God Knows Me and Makes me New…Rejoice! Craft Ideas for Celebrating Grace and Baptism
Whether your church baptizes children at birth or later, all ages can celebrate the joy of knowing that God knows us and calls us by name as His own. Kids can give thanks and be glad that we are made knew by the blood of Jesus, and God forgives us and loves us. These crafts honor the joy of recognizing His hand in our lives. A “listen to God windchime” reminds students that God knows each person and wants us to listen to Him. A “transformation water bottle” serves as a decoration and science experiment, examining how water can change things.
Bible Verses or Craft Captions to Consider… (Luke 3:15-22)
I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. -Luke 3:16
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” -Luke 3:21-22
Water can change things…GOD transforms my heart!
God knows my name…I listen for HIS voice!
Adopted into His family…child of God.
More Teaching Ideas
- Watch the video teaching example of this children’s sermon and related Bible crafts
- Compare another Sunday School lesson on Luke 3:15-17; 21-22
- Compare a free children’s sermon on Jesus’ baptism from rFour.org
Craft one: “Listen to God Wind Chimes”
You will need:
- Paper plates (any size)
- Scissors
- Markers and/or crayons
- Construction paper or cardstock
- Stickers and decorations
- Glue, stapler, or tape
- Pipe cleaner or string
- Noise making element (shells, tin, cups, etc.)
Procedure:
- Decorate the plate with verses, captions, and stickers. Write the child’s name on at least one side of the plate to remember that God knows our names.
- Attach streamers and ribbons to the plate for extra decoration.
- Add a ribbon on the plate to hang it. From the bottom, attach more ribbons or strings.
- Place items at the bottom of the strings which will make noise when rubbed together. Hang inside or outside to listen to the sounds and consider listening for God’s voice!
Craft Two: “Transformation Water Bottle”
You will need:
- Markers/crayons
- Construction paper or card stock
- Decorations (stickers, etc.)
- Scissors
- Captions/verses
- Water bottle (empty)
- Ribbon or streamers (optional)
- Small items such as pasta noodles, candy, or cotton balls
Procedure:
1. Decorate the outside of an empty water bottle with stickers, jewels, or markers.
2. Add paper decorations, verses, and captions.
3. Inside the water bottle, place items that might be changed by water. Examples include pom-pom balls or cotton balls, bits of paper, dry pasta noodles, rice grains, or gummi candies. Encourage students to predict how items might alter after soaking in the water.
4. Add water to the bottle. If desired, add food coloring and/or glitter for extra flair.
5. Add any extra decoration preferred. Observe to see how the items change as they soak. Remind students that water can change things, just as the Holy Spirit changes us!