Help your kids contend for the faith. A craft to help them remember 4 important biblical truths — and 12 heresies of the early church.
But, how do we do that when the Bible is such a big book?
Our task doesn’t need to feel nebulous or unreachable. We can teach our kids about important biblical truths, and about the struggle to defend the faith, through the power of story. History is so important because the stories of real people contending for the Christian faith still impact our world and our lives today.
Contend for the Faith
Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote about this struggle to maintain biblical truths when he wrote:
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
During the time of the Early Church, false teachings–called heresies–and false teachers–heretics–abounded. These heresies fell into twelve main categories. Those twelve heresies actively and destructively attacked four core biblical truths.
So, God raised up faithful men in Western and Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East who taught and defended biblical truth. These stalwart theologians and Bible teachers also summed up the important truths of God’s Word and set them into creeds that were easy for Christians to learn and repeat. Today, our children still learn the truths the Early Church Fathers clarified for us.
Your kids can read all about four important biblical truths, the heresies that attacked those truths, and the men who contended for God’s Word in my narrative history book from Christian Focus Publications, What Is Heresy?. The book is a fun way for your kids to learn more about who Jesus is, the nature of our great God, the good news of the gospel, and God’s design for the Church.
This fun craft will allow your kids to consider and discuss four important biblical truths, and to remember the ancient lies that attacked those truths. You can discuss, too, how we still see those lies being taught in our world today.
What Is Heresy?
What happens when truth is mixed with just a little bit of error? In What Is Heresy?, readers are invited on a compelling journey through the early church to uncover the difference between life-giving truth and dangerous deception. With vivid illustrations and clear explanations, this engaging book helps young readers understand why what we believe truly matters.
Using relatable examples–like a cookie ruined by salt–this book makes big theological ideas accessible and memorable. Readers will explore the real stories of early false teachers, the lies they spread, and how faithful Christians stood firm in the truth of God’s Word.
Perfect for families, classrooms, and churches, this book equips the next generation to recognize error and confidently stand for biblical truth.
Inside this book, readers will:
- Learn what heresy is and why it’s dangerous
- Discover key truths about Jesus, the Trinity, and salvation
- Meet real historical figures and the challenges they brought
- Understand how the early church defended the faith
- Gain tools to spot false teaching in today’s world
This is more than history–it’s a call to know the truth and live it boldly.
Now, the truth is not sugar, and a lie is not salt. But a lie mixed with truth is a lot like a cookie with too much added salt. You see, a cookie baked with false sugar looks good to eat. It may even smell good. But a salty cookie tastes terrible. Eating it may even make you sick.
What Is Heresy?, Danika Cooley (Christian Focus Publications, 2026), page 9
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Biblical Truth Lapbooks here.
Biblical Truths Your Kids Need to Know
You can help your kids commemorate what they’re learning about biblical truth and Early Church history in a hands-on way! Check out this fun video of the biblical truths wheel!
Contend for the Faith Craft Supplies
You’ll need a few supplies to make your contend for the faith craft:
- Cardstock (colored and white)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- Toilet Paper Rolls
- Printable Templates with Instructions
- Don’t forget this fun book that will teach your kids about biblical truths and early heresies: What Is Heresy?
Biblical Truths Craft | Instructions
Your child’s representation of four biblical truths is a great way to help them consider what they learn as they read What Is Heresy? from the Who What Why series!
1) Print your templates and labels.
Print the biblical truths templates on cardstock. Print the inner and outer wheels on cardstock in two complementary colors. Print the biblical truth templates on white cardstock. Cut out the wheels and the pieces.
2) Assemble your biblical truths wheel.
Place the inner wheel inside the outer wheel. Orient it so that the “False Teachings about Jesus” section is outside the “Jesus is the Son of God” quadrant. That way, the four biblical truth quadrants will line up with the corresponding early church heresies.
3) Assemble your manger figures.
Print the Jesus is the Son of God template page from the step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
Lay the template pieces over the cardstock in the colors your child would like to use. Trace the pieces on the cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Glue the straw behind the manger. Glue the head behind the body. Then, glue the baby behind the straw in the manger.
If your child wishes, they can use a permanent marker to decorate the swaddling clothes and give the baby a face. If you wish, you can just use the manger and the star to represent the Incarnation.
Glue the manger and the star to the Jesus is God the Son quadrant to represent the Incarnation. Talk to your children about how when Jesus was born on earth, he became fully God and fully man.
4) Assemble your baptism / waterfall figures.
Print the God is Three Persons in One God template page from the step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
Lay the template pieces over the cardstock in the colors your child would like to use. Trace the pieces on the cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Glue the pond beneath the waterfall. Glue the center of the flower to the petals, then glue the tree leaves to the trunk.
Your child can use colored permanent markers to decorate their water, clouds, and tree leaves.
Glue the waterfall and pond, clouds, tree, and flower to the God is Three Persons in One God quadrant. Talk to your kids about the fact that early Christians baptized new believers in lakes, ponds, and rivers. This baptism location scene represents the one name of God that believers are baptized with. Remind them that God’s one long name points to the Trinity. God is three Persons in one God.
5) Assemble your Bible figure.
Print the The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus for Salvation template page from the step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces. You can print the Bible on any colored cardstock you would like.
Lay the template pieces over the cardstock in the colors your child would like to use. Trace the pieces on the cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Glue the bookmark ribbon behind the Bible. If your child wishes, they can use a permanent marker to decorate the Bible.
Glue the Bible to the The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus for Salvation quadrant to represent the good news of Jesus Christ that is found in Scripture. Talk to your kids about the message of the gospel and practice sharing the good news with each other using the verses outlined in What Is Heresy?.
6) Assemble your church figures.
Print the The Church is God’s Family template page from the step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
Lay the template pieces over the cardstock in the colors your child would like to use. Trace the pieces on the cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Glue the church door to the middle bottom of the building. Glue the small roof to the top of the steeple. Glue the tree leaves to the top of the tree trunk.
Glue the roof to the top of the church, then glue the steeple behind the middle of the roof. If your child wishes, they can use a permanent marker to decorate the church and tree leaves.
Glue the church and tree to the The Church is God’s Family quadrant to represent God’s adopted family of believers. Talk to your kids about what Scripture says about God’s family, the Church. Be sure to review the biblical truths outlined in What Is Heresy?.
Display your craft as you read What Is Heresy? to remember four important biblical truths, twelve early church heresies, and the importance of contending for our faith!
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Biblical Truth Lapbooks here.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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