When our kids were preschoolers, I made these fun little Bible Boxes for them. I was inspired by making our own Resurrection Eggs, where you open the eggs and talk about the items inside and how they relate to the Easter story. I thought it might be fun to have some interactive and tactile boxes for several other Bible stories. I put the items and stories in little boxes from the craft store, but you could use tupperware containers for printable/foldable takeout style boxes from the internet if you don’t want to go out and buy some. I got some of the items from the dollar store, some from the craft store (miniatures), some from my kids toy boxes, etc. Feel free to use whichever items you can find or have on hand. I adapted to what I could find. You could even print an image of a crown in you can’t find one, for example. As you read through the story, have the child find the item that goes with the story (in parenthesis and bold). Kids love retelling the story from the items after it has been read to them too. I hope you and your child or children enjoy these as much as we did!!
Rebuilding of the Temple from 2 Kings 22-23
Josiah was eight years old when he became king (BOY, CANDLE), and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah (CROWN) had people start to work on the temple of the Lord. He sent money to pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord—the carpenters, the builders and the masons. (HAMMER/SCREWDRIVER)
The workers found the Book of the Law while they were working and sent it to King Josiah. The high priest said to the the secretary, (BIBLE) The king’s secretary read from the book in the presence of the king.
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes (TORN FABRIC) in sadness because he knew the Lord’s was angry because the people had not obeyed the words of this book. Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read and taught (SCHOOL) the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king and the people renewed the promise to the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep His commands.
John The Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus from Matthew 3-4 and Mark 1
John the Baptist lived in the desert (SAND), wearing clothing of camel’s hair (FUR) with a leather belt. He ate locusts (LOCUST/GRASSHOPPER) and wild honey (BEEHIVE).
John said “after me comes One more powerful than I, One whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” (FLIP FLOPS/SANDALS).
When John baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove (DOVE) and rested on Jesus. A loud voice from God said “This is my son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased.”
Then Jesus went in to the desert with the wild animals (CACTUS) and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Angels came and attended to him (ANGEL). After 40 days and nights, Jesus went out of the desert, telling the Good News (NEWSPAPER).
Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison from Acts 12
Peter was put into prison and guarded by soldiers (TOY SOLDIER) because He followed Jesus. Jesus’ followers, the church, were praying for him (HAND).
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers (TOY SOLDIER) and bound with chains. An angel (ANGEL) appeared and woke Peter. A light (CANDLE) shone down on him and the chains fell off (CHAINS).
Peter followed the angel (ANGEL) out of prison, past the guards (TOY SOLDIER). The gate (GATE) to the city opened by itself!
Peter walked (FOOT) the length of one street and the angel disappeared. He went to his friends who had been praying and told them how the Lord sent an angel to rescue him!
