Do not fear, for I am with you. Isaiah 43:5

Jesus performed miracles because He isGod’s Son.

Foundational Biblical Concept:

Bible Verse:

This session is part of Unit 6:

Jesus’ Power

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 8:23-27;Mark 4:35-41;Luke 8:22-25

Other sessions in this unit include:Jesus Feeds the MultitudeJesus Heals a Man Born BlindJesus Raises Lazarus

© Copyright 1993 Convention Press. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America

Jesus Calms the Storm

Prepare It!Prayerfully study Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; and Luke 8:22-25. Practice telling theBible story in your own words. Provide pencils and Bibles. Gather needed supplies for eachactivity listed below.

Introduce It!Get ReadyGather weather items such as an umbrella, sunglasses, coat, sweater, scarf or hat. Scatterthe weather items around the room.

Guide the ActivityGreet the children warmly as they arrive. Say something positive and personal to as manychildren as possible.

Ask the children to go to the item that is appropriate for the weather you describe. Use descriptions such as rainy, sunny, very cold, cool, windy. Talk with the children about the weather this morning. Comment: “You were probably not surprised by the weather whenyou woke up this morning.” Ask: “Can we tell what tomorrow’s weather might be like?”Being able to tell what the weather will be like is becoming more possible. It is easy for usto know in advance whether to wear a sweater or a coat.

How can we know what the weather will be? (Satellites help us see where storms are andwhere they are going; computers predict patterns, wind speed, rain; and temperatures are taken from around the world.)

If the technology had existed during Jesus’ time, this would be the weather report for theSea of Galilee region on the day of today’s story: There are storm warnings! These stormscould pop up suddenly and may be severe. A marine warning has been issued for thisevening, so those on the water are urged to be especially careful.

The children may have had some experiences with severe storms which were frighteningto them. Ask them to talk about these times if they wish. Note that the Sea of Galilee hadmany storms like this because of its location and the mountains around it. The Sea ofGalilee has high, steep mountains on three sides. Winds come rushing down themountainside and can whip the waves into a bad storm very quickly.

Remind the kids that they are learning about Jesus’ power as shown through His miraclesand that Jesus has power to perform miracles because He is God’s Son. Ask the boys andgirls who were present for the previous session to tell what miracle they learned about then.(feeding over 5000 people with only a small lunch)

Show It!Show the Bible picture. Explain that the picture is about another of Jesus’ miracles. Ask:“Have you ever been terribly scared? Do you think you would be scared if you were in theboat in the picture? What do you think will happen?”

Form boys’ and girls’ listening teams. Ask the boys to listen and discover why Jesus’helpers were afraid. Ask the girls to listen for how Jesus solved the problem.

Jesus Calms the Storm

Tell It!Open your Bible to Matthew 8 and tell the Bible story in your own words.

Jesus Calms the StormOne day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So theygot in a boat and set out.

Jesus must have been very tired; He went to the back of the boat and fell asleep on acushion.

Suddenly, without any warning, a terrible storm came up. Huge waves splashed againstthe boat and lifted it high in the air. Waves swelled up higher and higher and began tocome into the boat. The little boat and the people in it were in great danger.

The disciples went to Jesus and woke Him. “Lord, save us!” they cried. “We’re going todrown!”

Then Jesus spoke to His disciples. “Why were you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you stillhave no faith in Me?”

Jesus got up and spoke to the wind and waves saying, “Quiet! Be still!” Immediately the lake was completely calm.The disciples were amazed. “Who is this?” they asked one another. “Even the winds and

the water obey Him.”Scripture reference: Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

Remember It!Show the picture again. Ask the boys why Jesus’ helpers were afraid. (A violent storm wasraging.) Ask the girls to tell how Jesus solved the problem. (He calmed the storm.) Ask:“What did Jesus say to His disciples after He calmed the storm?” (“Why were you so afraid?Do you still have no faith in Me?”)

Learn It!Get ReadyMake a poster of today’s memory verse on heavyweight paper or poster board. Display thememory verse. Draw or glue a picture of a boat on a lunch bag. Print each word of thememory verse and the verse reference on separate index cards. Place the cards in the bag.

