Rejoice in the Lord

Psalm 32:11a tells us to rejoice in the Lord, or be glad in the Lord! This fun paper lantern craft for kids is perfect for spring.

Our children learn the proper response to life events primarily from us, their parents.

We want to teach our children to be glad in the Lord and rejoice–and there is nothing more worth rejoicing over than our salvation from sin and death in Christ Jesus! It is by God’s grace through faith that we are saved and forgiven from our sins. It’s something we should praise God for daily!

Teach your kids about God’s plan for salvation with this free poster and verse cards.

That’s what Psalm 32 is all about. Psalm 32 is a thanksgiving hymn (that’s the type of psalm it is), and it reminds us that we are blessed to be in Christ. We were sick with sin and he healed us, saving us from eternal separation from God.

The correct response to our salvation is always and forever to praise and rejoice in the Lord.

Remind your kids to praise God for his saving grace with this fun lantern craft. Spring is the perfect time to talk about new life in Jesus.

As you prepare to make your paper lantern craft, read Psalm 32 together. It’s just 11 verses!

Discuss with your children:

What are some things Psalm 32 says about those who are forgiven in Jesus?
What does it say about those who “kept silent”–who refused to repent of their sin?
What does the redeemed person in verse 5 do?
What does Romans 10:9 say about salvation?

Talk about the correct response to our salvation in Jesus through verse 11. In different versions, it says:

ESV: Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
KJV: Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
HCSB: Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
LSB: Be glad in Yahweh and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
NASB: Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

Lastly, as you work together on the lantern, ask your child: Have you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead? Have you turned from your sins to make Jesus Lord of your life? What is the correct response to God’s salvation?

Consider going over the gospel with this free poster and verse cards as you work.

Love the Bible for Kids | A resource you'll love!

Paper Lantern Craft for Kids

Check out this fun video of the paper lantern craft!

Spring Craft for Kids | Paper Lantern Craft Supplies

You’ll need a few supplies to make your paper lantern craft:

Cardstock (color for lantern)
Colored Tissue Papers
Scissors
Glue
Pencil
Ruler
Printable Template with Verse Frame

Grab your free printable with instructions and printable templates.

Rejoice in the Lord Paper Lantern Craft| Instructions

Before you get started on the craft, read and discuss the passage above.

1) Print Your Paper Lantern Craft Template and the Verse Frame.

Cut out the rectangular template for your lamp. Be sure to cut only the outside edges–the inner vertical lines are for folds.

Cut out the templates for the bird, branch, and flowers, and the Bible verse frame.

2) Fold a Piece of Cardstock.

Lay your lamp template over a piece of cardstock in the color of your choice and trace it with a pencil. Cut around the edges so the sizes match, then fold your cardstock as shown above on the inner vertical lines.

3) Cut Out Your Child Rejoicing in the Lord.

Lay your template over your lamp and trace the outline of the child and tree silhouette with a pencil.

Then, use an X-ACTO knife (you’ll want to do this for younger kids!) to cut out the child and tree silhouette on the lantern.

Last, trace the templates for the flowers, stems, branches, and bird on different colored papers. Cut them out, then glue the pieces together as shown. Use a permanent marker to add details to your bird.

4) Add the Tissue Paper.

Cut three pieces of tissue paper in shades of blue and green. You’ll want the pieces to be long enough to cover the space you cut out horizontally.

Glue the colored pieces of tissue paper across the background space as shown, applying glue to the back of the paper–which will be the inside of the lantern.

5) Decorate the Spring Scene.

Glue flowers beneath the praising child. Then, glue the branch into the tree. Last, glue the bird onto the branch.

6) Make Your Paper Lantern.

Fold your lantern along the creases you’ve already made and glue the flap to the rectangle on the other side to create a triangle.

6) Glue the Bible Verse Frame to Your Craft.

Glue your Bible verse frame to your lantern below the tree as shown. Put an electric votive candle in the bottom and display!

Bible Resources for Your Kids

Learn More Here Learn More Here Learn More Here Learn More Here Learn More Here Learn More Here

Puzzle-Based Independent Bible Study for Kids!

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2, ESV

Bible Investigators | Bible Puzzles for Kids

Good Bible Investigators:

- Observe: They pay attention to what they’re reading.
- Interpret: They figure out what the Bible means in that section.
- Apply: They decide how the truth of God’s Word impacts their life today.

There are a great many truths in life to be found—some interesting, some boring, and some that really matter. You can be the kind of investigator who spends time puzzling out important truth so that you can know all the knowable knowledge that God has given us. That’s right. God, the Creator of the Universe, gave you a great big letter from him to explore and study so that you can discover the truths that really matter to your life!”

Bible Investigators: Creation, (The Good Book Company, 2024), page 7

The Bible Investigators: Creation Bible study for kids, written by Danika Cooley and published by The Good Book Company, is 272-pages of learning, puzzles, and fun activities designed to help your kids become amazing independent Bible investigators–observing, interpreting, and applying God’s Word as they learn what the Bible teaches on a particular subject.

Bible Puzzles for Kids

Middle grade kids, aged 8-12, love puzzles. After all, their brains are just built for figuring things out and memorizing facts. Puzzles are a wonderful way to help kids develop logic skills and retain important information. And, the book is written in a fun, conversational tone your children are sure to love!

What types of puzzles and activities will you find in Bible Investigators?

- Word Searches
- Crosswords
- Rebus Puzzles
- Dot-to-Dots
- Logic Puzzles
- Missing Letter Puzzles
- Cryptograms
- Word Sudoku
- Mazes
- How-to-Draw Pages
- Matching Pairs
- Word Scrambles
- Journal Pages