bible. The story of Hagar from Genesis 16 illustrates this truth in a really beautiful way. Hagar is comforted knowing that she is seen by God, who cares for her.

To tell the story use a doll to represent Hagar.

knitted doll to represent Hagar for What is God like story series for toddlers

God sees us – Hagar story idea

Say hello to Hagar!

Hagar was very sad. (Can you look sad?) She ran away from her home. (Make the sound of running by tapping hands on knees – encourage everyone to do this action with you). She sat down and looked around. There was no one there. No one. It was very quiet. (Everyone say ‘shush’).

But God knew where Hagar was. He spoke to her, ‘It will be alright Hagar. Go back home.’

Hagar listened. She knew that God could see where she was. She knew that God is everywhere. Hagar said, ‘You are the God who sees me. You are the God who looks after me.’

God sees you and me too. He cares for us and is able to look after us.

God sees us – Hagar craft idea

Make a happy and sad paper plate face. On one side make a sad face and on the other side a happy face.

Glue plates back to back with a large lollipop stick between them so they can be held and turned. Hagar was sad but at the end of our story she is happy. Here’s some ideas from Pinterest.

Paul meets Jesus

Paul meets Jesus on the road to Damascus. The story is from Acts 9:1-19. We’ve used the name Paul for the story as it’s easier for young children to stick to one name – but of course you could use the name Saul.

To tell the story – have a story bag or basket with Paul and Ananias and a bright yellow cloth or similar for the bright light.

Puppets representing Paul and Ananias to use when telling the story Paul meets Jesus

Paul meets Jesus story idea

Paul was not happy! He was really, really cross. He was angry with all the people who believed in Jesus. Paul believed in God. He worked very hard to keep all of God’s rules. But now people had started to go around telling everyone that Jesus was God the Son who had died and three days later come back to life again.

Paul was angry. He wanted to stop people talking about Jesus. But what could he do? He decided that he would find as many people who believed in Jesus as he could and put them in prison. That would stop them telling everyone!

So Paul started to go to the town of Damascus. He knew people there were talking about Jesus and he wanted to shut them up!

Suddenly, as Paul was on his way there was a really bright light – a light from heaven. Paul fell to the ground and then he heard someone talking to him. It wasn’t one of the people with him, it wasn’t an angel. Who could it be?

Paul why are you being so horrible to me? the voice said.

‘Who are you?’ Paul asked

‘I am Jesus’, came the reply. ‘go into the city and you will be told what to do’.

Paul got up but he couldn’t see anything and the people with him held his hand and helped him into the city.

Meanwhile Ananias was at his home. God said to him, Ananias, go to Straight Street to Judas’ house. When you get there pray for a man named Paul.

Ananias had heard all about Paul and he wasn’t too sure at first but God told him to go and so he did.

When he met Paul he prayed for him and then Paul could see again. And Paul knew that Jesus really was alive in heaven. He realised that Jesus is the Son of God and he started to tell everyone he met about Jesus.

craft ideas

Here’s a link to another story from Acts – Tabitha

David and Psalm 139

David wrote Psalm 139. We are going to focus on verses 1-16. It’s a personal Psalm that shows us that the Creator God knows us as individuals. This is comforting and challenging; God knows everything about us. We can’t hide from God, we can’t escape him but it is comforting too; he knows us and he leads and guides us. Our story also mentions that The LORD was with David – see 1 Samuel 16:18.

David and Psalm 139 Bible Story for young children

Bible Truth – God knows about me

To tell the story use a story bag with a doll for David, a sheep and a crown. You could write the shortened and simplified Psalm 139 (see below) out on a big piece of paper for the adults to say together. You can add actions to Psalm 139 too – point upwards for God and then do simple actions for the main words.

Say hello to David! (take David from the story bag). David lived a long time ago. He had two different jobs at different times. When he was young he was a shepherd who looked after sheep. (take sheep from story bag). What sound does a sheep make? (everyone make a ‘bah’ sound). Later on David became a very important King (take crown from the story bag).

The Bible tells us something special about David – it tells us that the LORD was with him. The LORD is a way of speaking about the God who made everything and rules over everything.

David wrote a song all about how God knew him, God was with him and God had made him –

God knows me!

He knows what I think

He knows what I say,

He knows when I sit down and when I stand up.

Everywhere I go God is there. He is always with me.

God knew all about me even before I was born because he made me!

David was sure that God knew all about him, that God was always with him and God had made him. Being sure of these things helped David to be a good shepherd looking after the sheep and a good King looking after God’s people.

Craft ideas

Make a sheep – David was a shepherd

sheep-2 Download

Decorate people shapes using tissue paper and fabric

People shape cut outs decorated with tissue paper and fabric

I found this blog post really helpful when thinking about this Psalm – https://jemwwg.wordpress.com/bible-study-notes/old-testament/psalms/psalm-139/

Let’s Share Bible Stories with Toddlers

“Hello friends, hello friends. How are you, how are you? It’s time for a story, time for a story. Come and listen, come and listen.”

We sing this song to the tune of ‘Frere Jacques’ every week at toddler group. We gather round the story chair in a semi – circle; some sit on the rugs and others on chairs and then we share a story together.

By saying ‘share a story together’ I mean that I don’t just read a story from a book or recite a story script. It is story telling – a much more interactive group activity. We are ‘in it together’, taking part, joining in.

There are different ways of creating a joining in experience when telling a story. Here are a few ideas

Sounds to make – the sound of the storm on the lake
Actions to do – climbing the tree with Zacchaeus
Saying hello to the characters in the story as they come out of the story bag
Singing a song – include ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ part way through the story of the shepherds and angels.

So how do you choose which stories to tell?

As a church-based group (although we meet in a community hall) we tell stories from the Bible. It can help if each story is connected to a theme for half a term. Animal Bible stories, Homes Jesus Visited, Stories Jesus Told, Creation. Choose stories that you feel comfortable with and will enjoy telling.

When to have Story Time?

Pick a time in your session when there are less distractions. If you want the children to join in, then serve snacks before or after. Try to time things so that hands are free to take part in the story actions. If possible, have a space where there are no toys or do Story Time at the beginning or towards the end of the session.

Create a space

The storyteller needs to be seen and to be on the children’s level. Choose a low seat and create a semi – circle. Clean rugs encourage parents/carers and children to sit on the floor, but chairs are good for adults who need a higher seat.

The idea is to know the story well and encourage interaction with the group. The Bible is full of the most wonderful stories. Enjoy sharing them!

(This is an article I wrote for CEF Britain’s Newsletter)

Here are some of the items I use when telling stories…