Guide the ActivityShow the displayed memory verse. Ask the children to read the verse with you. Read theverse again. Direct the children to reach into the paper bag one at a time and remove acard. Explain that these cards are the words of the memory verse. Guide the children toplace the words in correct order to form the verse. Ask for volunteers to say the verse frommemory.

Ask the girls and boys to think of times when they are afraid. Tell the children that Jesustakes care of us because He loves us. Together repeat the memory verse.

Jesus Calms the Storm

Use It!Activity 1: Fun PageGet ReadyPhotocopy the Younger and Older Children’s Fun Pages. Gather Bibles, pencils, and lapboards if you do not have tables. For younger children gather crayons. For older children,cut for each child a 5-by-7-inch poster board rectangle; cut an opening in the center 23⁄4-by-43⁄4 inches. Provide markers or crayons.

Guide the ActivityYounger Children: Give each child a Fun Page. Read the instructions. Let each child choosea crayon and color the spaces that have two dots. As a child finishes, let her choose acontrasting color to color the spaces with one dot.Older children: Give each child a pencil and a Fun Page. Guide the girls and boys to readeach situation and each Bible verse. For each situation, ask: “Which Bible verse could helpyou in this situation?” Let the children respond and then draw a line matching eachsituation to a Bible verse.

Distribute the poster board frames and the markers. Guide each child to choose afavorite Bible verse from those listed in the activity and print the verse on the frame. Invitethe kids to each decorate her frame any way she wishes. Encourage the boys and girls toput a picture or mirror in the frame and display the frame to remind them that God helps intimes of trouble.

Activity 2: Storm in a BottleGet Ready Gather a 20-ounce plastic bottle for each child. Gather beads, shells, sequins or jewels,other trinkets, water, blue food color, and clean play sand. Provide 3-by-5-inch cards,markers or gel pens, a one hole punch, and string.

Guide the ActivitySay: “In today’s Biblestory we saw that eventhe disciples who werewith Jesus all the timewere afraid. We canexpect to be afraidsometimes, too. But weneed to remember whatthe disciples learned.They learned that Jesuswas in control ofeverything. We can learnto trust Jesus when weare afraid.”

Jesus Calms the Storm

Give each child a bottle and display the other materials. Invite each child to make astorm in a bottle. Guide the boys and girls to each select some of the items on the table toinclude in his bottle and pour them in the top of his bottle. Assist the kids with addingwater and food color to their bottles. Be sure that the lids are tightened completely so thatthe bottles don’t leak. Guide the kids to shake the bottles, creating a storm, and to watchas the storm calms.

Distribute the 3-by-5-inch cards and provide the markers or gel pens. Encourage the kidsto print today’s memory verse on the cards. Punch a hole in the top of each card. Tie astring through the hole and around the top of the bottle. Encourage the kids to shake thebottle and practice saying the memory verse before the storm in the bottle calms.

Apply It!Younger Children: Ask a child to tell what word he discovered. Ask: “How do you knowJesus can help you when you have problems?” (The Bible says so; He helped Bible peoplesuch as the disciples; children may know people God has helped with problems.) Continue:“With what kinds of problems can you ask God to help you?” After the kids haveresponded, ask: “How can you ask God to help you with problems?” (by praying)

Talk about how to pray, using simple words, as if talking to a friend, and so forth. Ask aworker to pray, thanking God that He helps when we have problems.Older children: Ask each older child which of the Bible verses he printed on his frame andwhy he chose that verse.

Remind the children that Jesus is dependable, strong, and mighty. Pray, thanking God forJesus and for His help in times of need.

CraftWind Catcher

Get ReadyGather electrical tape, wire coat hangers (one per child), and 10 2-by-36-inch strips ofcolorful lightweight fabric (for each child).

Before the session, bend the top of each coat hanger down to form a loop. Bend thecoat hanger into a circle. Cover the entire loop of the hanger with electrical tape. Be sure totape the loop closed.

Guide the ActivitySay: “Wind is very powerful. One Bible story we studied in this unit was about Jesus tellingthe wind to be still. We are going to make wind catchers to remind us of Jesus’ power.”

