Newest Resources - Jesus Without Language

The Question about Taxes (Matthew 22)| Craft 1

This craft uses the coins imagery to reinforce the answer Jesus gave about Taxes to the Pharisees and Herodians. Some crafts have pretty outcomes, some are less aesthetically beautiful and more likely to get a ‘wow’ response – this is very much the latter! It’s a little fiddly and if you’d like a simpler craft do check out the alternative one using the links at the end of this post (coming tomorrow).

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, scissors, and some paper glue.

Cut out the two coin faces and the background piece (the double lines).

Fold the main piece in half along the long dotted line

Use scissors to cut along each of the solid lines, don’t cut any dotted lines!

Open out and flatten – it may be worth folding the fold the opposite way to help do this.

Now comes the tricky bit – fold the dotted lines in alternating directions – one mountain fold then one valley fold. The folds on one side should mirror the folds on the other.

Folding finished, glue your coin to the middle.

Turn your spinner over and place the alternative coin on the opposite side.

To make your coin spin, you need to hold the sides, push lightly inwards and pull gently apart. It will alternate between the flat image and a shape something like this. See the animation at the top of this post.

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A4 size
(210 x 297 mm)

Download colour Download no colour

The Question about Taxes (Matthew 22) | Story

This passage shows two groups become unlikely allies. The Herodians are a bit of an unknown factor, we know they wished to restore a member of the Herodian dynasty to the throne in Judea, and they fought for political independence but little else. As long as Rome let them fully rule themselves, they probably would have been happy. The Pharisees would have found these terms totally offensive, nothing but an offspring of David should rule as king over the land and the only higher authority for their king would have been divine. Bringing the Herodians along for a political question concerning Rome was a clever play, they would have no problem getting Jesus arrested for not paying taxes.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Matthew 22

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

“We need to trap him” said one of the crowd of men. They were all Pharisees and for days Jesus had been making them look like fools every time they went near. “Don’t you think we’ve tried that” came an older voice. “He’s smart, too smart”

The group fell silent, miserable faces all around, it was then they heard the voices of another group of men – one by one they looked up at people they liked almost as much as Jesus – the Herodians. “Perhaps” said the old man, a smile growing on his face, “Perhaps we can use one enemy to trap another?”

As they walked everyone turned in shock. Two enemies side by side. The Pharisees who fought for independence from the Emperor and the Herodians who supported the emperor. It was an amazing sight. It didn’t surprise anyone that they were going to see Jesus.

“Teacher,” said the oldest Pharisee “we know that you teach the way of God, that you teach what is true, that you don’t take sides in an argument. So please tell us: Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”

The crowd gasped. That’s why the Heroidans were there, because the they had no problems giving money to the emperor, they were happy to be part of the empire but with a king of their own. The Pharisees, like the people, hated the emperor taking the money from them, they hated everything about the empire. How could Jesus answer this?

“Why, oh why are you testing me?” muttered Jesus in frustration.
“Show me a coin!” he shouted, “Not a temple coin but a coin you use to pay the taxes” A coin was given to Jesus and the crowd moved in to see what he would do with it. Jesus held it up and turned it over. Then he walked up to the oldest Pharisee.

“Please, would you tell me whose head this is on this coin?” Jesus asked him
“that’s the emperors head, Caesar ” replied the man
“then pay to Caesar what is his and pay to God what is his” replied Jesus.

The Pharisees faces fell. They had hoped Jesus would anger the crowd, or break the law about paying taxes but he’d done neither.

Parable of the Banquet Guests (Luke 14) | Character Images

These are the Character resources provided for: Parable of the Banquet Guests (Luke 14)

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

For each passage, there is a collectable card alongside high-quality character images and a colouring page. All other graphics are extra’s!

Click on the images below to see a larger version. Save the images by right click + ‘save image as’ (computers) OR long press + ‘save image’ (mobile).

These images are NOT copyright free.

These resources are provided for personal/classroom use only.
Use can use them for teaching, games, publicity, decorations, big screen presentations, flannel graphs, stickers, or any other non-commercial activity in your church, school, home, or organised group.
You may not use them in products you are going to sell (both printed and digital). Nor may you upload the original images online, on websites, social media or in YouTube videos.
Any questions, please reach out to me using the contact page link at the end of the page.

Parable of the Banquet Guests (Luke 14) | Games

The parable of the Banquet guests is a strange one! On the one hand, you have the remarkable generosity of the banquet host, or king as he’s referred to in Matthew’s passage, but on the other hand you have the blatant failure of friendship from the invited guests. These games look at the idea of invitation, the roller coaster of emotions, and the idea of a party. Here is a selection of games to suit a wide range of ages and set-ups. Choose the game you would most like playing and your youngsters would respond to best.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

Wipe that smile off your face

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

The first person pulls their silliest smile and directs it at each child in the circle, trying to make someone giggle or laugh. On the leaders’ mark, they use one hand to literally “wipe” the smile off their face, and hand it to the next person, and on it goes. This can get silly rapidly but shows how much infectious smiles and excitement can be.

Every spot

Under 7’s

Small group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Lay paper plates out on a table to indicate how many people/cuddly toys you need. Hide the cuddly toys around the room. Make it harder by putting names or colours on the plates, they need to match up.

You are invited…

Under 7’s

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

First mark a section of your room as the party area and a section outside where the ‘guests’ (kids) start. This can be played two ways, either as a form of Simon says ‘you are invited if you can jump’- the kids then jump into the party. Once everyone is in the areas, swap and you give a new command. For older groups, each child presents themselves miming an action, the host can invite them in by naming that action by saying “you are invited …. (insert action e.g. doing the washing up!)”

Who am I

Ages 7+

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

A traditional game that works well with older groups (sometimes referred to as the post-it note game). Place the name of a famous person on the forehead (or back) of each player. The player must work out who they are by asking yes/no questions of the other players.

Pass the parcel

All Ages

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Space needed

This classic game involves a parcel with many layers that gets passed around a circle as the music plays. When the music stops, the child removes a single layer and the process begins again. Link to the idea of all these strangers sharing the joy of a party, passing the food, enjoying the undeserved gifts they received.

Parable of the Banquet Guests (Luke 14) | Craft 2

The parable of the banquet guests shows the welcoming nature of God. There is something special about images that invite you in, and giving depth is one of the simplest ways of doing so. This craft is super swift and simple to make, yet gives a fabulous result of a full table of people enjoying a feast.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.