In the parable of the Vineyard owner the men collect the grapes and that’s as simple as this craft linking idea is. It’s wonderfully open ended. Fill your bunch of grapes with coins that the men will be paid, scrunch tissue paper, dab paint, use glass beads or sequins, or anything you have on hand.
In the parable of the Vineyard owner each man receives a single coin, a danarii, a days wage. Alone it seemed insignificant but when the men in the parable compared their wages they saw the level of unfairness. This craft gathers all those coins, each equal, and puts them together to represent something much bigger. This craft is simple but a little time consuming.
This craft is really just a bit of fun rather than something deep and theological, it depicts the three characters in the parable of the forgiven debt or unforgiving servant. Once made it can be a storytelling prop, a way to ask deeper questions about forgiveness, or just a toy to play with.
There is nothing quite like acting out a simple story and this story of the forgiven debt is perfect for that. These finger puppets are so simple with the only mildly difficult bit being cutting the bars of the prison – and you could skip that at a push! They have finger holes but you could stick them onto popsicle sticks instead if you prefer. If you have a 1.5cm circle punch then they really can be made in a matter of minutes.
When 2 or 3 are gathered Jesus is with them – This craft takes that literally, piecing Jesus together as the different people join. There is nothing moving in this craft and it’s deceptively simple. I’ve included a partially coloured template so you can colour just the three who gather and not Jesus.
This craft is based on Matthew 18 verse 20 where Jesus speaks about where 2 or 3 are gathered in his name – though it plays with the wording a little. This is a perfect craft for a younger group as it’s so simple. It’s recommended to print this one in colour and allow the child to customise the final craft by adding colour to the words and details to the background.
Jesus’ words in this passage about carrying your cross have to be up there with some of his most famous sayings. While the focus of this passage could be that Peter gets it wrong, it could also be about this famous instruction. This craft pictures just that, a walking Jesus dragging a cross behind him. It’s a really simple craft and the only time consuming part is backing it onto thick card.
As we journey through Peter’s ups and downs it’s clear that his bravery to speak from the heart both earns his accolades and dumps him in hot water too. here Peter gets it wrong clearly. This passage is one that really seems odd until you consider the background, Peter knew what a messiah looked like – he’s be a king, a warrior, a savour to his people with the power of God behind him – Jesus decimates that idea pretty quickly. This isn’t a complex craft and lends itself well to groups who like the colouring process or those who want a craft in a hurry.