Some of this character training has been through discipline and consistency, but much of it has been proactive. We’ve read aloud many stories of Christian heroes, and discussed the consequences of character in the Bible. We’ve talked most often about the fruit of the Spirit, that wonderful list of godly character traits that grow in our hearts when we accept Christ and we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
You can proactively teach your kids about godly character, too, through Christian history, studying the Bible together, and by going through some fun and simple Fruit of the Spirit lessons together. I’ve put together a Fruit of the Spirit lapbook so that you’ll have a ready-made resource right at your fingertips!
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important thing I've taught my children. Hands down. The second most important thing I've shared with my children is lessons in character.
The Fruit of the Spirit Lessons and Lapbook
Teach your kids about the fruit of the Spirit in a fun, hands-on way that your children will love! This lapbook is part Bible study, part Bible craft, part notebooking, and it’s perfect for families who want to go deeper into the fruit of the Spirit with elementary age children from 5-12.
You’ll want to do these fruit of the Spirit lessons over a period of days or a couple of weeks. Check out this fun video that shows how the lapbook is put together!
The Fruit of the Spirit Lessons
The My Fruit of the Spirit Lapbook is a fun, hands-on Bible study for your child from the ages of 5-12. You and your child will study three Scripture passages:
- Galatians 5:22-23
- John 15:1-17
- Matthew 7:15-20
Your child will learn about the fruit the Holy Spirit develops in the life of the believer, think about ways that fruit can show in their life, and explore the definitions of the nine fruits listed in Galatians.
You and your child will discuss who grows the fruit in our lives, and when it appears.
Your child will also learn what the Bible has to say about the fruit of those who do not love Jesus. They will be asked to consider why Jesus told us to look out for those bearing bad fruit, specifically false teachers.
My Fruit of the Spirit Lapbook
The My Fruit of the Spirit Lapbook is available over at ThinkingKidsPress.com in the Family Discipleship section of the store.
Fruit of the Spirit Lapbook Minibooks and Activities
In the lapbook, your child will find a number of fun minibooks and activities to cut, assemble, paste, color on, and write in. Depending on the age of your child, they may need a little help assembling the lapbook components. The lapbook comes with both ESV and KJV options.
The minibooks and activities include:
- 3-D Banner
- Lapbook Cover
- Folded Book
- Banners
- Maze
- Copywork
- Bible Memory Verse Cards and Pocket
- Definitions Envelope Stack
- Layered Book
Exploring the Bible in this hands-on way gives your child a permanent record of their study. They will remember what they’ve learned through a deep look at the fruit the Holy Spirit grows in our lives when we follow Jesus.
The Fruit of the Spirit Bible Memory Card Set
Supplies You’ll Need for Your Fruit of the Spirit Lapbook
Smead File Folder, 1/3-Cut Tab, Letter Size, Assorted Colors, 100 per Box, (11943)
Neenah Creative Collection Classics Specialty Cardstock Starter Kit, 8.5 X 11 Inches, 72 Count (46407-01)AmazonBasics 92 Bright Multipurpose Copy Paper – 8.5 x 11 Inches, 1 Ream (500 Sheets)Pengxiaomei 500 Pcs Mini Brads, Metal Brad Paper Fastener for Scrapbooking Craft, Random ColorsTitanium Scissors 4 Pack (3 8-inch and 1 5-inch) – All Purpose Ultra Sharp Blades for Cutting Paper Fabric and PlasticELMERS All-Purpose Glue Sticks, Large, 0.77 Oz Each, 3 Sticks Per Pack (E5022)Hipgirl 50 Yard 1/4Pilot FriXion Clicker Retractable Erasable Gel Pens Fine Point (.7) Assorted Color Inks 7-pk; Make Mistakes Disappear, No Need For White Out with America’s #1 Selling Pen BrandCrayola 12 Ct Fine Washable Markers
You’ll need a few supplies to put together your lapbook. You probably already have most of these. If not, it’s worth investing in them as you will use them again and again with your kids.
- A Colored File Folder
- A Sheet of Cardstock in a Complimentary Color
- A Metal Brad
- Scissors
- A Glue Stick
- Printer Paper
- A Thin Piece of Ribbon
- Your Bible
- Colored Pens to Write and Color With
How to Print and Use the Fruit of the Spirit Lapbook
To create the base of your lapbook, place your file folder on a table and fold both sides inward toward the creased spine of the folder. Once the outer edges meet, crease your file folder. This will give you a book that opens in the middle. You will still have a fold in the middle of your book, so I like to glue a piece of cardstock into the middle section of the book to create a thick center that won’t bend.
You can watch a quick tutorial for the Fruit of the Spirit lapbook above, at the beginning of this post.
The Fruit of the Spirit Lessons and Lapbook will give your child hours of thoughtful Bible study, with visuals they will not forget.
Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible
You want your kids to learn and love the Bible.
You want to teach the Bible…
As parents, we deeply desire the best for our kids. We look for the right schools, we make them eat right and exercise, and we get them involved in extracurricular activities. We take our job as parents seriously.
But are we also putting our time and energy into
teaching them the Bible? Giving them the life-changing, soul-nourishing words of Scripture is not only doable, it’s an essential part of parenting kids for Jesus. And the good news is, studying God’s Word as a family doesn’t have to be difficult!
2 Timothy 2:15, ESV, says:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Our job, as parents who love Jesus, is to help our kids become approved workers, unashamed and rightly handling the word of truth.
The good news? Teaching the Bible isn’t hard. Your family can learn the Bible together.
…and you can!
A Crash Course in Teaching the Bible to Your Kids
Danika Cooley’s book, Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible, will give you the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family. It will help you identify and overcome your objections and fears, give you a crash course in what the Bible is all about and how to teach it, and provide the guidance you need to set up a family Bible study habit.
You will finish this book feeling encouraged and empowered to initiate and strengthen your child’s relationship with the Lord through His Word.
Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible will equip you with everything you need to know to teach the Bible to your kids!
Thinking Kids Posts You’ll Love
Join the newsletter
Get the Family Prayer Box Project FREE!
Teach your children to pray with this fun project that includes 7 printable sets!
Leave a Reply