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Paul and Onesimus Craft for Kids

A Paul and Onesimus craft for kids in three levels: Paul's letter to Philemon with Onesimus in the middle, a brother beloved (Philemon 1:16). Free template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Paul and Onesimus Craft for Kids
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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages
Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Time
15 to 30 minutes
Scripture
Philemon 1:1–25
Bible story
Paul and Onesimus

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in brown, light yellow and green, plus any colors for drawing Onesimus
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed harder page (page 3), one per child, plus 2 craft sticks, clear tape and a 12-inch piece of yarn (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the card: the two rolls at the ends brown and the letter light yellow. Leave the dotted circle white.Color the card: the two rolls at the ends brown and the letter light yellow. Leave the dotted circle white.
  2. In the window of the Onesimus piece, draw Onesimus from his waist up, a grown man with short hair. Color the frame green.
  3. Cut out the card, the Onesimus piece and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  4. Glue the Onesimus piece on the dotted circle in the middle of the letter.
  5. Glue the verse strip on the back of the card. Read it together.
  6. Tell it: Paul wrote a letter to Philemon about Onesimus, "my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds" (Philemon 1:10). Point to Onesimus in the middle of the letter: Paul asked Philemon to receive him "Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (1:16), and wrote with his own hand, "I will repay it" (1:19).Tell it: Paul wrote a letter to Philemon about Onesimus, "my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds" (Philemon 1:10). Point to Onesimus in the middle of the letter: Paul asked Philemon to receive him "Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (1:16), and wrote with his own hand, "I will repay it" (1:19).

This Paul and Onesimus craft turns one printed page into Paul's letter to Philemon. Paul, "a prisoner of Jesus Christ" (Philemon 1:1), wrote about "my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds" (Philemon 1:10). Kids draw Onesimus and glue him in the middle of the letter, because the whole letter asks Philemon to receive him "Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (1:16).

The finished craft, easy and medium level

The finished craft, harder level

What it looks like finished: easy and medium (first photo) and harder (second photo).

Why this craft works

  • Cheap and simple: one printed page, a glue stick, crayons and scissors.
  • Onesimus is at the center: every child puts Onesimus in the middle of the letter, because Paul's whole letter is about him (Philemon 1:10).
  • It shows a changed life: Onesimus was once "unprofitable," but now "profitable" (1:11), and Paul offered to repay anything he owed (1:18–19).
  • It carries the verse home: Philemon 1:16 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole Paul and Onesimus set, is glued on the back of the card.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces. Kids color, draw Onesimus and glue him on the letter. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut out the pieces and glue them.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids make a letter that really rolls up around two craft sticks and ties closed with yarn.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who wrote the letter (Philemon 1:1), who it was to (1:1–2), what Paul called Onesimus (1:10), how Philemon should receive him (1:16) and what Paul wrote with his own hand (1:19). Then read Philemon 1:16 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and glue. Keep to what the letter says: it never says Onesimus ran away or stole.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Paul and Onesimus lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Paul and Onesimus craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, Onesimus piece and verse strip ahead of time. Preschoolers color the letter and its two rolls, draw Onesimus in his window, and glue him in the middle of the letter. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Paul and Onesimus craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, a glue stick and crayons you already have. The template is free to print. The harder level adds a second page, two craft sticks, tape and a piece of yarn.

What Bible verse goes with this craft?

Philemon 1:16 (KJV), "Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?" It is the memory verse for the whole Paul and Onesimus set, printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids make a letter that really rolls up: they glue Onesimus on the letter from page 3, tape a craft stick at each end, roll the ends in, and tie the letter closed with yarn, like the letter Paul wrote with his own hand (Philemon 1:19).

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