Talk to your children about John 15:5 with this fun, printable Bible bookmark craft for kids that will help them remember how to bear fruit for Jesus!
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5, ESV
We often want to teach our kids about Christian character, don’t we?
And we should.
Our kids need to know what it looks like to live as a Christian. We want them to display the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), along with humility and compassion (Colossians 3:12), brotherly affection and love (2 Peter 1:7), and others.
We want to teach them, though, that character grows in the context of their relationship with Jesus. Without Jesus, the best they can do is act with character. They can’t truly bear fruit. After all, grapes don’t come from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. (Matthew 7:16)
Our kids need to be reminded that all spiritual growth comes as a result of a personal relationship with Jesus. They need the gospel, just like we all do.
We all need to be reminded that:
- God is holy. (Isaiah 43:3a)
- We have all fallen short of his holy and righteous standard. (Romans 3:23)
- Our sin has separated us from him. (Isaiah 59:2)
- God made a way for us to be restored to himself by sending Jesus, the Son of God and God the Son, to die for our sins–in our place. (Ephesians 2:4-9)
- To be saved, we must:
- Believe in Jesus. (John 3:16)
- Confess him with our mouths. (Romans 10:9-10)
- God the Holy Spirit lives within us once we are saved. (2 Timothy 1:14)
- The Holy Spirit grows fruit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23)
- He helps us repent of our sins. (Luke 13:3)
- We can trust the Holy Spirit to grow fruit while we seek to abide in Jesus through reading the Bible and praying. (John 15:5)
This simple lesson is one you’ll want to repeat to your kids over and over while they’re growing up. It’s truly the most important thing you can teach them.
Bible Bookmark Craft for Your Kids
Make this fun Bible bookmark craft with your kids to remind them that all fruit comes as a result of their relationship with Jesus.
This bookmark craft is easy to make with printable templates and Bible verses! Grab your free templates and instructions here.
Tips for Art Projects 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. Hot glue burns are terrible. Until your kids are old enough to cook, I’d advise you do the hot gluing.
Bear Fruit Bible Bookmark Craft Supplies
- Colored Cardstock in Black, White, Grey, Brown, and Pink
- A Pencil
- A Black Permanent Marker
- A Glue Stick
- Scissors
Neenah Creative Collection Classics Specialty Cardstock Starter Kit, 8.5 X 11 Inches, 72 Count (46407-01)
Paper Mate Clearpoint Mechanical Pencil, 0.7 mm, Black Barrel, Refillable, 4-packSharpie Extreme Permanent Markers, Black, 4-CountElmer’s Extra Strength Glue Sticks, 0.28 Ounces, 4 CountAmazonBasics Multipurpose Office Scissors – 3-Pack
Grab Your Bear Fruit Bible Bookmarks
You’ll want to grab your step-by-step instructions, templates, and Bible verse print outs through the Thinking Kids Press store. The household license is free, and the classroom license is half off. Just click here.
1) Print Your Bible Bookmark Templates and Bear Fruit Verse Frames.
The templates for the body of the bear are the same for all three bookmarks.
Because the panda bookmark is more involved, we’ll look at how to build your panda bookmark. The other two bookmarks will be easy after you assemble your panda. You’ll want to use gray and white colored cardstock for the panda.
Trace the base pattern of the panda from white paper and trace the rest of the patterns from gray cardstock. Cut out your pieces once you have traced them.
2) Assemble Your Bear Fruit Bookmark
3) Give Your Bear Fruit Bookmark a Face
Craft the brown bear and the polar bear bookmarks. This should be much easier, as you will not have multiple colors for each bear.
4) Add Your Bear Fruit and Bible Verse Cut Outs to Your Bear
To use your bookmarks, simply slip the bear’s arms over the page you’re marking, and slide the bear’s body behind the page you want to mark.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Martin Luther and the Reformation
Teach your teens about Martin Luther and the Reformation in an exciting, new way with When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther!
As Luther’s understanding of the spiritual corruption within the Church grew, and he despaired of true salvation, Luther (now a scholar and priest) sought the Bible for answers. Following his discovery of the true gospel in Scripture, Luther began to preach spiritual freedom to his congregation, and to teach biblical (rather than philosophical) theology at the University of Wittenberg.
It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther penned his Ninety-Five Theses in Latin in response to the abusive indulgence sales practices of the monk Johann Tetzel in a nearby town. Luther nailed the Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, the scholarly bulletin board of his day, and mailed a copy to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther hoped to start a scholarly debate about the practice of selling salvation through plenary indulgences. The response he received was greater–and more dangerous–than he imagined it would be.
Luther’s story is exciting. There are death defying moments, epic spiritual battles, narrow escapes, a kidnapping, revolution, and war. As the “Father of the Reformation”, Luther is a vital figure in Church history. His sacrifice and willingness to wage battle against the spiritual, religious, and political powers of his medieval world allowed Christians throughout time to embrace the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as explained by Scripture alone once again. May all glory be to God alone!
Read portions of the first eight chapters of When Lightning Struck!:
Grab the autographed Reformation Family Bundle!
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