Give each child a coat-hanger frame. Let each child choose strips of fabric to tie onto thehanger. You may need to help younger children tie their fabric strips onto their hangers.Make sure the knots are tight so that the fabric strips do not slide around.

Let the children take the wind catchers outside and run with them. Thank God for Jesus’power that can even calm the wind.

Jesus Calms the Storm

RecreationSafe at Home

Get ReadyNo equipment is needed for this activity.

Play the GameChoose one child to be the chaser and another child to be the runner. Guide the otherchildren to form groups of three. Two of the three hold both hands and form the home. Thethird child stands in the home and is safe.

When the game begins, the chaser chases the runner. The runner dodges around thehomes to avoid being tagged. At anytime the runner may run into a home to become safe.When the runner enters a home, the child inside must leave immediately and becomes therunner.

When the chaser tags a runner, the two trade places.After a few minutes of play, let the children change roles so that everyone has an

opportunity to be a chaser and a runner.At the time to end the game, ask the children to be seated on the floor or ground. Talk

about what a good feeling it is to feel safe. Suggest that God’s power as shown in Jesus’miracles make us feel safe. Pray, thanking God that He has all power and that He loves andcares for all people.

Team TagGet ReadyGather masking tape. Use the tape to make boundaries.

Play the Game1. Group the children into teams of three. 2. Point out the boundaries of the playing area.3. No team may step outside the boundary. 4. As the game begins, each team of three players hooks arms. 5. Choose one of the teams to be It. This team chases the other teams. 6. Only the two players on the outside ends of the group of three may tag another

team.7. When the It team tags an opponent, the tagged team becomes It.8. After a team has served as It, the players on the team change positions so that all

players have a chance to be on the outside. 9. The team which has just been It may not be tagged again until at least one other

team has been tagged as the It team.

Jesus Calms the Storm

Bible SkillsSeek Relay

Get ReadyGather two paper sacks, 3-by-5-inch cards, and markers.

Write a book of the New Testament on each card. Make enough for each team to haveone complete set. Put the cards into paper bags (1 set per bag). Place the paper bagsabout 10 to 15 yards from the first player on each team.

Guide the Activity:1. Group the children into two teams. 2. Instruct the teams to line up facing a paper bag.3. At the signal, the first child in line runs and picks out one card from the bag and

returns to the next child in line.4. The next player is tagged and she repeats the action.5. When the child returns, the whole team begins placing the Bible Books in correct

order.6. Cards may be placed on the floor or ground where the children began the relay.7. Continue until one team is able to place all the books of the New Testament in the

correct order.

© 2005 LifeWay Press®. Published in the United States of America. Thislesson is adapted from content in Anytime Anywhere Bible Study forChildren: The Bible and Me © 1997 Convention Press, Permission isgranted to the original purchaser to download, store, print, and distributethis document for its intended use. Distribution by email or reproductionof this material by churches or individuals who did not purchase it isstrictly prohibited. Address request for additional permission in writing toLifeway Press®; One LifeWay Plaza; Nashville, TN 37234-0172. ISBN 1-4158-2533-5

Jesus Calms the Storm

Jesus Calms the Storm

A Hidden Message

Find in the box below the name of someone who can help you when you have problems.

Choose a crayon. Use that crayon to color each space with two dots in it. Use another

crayon to color the other spaces. Write on the line the name of the person who can help you.

Jesus Calms the Storm

God’s Word Can HelpOne way God helps us is through His Word, the Bible. Draw a line

from each problem to a Bible verse that can help you in that situation.

Pray for thosewho persecute you (Matthew 5:44).

Cast all your careupon Him, becauseHe cares about you.(1 Peter 5:7).

When I amafraid, I will trust in You. (Psalm 56:3).

I will notleave you. (Joshua 1:5).

For You, Lord,are kind andready to forgive. (Psalm 86:5).

He [God] loved usand sent His Son.(1 John 4:10).

Someonemistreats

you.

Someonewhom you lovedies or leaves you.

Yousometimes feel

that no one lovesyou.

Youfeel guilty because

you have donewrong.

Youfind it hard to quit

being afraid ofthings.

Yourparent loses a job

and you are worriedabout money.