Six Christian-Themed Writing Projects for Kids

If you're looking to add a creative project to your Sunday school or homeschooling lessons, or want to give the kids something faith-related and fun to do on a rainy afternoon, consider a Christian-themed creative writing project. Simply put, these are writing projects which allow kids a chance to express their ideas and feelings about their faith. Writing projects can ask kids to explain bible stories, apply their faith to certain situations, or express how they feel about the Lord. At the same time, writing projects help kids hone important skills which they will need in school.

To help make these writing projects more fun and special, give your kids colored pens or markers and special stationary or notebooks to use as they write. Keeping these special writing items in sync with the Christian theme of the projects (think Veggie Tales) can help kids get into the spirit and realize that writing about church, the bible, or lessons from Jesus can be a fun and joy-filled experience, not just a boring lesson or drill.

Here are some Christian-themed writing project prompts you may want to use to get your kids started.

Writing Project #1: Being Like Jesus
Ask your child to consider which trait of Jesus he or she wishes she could have. Why would they want that trait? What would they do if they had it? Some kids may say they wish they could be kinder and more loving and forgiving while others may focus on how Jesus had the power to heal people and perform miracles that helped people. This is a good project for helping kids to think about all the different aspects of Jesus and see ways they can try to be more like Him in everyday life.

Writing Project #2: Jesus At School
Ask your child to write about a situation they might see at school (or another setting where they're with their peers) where something unChristian is happening - maybe a kid is picking on another kid, or a fight is about to break out, or someone is considering cheating. After they describe the situation, ask your child to put Jesus in the mix to resolve it. This project encourages kids to consider "What would Jesus do" in the context of a situation they would really encounter. Older kids can be encouraged to use bible verse in their writing, or to write the story as a play with different characters speaking dialogue.

Writing Project #3: A Question For God
Part of being a Christian is learning to talk to God. Sometimes, both kids and adults have questions they'd like God to answer. Ask your child to write a letter to God asking him something they wonder about. Whether it's serious, like why a bad thing happens to a good person, or silly, like why He created something like the duck-billed platypus, your child's question can reveal a lot about what's on his or her mind and may encourage him or her to be comfortable asking the Lord for help in understanding things which seem confusing. An alternative to writing a letter would be to have a child pretend he or she is walking or sharing a meal with Jesus and posing the question to Him face to face. Encourage your kids to not try to answer the question in their writing, but rather encourage them to be open to getting an answer from God in His own way and time.

Writing Project #4: A Prayer
There are as many ways to pray as there are people. Writing a prayer down instead of speaking it out loud can be a very powerful way to speak to God. Ask your child, young or old, to write a prayer from the heart. It could be a prayer for a special intention, a grace for a family dinner, or something else your child would like to address. Encourage them to think of all sorts of prayers in the bible and in church including psalms, song lyrics, formal prayers, rhyme, and informal, conversational prayers, and then use any style they like. They may want to begin with thinking about what they want to pray about and then coming up with a style of praying. This project will encourage kids to make prayer their own and know they can speak to God in the own words.

Writing Project #5: God's Best Work
This project encourages kids to think about the blessings in their lives and see good things as coming from God. Ask kids to write about which of God's creations they most love: family members, the ocean, pets, anything in life they enjoy. Ask them to be specific about why they like these things. They can write about as many as they want, maybe in the form of a "Top Ten" list.

Writing Project #6: Summary Of A Bible Story
Ask your child to write out the main elements of a favorite bible story in his or her own words. Encourage them to include the main characters and plotline of the story and make the main point clear (Jesus forgives; Jesus helps, etc.) but make sure they know they don't have to include every detail. This is a summary, not a re-stating. This project will allow kids to feel they've got a good handle on favorite bible stories and let's them be in the position of faith-sharer. An alternative version asks kids to put a bible story in contemporary times. For example, a child may right about a good Samaritan who helps a classmate who is beaten up by a bully.

Writing about different aspects of their faith allows kids a chance to process and express their beliefs while honing writing skills and learning to talk about God - and to God - in their own words. For all these reasons, it can be a valuable, and fun experience.