B8. Jesus Walks on Water Matthew 14:22-33

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1 Page1 B8. Jesus Walks on Water Matthew 14:22-33 Learning Objectives 1. The children will examine the story of Jesus walking on the water. 2. The children will recognize that when we have faith in Jesus, we have the courage to do mighty things. Getting Started Memory Verse:...Be brave. It is I, don t be afraid. --Matthew 14:27 (NIRV) Choose One All Ages What are YOU afraid of? Discussion To introduce the Bible story today, have all the children sit on the floor in a large circle on a blue tarp or blanket if possible, to represent water. Ask each child one of the questions below at random, until everyone has a chance to respond one or more times. 1. What is something you are afraid of? 2. What would you like to do if it was not so scary? 3. How do you act when you are afraid? 4. Who can help you get courage? Tell the children that today s story is about a time when Jesus made His disciples get into a boat and set sail while He stayed behind to pray. It was early in the morning, and the boat was in the middle of the sea. The wind was picking up, and the waves were starting to hit the boat when the disciples saw something that made them afraid. Let's find out what happened. Continue with the story. Science Discover: Water Striders You will need to print out a picture of a water strider before class. You may also want to find one in a book to bring to class and read about water striders. Talk to the children about water striders. Tell them that it might also be nicknamed the Jesus bug. Ask them why they think that would be a good nickname for this bug? (The hint the water strider walks along the top of the water, just like Jesus did in today s lesson). Ask the children if they have ever tried to walk on water. What happens? (Discuss together.) Tell them that it would take a miracle for a person to be able to walk on water. Continue with today s lesson, about a miracle in which two people did the impossible and walked on water. Float or Sink? You will need a container filled with water and four toys (some that will float and some that will sink) for this activity. Show the toys to the children and ask them which ones they think will float on the surface of the water and which will sink to the bottom of the container. After they make their predictions, test each toy to see if they are correct. Ask the children to explain why some of the toys could float on the water and other could not. Then tell the children that in today s lesson Jesus did just float, He walked on the water! Continue with the lesson.

2 Page2 Getting Started - Continued Choose One Grades K-2 Jesus Walks on Water Coloring Page See: Preschool Coloring Pages Jesus Walks on Water You will need to print out one coloring page for each child and provide crayons or colored pencils for this activity. Grades 3-5 Hangman Game Play a game of hangman using the lesson title or the memory verse as the hangman phrase. Then continue with the lesson. Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Message: Jesus gives us courage. Jesus Walks on the Water 22 Right away Jesus made the disciples get into the boat. He had them go on ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Then he sent the crowd away. 23 After he had sent them away, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone. 24 The boat was already a long way from land. It was being pounded by the waves because the wind was blowing against it. 25 Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to the disciples. He walked on the lake. 26 They saw him walking on the lake and were terrified. It s a ghost! they said. And they cried out in fear. 27 Right away Jesus called out to them, Be brave! It is I. Don t be afraid. 28 Lord, is it you? Peter asked. If it is, tell me to come to you on the water. 29 Come, Jesus said. So Peter got out of the boat. He walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid. He began to sink. He cried out, Lord! Save me! 31 Right away Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. Your faith is so small! he said. Why did you doubt me? 32 When they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped Jesus. They said, You really are the Son of God! Role Play Option Before class you will need to gather the props (blue cloth to represent the sea, brown cloth to represent the boat) for this role play activity. Print out enough copies of the role play for each character. Please see the Role Play Option sheets attached at the end of this lesson.

3 Page3 Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Continued Discussion Questions: 1. What did the disciples think Jesus was when they first saw Him walking on the water? (A ghost.) 2. What did Jesus say to the disciples? (See the Memory Verse.) 3. Who started to walk on the water towards Jesus? (Peter.) 4. What did Peter see that made him afraid? (The wind, Peter must have seen the waves blown by the wind.) 5. Do you think Peter would have sunk if he had kept both eyes only on Jesus? (Discuss together.) 6. When Peter started to sink, what happened? (Jesus grabbed him.) 7. Do you believe Jesus will take hold of you when you need His help? Why or why not? (Discuss together.) 8. Do you think it takes courage to follow Jesus? (Discuss together.) 9. Why did Jesus do this miracle? (Jesus wanted to show the disciples that He was God and that He was eternal. Jesus was present when God created the world, and through this miracle He was also showing the disciples that He even has power over nature.) Application to Real Life Enjoy a healthy snack together. Look up and read in the Bible to the children: Philippians 4:6-7 (NIRV) 6 Don t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. 7 Then God s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God s peace can never be completely understood. Explain to the children God replaces our burdens with peace, when we give them to Him in prayer. If they are ever afraid, they can look to Jesus and share those things with Him in prayer. He promises to always be there during times of need, for those who believe in Him. Ask your students to share with the class any of the storms they are going through. Make this a time for prayer requests. Don t force any children to share who aren t comfortable sharing. Be sensitive to the needs and pray for these requests out-loud with your students. You can model prayer for your class, so they can see that you are simply talking to God. When you are finished, review the memory verse and message statement. Memory Work Fun 1. Recite the memory verse. 2. Practice finding the memory verse and/or Bible text in their Bible! 3. Play a game to review a commandment pass/toss a bean bag or stuffed animal whoever gets it says the next word. 4. Can anyone name the three parts of the Holy Trinity? (Father (God), Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit)

