family

A couple of years ago, my family got involved in a weekly children’s Bible club. We started helping because we wanted an opportunity to serve together as a family and to teach our children how to minister to other people. Since then, Bible club has become much more than a Saturday morning ministry opportunity. We have come to love the dozen or so children that hop on the bus to come every week. We bake them treats. We pray for them. We spend time trying to figure out how to teach them more effectively.

All of the children in our Bible club have been raised in poverty. Most of them don’t come from intact families. Few have ever attended a church service. Some of them come because they like seeing their friends. Others come because they sense the club leaders care for them. Some of them come because they like to play games and eat brownies. Whatever the reason, we’re glad whenever they show up.

Shortly after we started this ministry, we noticed that some of the girls who came rarely wanted to participate in the organized game time.  In order to better connect with them, we started having a craft time. They love doing crafts, and we’ve found that it’s a great time to teach basic Bible truths and reinforce some of the things my husband is teaching in our Bible lesson time.

This Christmas season, we’re decorating small Christmas trees with a dozen ornaments centered around one theme—the names of Christ. It is our hope that this craft will not only help them understand who Jesus Christ is but that they’ll be able to use it to tell their families about Christ.

You can use this craft in your own ministry setting or even with your own children. Make one ornament every day or make several at once—the pacing is really up to you. But before you make each ornament, take the time to read the associated Scripture passage and talk about the significance of the title. The goal is not just to have pretty ornaments; the goal is to better understand our Savior.

1. Jesus is the Word

   John 1: 1–3
   

2. Materials needed: foam craft sheets (black, white, and green), red ribbon, hole punch, scissors, tacky glue

2. Jesus is the Light of the World

   John 8:12
   Materials needed: foam craft sheets (black, yellow, orange, red, white), glitter glue, scissors, hole punch, ribbon, tacky glue

3. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

   Revelation 5:5
   Materials needed: foam craft sheets (yellow, orange), googly eyes, scissors, tacky glue, hole punch, ribbon

4. Jesus is the Way

   John 14:6
   Materials needed: foam craft sheets (blue, green, brown), gold glitter glue, cotton balls, scissors, tacky glue

5. Jesus is the Good Shepherd

   John 10:11
   Materials needed: pipe cleaners, beads, ribbon

6. Jesus is the Lamb of God

   John 1:29
   Materials needed: assortment of white and black buttons, white card stock or craft foam, scissors, string or ribbon, tacky glue

7. Jesus is the Vine

   John 15:1
   Materials needed: purple paper, green pipe cleaners, pencil (to curl paper around), scissors, hot glue gun, ribbon, tacky glue

8. Jesus is the Bread of Life

   John 6:35
   
   Materials needed: salt, flour, lukewarm water, wax paper, plastic straw, knife, ribbon
   Directions:
   (1) In a medium bowl, mix ½ cup salt, 1 cup flour, and ½ lukewarm water.
   (2) Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3–5 minutes.
   (3) Form “French bread” shapes, using a knife to add detail.
   (4) Poke a hole in the top using a plastic straw.
   (5) Place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper (or parchment paper).
   (6) Bake at 200 degrees for 2–5 hours, depending on thickness (or you can let them air dry for several days).

9. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

   John 11:25
   Materials needed: salt, flour, lukewarm water, wax paper, plastic straw, ribbon
   Directions:
   (1) Make salt dough (see steps 1 and 2 under for ornament #8).
   (2) Shape dough into one large ball and another smaller one.
   (3) Place large ball on cookie sheet covered with wax paper, and use thumb to make a “cave” indent.
   (4) Place smaller ball off to the side of the “cave.”
   (5) Poke a hole in the top using a plastic straw.
   (6) Bake at 200 degrees for 2–5 hours, depending on thickness (or you can let them air dry for several days).

10. Jesus is the King of Kings

    Revelation 19:16
    Materials needed: empty toilet paper or paper towel tube, scissors, sequins or jewels, tacky glue, ribbon

11. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega

    Revelation 22:13
    Materials needed: craft popsicle sticks, paint, paintbrushes, foam craft sheets (any color ), sticker letters, hot glue gun, ribbon

12. Jesus is the Savior

    1 John 4:14; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11
    Materials needed: applesauce, cinnamon (4 oz. container), plastic wrap, rolling pin, cross-shaped cookie cutter, wax paper, plastic straw,  ribbon
    Directions:
    (1) Mix 1/3 cup applesauce with container of cinnamon.
    (2) Roll out dough between 2 sheets of  plastic wrap until ¼ inch thick.
    (3) Remove top sheet of plastic wrap.
    (4) Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
    (5) Peel shapes away from bottom layer of plastic wrap and place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
    (6) Poke a hole in the top using a plastic straw.
    (7) Bake at 250 degrees for 1–3 hours, depending on thickness.

May you find comfort in all that Jesus is this Christmas!

Find other Christmas activities on the BJU Press blog.