BIBLE STUDY Jesus had just fed more than 5,000 people on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. After sending away the people and directing His disciples to go back across the sea, Jesus went to a mountain to pray. It was late, and He sought to be alone with His Father. Jesus was preparing to fulfill His Father s plan. Before long, He would die on the cross and rescue people from their sin. While Jesus prayed, the disciples struggled to cross the sea. A storm came and tossed their boat up and down. They didn t make any progress against the waves. Then, in the early morning hours, they saw a figure walking toward them on the water. They thought it was a ghost, but it was Jesus! Peter asked Jesus for permission to come out on the water, and Jesus called to him. Peter walked on the water too until he remembered the storm. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and he began to sink. Peter cried out to Jesus, Save me! Jesus took Peter by the hand and got in the boat. The wind and waves calmed. Though Peter had doubted, the disciples worshiped Jesus. Clearly He was no ordinary man; this was the Son of God the promised Messiah! Jesus proved that He can be trusted. His miracles, teaching, death, and resurrection showed that He is who He says He is. As you teach preschoolers, encourage them to look to Jesus in faith every day. We can seek Him for our salvation and for help as we live in this world. Even in the midst of fear and doubt, we can hold out our empty hands and cry, Lord, save me! He will answer, and we can respond in worship of our Lord and Savior. SUGGESTED THEME DECORATING IDEAS: Suggested Theme Decorating Ideas: Decorate your room to look like the starting line of an extreme obstacle course. Hang a banner labeled START. Create a fake rope wall by painting foam board and attaching a rope to the top of it. Use traffic cones and string to make a belly crawl station. Consider displaying the theme background slide. Create an extreme obstacle course by setting up a rope ladder leading to a set of monkey bars, a large wall divider to jump over, and ropes strung low to the ground for the army crawl. Make sure kids do not attempt to actually use the obstacle course. You may also display the theme background slide. 1 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS
Key Passage song These Are Written song KEY PASSAGE SONG Play the Key Passage song as your kids arrive. WORSHIP Worship leaders sing two songs with the children and collect offering. Theme Slide PROPS workout clothes helmet war paint Bible Story Video Jesus Walked on Water video Bible Story Picture Slide Bible INTRODUCE THE SESSION (3 MINUTES) [Large Group Leader enters wearing colorful workout clothes and a helmet. His or her face has war paint patterns across both cheeks.] Leader [Speak loudly and with high energy.] ALL RIGHT! NICE! Welcome back to the course, warriors. Sadly, this is the last day of the event. Happily, the last day has the best obstacle challenges. These are the stations that will make or break the Mud Warrior champions. It all starts with the slime-pit somersaults, followed by the upside-down rope climb. Then there s a 2000-meter dash to the last station, the Mud Warrior Slog: a 100-meter pit filled with muddy water. Competitors have to plow through the thick gunk as fast as they can to reach the finish line. I heard a guy last year say it was like running through a milkshake. He didn t finish and had to be pulled from the mud by a crane! One competitor a few years back set the record for the fastest Mud Warrior Slog. I wasn t around when it happened, but people tell stories about her. Some say it looked as though she was running on top of the mud. [Pause, in awe.] Of course, we know that s not really possible, but she must have gone really fast for people to describe it that way. Actually, that reminds me of our next Bible story. It s about another of Jesus miracles. WATCH THE BIBLE STORY (10 MINUTES) Say The Bible is a true book. Today s Bible story really happened! We can believe the Bible because it is God s Word. Our Bible story comes from Matthew. Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling tips. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers. OPTIONAL BIBLE STORY SCRIPT Jesus Walked on Water Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus had been teaching people by the sea. It was getting late, so He told His friends to get into a boat and go to the other side of the sea. Jesus went up on a mountain to pray by Himself. That evening, the boat was far from the shore when the wind started to blow. Big waves tossed the boat up and down. Jesus was still on the mountain alone. In the middle of the night, Jesus walked on the sea toward His friends. When His friends saw Jesus, they were very afraid! 2 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS
It s a ghost! they cried. Jesus spoke to them right away. Don t be afraid, He said. It s Me! Jesus friend Peter said, Lord, if it really is You, tell me to come to You on the water. So Jesus said, Come! Peter got out of the boat. He started walking on the water toward Jesus. But then Peter saw how windy it was, and he was afraid. Peter began to sink into the water. Lord, save me! Peter cried. Jesus reached out and grabbed Peter. Why didn t you trust Me? Jesus asked. They got into the boat and the wind stopped. Everyone in the boat worshiped Jesus. You really are the Son of God, they said. Christ Connection: Jesus showed that we can trust Him. His life, death, and resurrection showed that Jesus is who He says He is. When we look to Jesus and trust Him, He will save us from our sin. Timeline Poster Main Point Slide Big Picture question slides TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE STORY (1 MINUTE) Say The waves were tossing their boat up and down when Jesus friends saw Him. Jesus walked on water. Jesus even called Peter out onto the water. Peter started to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus, but Jesus grabbed Peter when he called out. When we look to Jesus and trust in Him, He will save us from our sin. Have the kids answer with either a thumbs up or thumbs down for each question. Point to the Bible story picture as you ask the following review questions: 1. What was Jesus doing by Himself on the mountain while His friends were on a boat? Praying (thumbs up) or eating lunch (thumbs down)? 2. What did the friends see out on the water in the middle of the night? Jesus walking? (up) or a ghost? (down) 3. When did Peter begin to sink in the water? When he saw Jesus (up) or the wind and waves (down)? 