4 Page4 Activity Ideas Choose One All Ages It is I Activity See: New Testament Lesson 238 Teachers Guide Page 8 You may need to recruit extra volunteers for this activity. Send several students out of the room. One by one have them crack the door and speak into the room, Be brave. It is I, don t be afraid. Make sure the other children can t see who it is. See how well the remaining students in the classroom recognize their voices. After you finish the activity, talk with the children. Ask: Do we recognize Jesus voice? Do we feel brave knowing that Jesus is with us all the time? Why or why not? Discuss this together. Remind the children of the memory verse and message statement. Then look up Hebrew 13:5 and read it together to see what else Jesus said that should bring us comfort. When I Am Afraid Activity You will need small strips of paper or index cards, an easel or white board, a marker, pencils and tape for this activity. Divide the easel (chart paper) or white board into two columns. Over the first column write I am afraid when Over the second column write When I am afraid, I Give each child a pencil and index card or strip of paper. Ask them to think of time when they were afraid and write it down (or draw) it on the paper. When everyone has something written or drawn, ask them to share their responses and then tape their paper under the first column. Ask the children what they do when they are afraid and write their responses in the second column. When the children have no more answer, review the list and place a star beside each response that involves Jesus or God. Tell the children that there is something in common between all the responses that have a star next to them. Remind the children to ask for Jesus help whenever they are afraid. Music Option Please see the Music Option attached at the end of this lesson for a song about Jesus Walking on the Water. Grades K-2 Walking on Water Activity See: Preschool Activities Walking on Water You will need copies of the stepping stones (one more set than the number of children in your class), card stock and tape for this activity. The children will pretend to walk on water by stepping on some creatures. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. There are ideas for younger and older children listed there. Be sure to also complete the discussion portion of the activity. Remind the children of the message statement. Walk on Water Song See: Preschool Songs Walk on Water Please see the above website for the lyrics. The song is sung to the tune of Deck the Halls.

5 Page5 Activity Ideas - Continued Choose One Grades 3-5 Boats Activity See: New Testament Lesson 238 Teachers Guide Page 2 You will need a paper plate for each child in your class, as well as crayons and/or markers, tongue depressors, glue, construction paper, and pipe cleaners for this activity. The children will use the paper plates to make a boat. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. In addition, write the memory verse on the outside of the boat or have a preprinted copy of the memory verse for each child to glue onto their boat. Journal Optional Grades K-2 Draw a picture of something that you are worried about right now. Then find a quiet spot and say a prayer asking God to help you. Grades 3-5 (Choose One) Is it easy for you NOT to worry about things? Why or why not? Write about it. What is bothering you right now in your life? Write God a letter about those things, as if you were saying a prayer. Sometimes we have a hard time expressing our prayers in spoken words, but it is easier to write our prayers on paper. Give it a try. Write about it. Homework Ideas - Read at home with a grownup the lesson about Thanksgiving (Matthew 6:25-34; 1 Timothy 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). - Learn the memory verse: Give thanks no matter what happens. --1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIRV) - Work on memorizing commandment #. - Color the Thanksgiving coloring sheet as your parents read you the Sunday School Lesson. Return your coloring page for a sticker. - What are you thankful for? Make a list or draw a collage of all the things you are thankful to God for in your heart. Try to think of 20 things, and not just all big things either. Other Resources New Testament Lesson 238 support curriculum

6 Role Play Option Page6

7 Music Option Page 1 Page7

8 Music Option Page 2 Page8

9 Page9 Coloring Page Name: Thanksgiving Give thanks no matter what happens. --1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIRV)

10 Page10 Take Home Page: Jesus Walks on Water Today I learned Today your child learned that Jesus gives us courage. The children examined the story of Jesus walking on the water. They also talked about when we have faith in Jesus, we have the courage to do mighty things. Help me learn my memory verse Be brave. It is I, don t be afraid. --Matthew 14:27 (NIRV) Ask me 1. What happened on the water in today s lesson? 2. How was Peter able to walk on the water? 3. Do you think it takes courage to follow Jesus? Why or why not? Live Your Faith As a family, take turns sharing who you think is the bravest person EVER. The person could be real or fictional (from a story or movie) and could be someone who lived a long, long time ago. What makes that person so brave and courageous? Share whether you think you are a brave person or not, and why. Remind your children that Jesus is always there for us and He wants to help us when we cry out to Him for help. We have nothing to fear, and every reason to have courage because we know that He is with us.