When children repent and trust Jesus, they become a new creation in Christ. Celebrate spiritual transformation with a new creation butterfly craft.
Children think in very concrete ways. When we talk to them about abstract, or spiritual, concepts, it can be really helpful to demonstrate those concepts in concrete, hands-on ways. This helps them remember what they’ve learned–and it helps them understand it.
One of the most important biblical concepts that we want our kids to understand is their transformation in Christ.
Once a child hears the gospel, believes in Jesus and confesses him with their mouth, and repents of their sin, they are saved eternally from their sin. This happens in Christ, through faith, by God’s grace. What a tremendous gift from God!
That’s not all, though. Christians become a brand new creation in Christ. God gives us a new heart, a new nature, and a new future with him.
2 Corinthians 5:17
That’s why 2 Corinthians 5:17 says:
ESV: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
KJV: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
NLT: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
NASB: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
LSB: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
When we are saved through faith in Jesus, we are in Christ. God makes us into a new creation. The old creature is gone. We are now children of God.
A New Creation
Using a hands-on concrete tool–like a craft–is such a great way for us to help our kids really understand 2 Corinthians 5:17.
After it goes through its transformation in the chrysalis, a caterpillar is gone and a butterfly–a new creation–has come.
Here’s a fun video of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly:
Now, we are a new creation, living for the glory of God–instead of in rebellion to God.
A New Creation
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 with your kids, perhaps in several versions as shown above. Also, watch the video of the caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.
Before making your craft, discuss:
- What happened to the caterpillar in the video?
- What happens to us when we are saved in Jesus Christ?
- As a new creation in Jesus, how can you glorify God each day?
- Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation?
Take time to talk to your kids about the gospel of Jesus as you create your New Creation butterfly craft.
A Tool to Explain the Gospel
New Creation Butterfly Craft
Check out this fun video of the 2 Corinthians 5:17 New Creation butterfly craft!
Grab your New Creation Butterfly Craft
Head on over to the Thinking Kids Press store to grab your step-by-step instructions (also shown below), and your templates.
Tips for Making Bible Crafts with Kids
Doing art projects with kids can be a challenge. For that reason, many parents forgo this valuable time altogether. As an art major and a parent who has done frequent art projects with my four children, I have a few suggestions for you.
- Cover your space. Use painting drop cloths and plastic to keep your furniture and flooring protected.
- Cover your kids. Grab a couple of your old T-shirts and throw them over your kids, buy them painting aprons, or designate clothes specifically for crafting.
- Do the prep work in advance. Do as much prep work for a project as you can before you get the kids involved. Not everything on the page needs to be their work. It’s OK to help.
- Schedule several short sessions for one project. Children need several days to be able to create larger projects. Art is time-consuming and requires energy.
- Encourage your kids. Children are likely to be frustrated by the disconnect in the artwork they envision and the art they actually create. Remind your kids that they improve every time they create, and tell them how much you love their work (even if you don’t know what it is!). Also, stick figures are fabulous.
- Operate the hot glue gun and X-ACTO knife. Hot glue burns are terrible and X-ACTO knives are razor sharp. Until your kids are old enough to cook, I’d advise you do the hot gluing and razor cutting. For this project, you may want to pre-cut the Nativity Scene.
Supplies Needed to Make Your Toilet Paper Roll Nativity Scene
You’ll need a few supplies to make your project. You may have a few of these items already. If not, these are all fairly inexpensive and will serve you well for multiple projects.
- Toilet Paper Rolls (4)
- Colored Cardstock
- Permanent Marker
- Glue Stick
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Templates
Make Your 2 Corinthians 5:17 New Creation Butterfly Craft
Here are the steps for your toilet paper roll craft:
1) Print and cut out your template pieces.
Print the template pages from step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
2) Cut out the cardstock pieces for your toilet paper roll craft.
Trace the template pieces on cardstock in the colors of your choice, then cut out your pieces.
You’ll find a body piece (add height to your rectangle to cover the entire roll), four long strips to create body stripes, eight small strips for the caterpillar legs, two antenna, a head, and a pair of eyes.
3) Create your caterpillar body and head.
Draw the mouth of the caterpillar with a permanent marker, and add outlines to each eye.
4) Put your caterpillar together.
Fold the small strips in half at an angle to create a V with each one, as shown above.
Cover an empty TP roll with the rectanglar paper.
5) Repeat to create your second caterpillar.
If you’d like, make a second caterpillar in another color by repeating the above steps.
6) Cut out the cardstock pieces for your toilet paper roll butterflies.
Trace the butterfly template pieces on cardstock in the colors of your choice. Cut out your pieces. Coordinating the colors of each butterfly to each caterpillar will help kids better understand the transformation of an individual caterpillar turning into a butterfly.
Use markers to draw the eyes, mouth, and blush on the top middle of the rectangular paper piece. Then, draw horizontal stripes across the paper.
7) Cover each toilet paper roll butterfly.
Now, glue an antenna above each eye.
8) Create your butterfly wings.
Glue the smaller wing inside the middle of the larger one.
Next, glue the toilet paper roll on the middle of the wings.
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Puzzle-Based Independent Bible Study for Kids!
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2, ESV
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- Observe: They pay attention to what they’re reading.
- Interpret: They figure out what the Bible means in that section.
- Apply: They decide how the truth of God’s Word impacts their life today.
There are a great many truths in life to be found—some interesting, some boring, and some that really matter. You can be the kind of investigator who spends time puzzling out important truth so that you can know all the knowable knowledge that God has given us. That’s right. God, the Creator of the Universe, gave you a great big letter from him to explore and study so that you can discover the truths that really matter to your life!”
Bible Investigators: Creation, (The Good Book Company, 2024), page 7
The Bible Investigators: Creation Bible study for kids, written by Danika Cooley and published by The Good Book Company, is 272-pages of learning, puzzles, and fun activities designed to help your kids become amazing independent Bible investigators–observing, interpreting, and applying God’s Word as they learn what the Bible teaches on a particular subject.
Bible Puzzles for Kids
Middle grade kids, aged 8-12, love puzzles. After all, their brains are just built for figuring things out and memorizing facts. Puzzles are a wonderful way to help kids develop logic skills and retain important information. And, the book is written in a fun, conversational tone your children are sure to love!
What types of puzzles and activities will you find in Bible Investigators?
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- Word Searches
- Crosswords
- Rebus Puzzles
- Dot-to-Dots
- Logic Puzzles
- Missing Letter Puzzles
- Cryptograms
- Word Sudoku
- Mazes
- How-to-Draw Pages
- Matching Pairs
- Word Scrambles
- Journal Pages
Every child is sure to find activities they’ll love!
Elementary-aged kids need hands-on middle grade resources that engage them and equip them to process important truths.
Bible Investigators is the perfect resource to teach your kids about an important biblical doctrine, while helping them apply God’s Word to their lives today.
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