4. What did Jesus do when Peter cried, Lord, save me!? Did he reach out and grab Peter? (up) or just tell him to swim harder? (down) 5. Can we trust Jesus? Yes (up) or no (down)? BIG PICTURE QUESTION (1 MINUTE) Say Our big picture question is, Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus performed miracles to show He is God s Son. Everyone in the boat worshiped Jesus. You really are the Son of God, they said. Jesus showed that we can trust Him. His life, death, and resurrection showed that Jesus is who He says He is. Key passage Key Passage song These Are Written song KEY PASSAGE (5 MINUTES) Open your Bible to John 20:31. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, These Are Written. say Our key passage reminds us that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. The amazing things we hear about Jesus from the Bible show us that Jesus is the One God promised to send to rescue people from sin. PRAYER (2 MINUTES) Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups. DISMISS TO SMALL GROUP 3 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS
Welcome children and set out a few favorite theme-related toys, such as puzzles and blocks. Activity Page pencils or markers ACTIVITY PAGE (10 MINUTES) Guide preschoolers to color in the shapes with a dot to discover a picture. Say What did you discover? A boat! In today s Bible story, Jesus friends were on a boat traveling to the other side of the sea. Suddenly, His friends saw someone on the water! Listen to our Bible story to find out who they saw. 10 minutes after the start of service Break into groups of 10 or less children for Small group Jesus and Peter printable, 1 per child paper plates utility knife (adult use) crayons scissors craft sticks glue stick ACTIVITY (10 MINUTES) Play out walking on water with a craft Before the session, cut a long slit across the middle of a paper plate for each preschooler. Lead preschoolers to use blue, gray, and white crayons to color their paper plate to resemble the sea. Provide a Jesus and Peter printable for each preschooler. Use the black and white version if you would like preschoolers to color the Jesus and Peter images. Guide preschoolers to cut out each image and glue it to a craft stick. Show preschoolers how to push the craft stick through the slit in the paper plate and hold it from under the paper plate. Demonstrate how to move the craft stick to make Jesus or Peter walk. Encourage preschoolers to play out the story using their craft. Say Jesus walked on water. Only God s Son could do that! His life, death, and resurrection showed that Jesus is who He says He is. We can trust Jesus. He will never let us down. When we look to Jesus and trust Him, He will save us from our sin. SNACK TIME Gather preschoolers for snack time. Thank God for the snack. Invite preschoolers to imagine what the water felt like beneath Jesus and Peter s feet as they walked. Jesus showed that we can trust Him. His life, death, and resurrection showed that Jesus is who He says He is. When we look to Jesus and trust Him, He will save us from our sin. 4 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS
TRANSITION When a child finishes his snack, guide him to throw away any trash. He may select a book or puzzle to examine, play quietly with toys, or color the Journal coloring page. crayons Journal Page JOURNAL PAGE AND PRAYER Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of themselves walking on water with Jesus. Remind preschoolers that Jesus walked on water and invited Peter to join Him. Jesus does something greater for us when we look to Him and put our trust in Him. Jesus saves us from our sin. Pray for the children. Say God, thank You for sending Jesus. He showed we can trust Him by His life, death, and resurrection. Help us to turn from sin and put our trust in Him. Amen. While preschoolers might not be ready to respond to the gospel, use this guide to help little minds begin to grasp big truths about Jesus and the kingdom of God. GOD IS KING. Ask: Who is in charge at home? Who is in charge over the whole world? Explain that God made everything! He is King over everything, and He is in charge. WE SINNED. Ask: Have you ever done something wrong? Tell preschoolers that everyone sins, or disobeys God. Our sin makes God sad. GOD SENT JESUS. Explain that God must punish sin. He loves us and He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus came to take away the punishment for sin. JESUS LOVES. Ask: Do you like presents? Explain that Jesus gives us the best present. He never did anything wrong, but He was punished in our place. Jesus wants to take away our sin because He loves us. Pray that God will save your preschoolers. As you faithfully teach the Bible, you are planting gospel seeds in children s hearts. Ask God to grow the preschoolers into children who love and trust in Jesus. THE GOSPEL: GOD S PLAN FOR ME Use Scripture and the guide provided in the classroom to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, leader, or other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian. Jesus Walked on Water Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus had been teaching people by the sea. It was getting late, so He told His friends to get into a boat and go to the other side of the sea. Jesus went up on a mountain to pray by Himself. That evening, the boat was far from the shore when the wind started to blow. Big waves tossed the boat up and down. Jesus was still on the mountain alone. In the middle of the night, Jesus walked on the sea toward His friends. When His friends saw Jesus, they were very afraid! It s a ghost! they cried. Jesus spoke to them right away. Don t be afraid, He said. It s Me! Jesus friend Peter said, Lord, if it really is You, tell me to come to You on the water. So Jesus said, Come! Peter got out of the boat. He started walking on the water toward Jesus. But then Peter saw how windy it was, and he was afraid. Peter began to sink into the water. Lord, save me! Peter cried. Jesus reached out and grabbed Peter. Why didn t you trust Me? Jesus asked. They got into the boat and the wind stopped. Everyone in the boat worshiped Jesus. You really are the Son of God, they said. Christ Connection: Jesus showed that we can trust Him. His life, death, and resurrection showed that Jesus is who He says He is. When we look to Jesus and trust Him, He will save us from our sin. 5 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS