Worship isn't limited to singing hymns or traditional practices; it can flow into every aspect of creativity, including visual arts. Artistic worship allows us to meditate on God’s Word and connect with His truth in a personal and impactful way. Whether you’re sketching, painting, illustrating or photographing, incorporating art into your worship can deepen your spiritual journey.
Here's a few of my ideas to add some creativity in to your devotions. If you love art and Jesus, you should definitely keep reading.
1. Bible Journaling: A Creative Devotional Practice
Bible journaling is my favourite thing to do, I am lowkey obsessed. Journal Bibles are created and sold all over the world for the purpose of combining the study of scripture with visual creativity. A journaling Bible is a bible with thicker pages and wide margins, or blank pages to journal on (I have 4 of them so far), but you could also use sticky notes, a notebook or journal for the same purpose.
There are no rules to Bible Journaling, but here are a few ideas to add to your margins, blank pages, sticky notes or note books:
Read your chosen Bible passage or chapter and highlight the verses that stand out to you. (I recommend using Bible highlighters as regular highlighters tend to bleed through the pages.)
Use calligraphy or artistic text to write out the chosen passage
Write a breakdown of the passage and what it means to you
Doodle the passage
Sketch, colour or paint what comes to mind after reading the passage
Write out your prayer to God after reading this passage
Creative Banter Tip: Don’t worry about being perfect—Bible journaling is a personal act of worship, not an art competition.
2. Painting Scripture-Inspired Scenes
Believe it or not, painting can help relieve stress and anxiety, and it can also be a way to express emotions in a safe space. Whether you're a digital painter or work on a canvas, painting offers a meditative way to explore the Bible. You can create pieces that depict powerful stories, such as Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, or Jesus calming the storm. There is something about painting a Biblical story that makes it truly come to life in your imagination. Alternatively, paint abstract designs inspired by the emotions or themes of a passage. For example, the vivid poetry of Psalms can inspire dynamic, colourful artwork.
Creative Banter Tip: Pray that God gives you inspiration and put your brush to canvas. It may sound strange to pray over a painting, but God is THE ULTIMATE artist, He is the only one who can inspire you to create something meaningful.
3. Capturing God’s Creation Through Photography
Nature is often described as God’s handiwork, and photography offers an opportunity to capture His creation. After reading a scripture, go out of your way to photograph something that reminds you of the passage or verse. Photographing sunsets, blooming flowers, or rolling waves can serve as reminders of scriptures. Take it a step further, edit your best photograph and turn it in to a stunning phone wallpaper.
Creative Banter Tip: If you're not the best at graphic design, use free programmes such as Canva.com to create a scripture wallpaper. They have great templates ready for you to edit.
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4. Drawing Heroic Storyboards from the Bible
Have you ever read a superhero comic book and felt like you were watching a movie play out in front of you? Well, the real superhero did not wear a cape, they wear a crown of thorns. A great way to bring the stories of Jesus (or anyone in the Bible) to life is by drawing a storyboard. Try drawing Moses parting the Red Sea, Jesus healing the 10 lepers, or the nativity scene.
Creative Banter Tip: You can make it as cartoony or realistic as you like... be creative. You can make a modern day version of the story too, make it personal.
5. Bible Arts and Crafts: Creating Crafty Keepsakes
For those who love hands-on projects, Bible arts and crafts offer a fun and meaningful way to incorporate scripture into your everyday life. Crafting allows you to make personalised items that remind you of God’s Word while also providing practical uses or decorative purposes.
Here are some creative crafts ideas:
Bible Bags: Paint a reusable canvas bag decorated with your favourite Bible verse. Fabric paints, stencils, or iron-on transfers can be used to bring your design to life.
Prayer Boards: Design a cork board or whiteboard to serve as a prayer board. Use it to pin prayer requests, answered prayers, or inspiring Bible verses. Personalise it with ribbons, colours, or embellishments to reflect your personality.
Scripture Jars: Fill a jar with rolled-up scriptures or encouraging messages. Decorate the jar with paint, fabric, or labels. This can be a tool for daily inspiration, where you pull out a scripture each morning for reflection.
Creative Banter Tip: Experiment with different mediums and materials, there's no rules. If you are stuck for inspiration, Pinterest is a great start!
Fellowship, Faith, and Friendship through Art
Artistic worship is a wonderful way to strengthen bonds within your faith community. Invite some friends over to study scripture and draw closer to God, you can combine faith with fun and artistic expression. Host a Scripture Pray and Paint event where friends paint Bible-inspired scenes while sharing verses and personal reflections. Or choose a Bible arts and crafts activity to not only encourage creativity but also deepen connections, foster meaningful discussions, and nurture spiritual growth in a welcoming, faith-filled environment.
Creative Banter Tip: Think about starting a fellowship group once a week, once a month, or just as a one off. You can incorporate creative ways to connect such as 'Scripture sip and paint' or Bible arts and crafts? Making Bible crafts as a group can be a really fun way to relax and remember scripture.
Artistic worship is a beautiful way to honour God, reflect on His Word, and express your faith. Whether you’re capturing the glory of His creation, drawing scenes from scripture, or illustrating a devotional journal, each act of creativity is a form of praise. Embrace your unique artistic style and let your worship shine through your creations.
How do you incorporate art into your worship? Share your creations and ideas in the comments below or tag us on social media to inspire others in their creative spiritual journey!
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