Jesus Calmed the Storm

August 9, 2020

Hi-there parents! Welcome back! Or if you're new here, welcome! The following blog is here to be a tool for you to help your kids grow in their faith while Children's Church is not meeting. Please feel free to use as much of it as you choose. You know your kids and are the best possible teacher for them. God has given you the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to do more than you think possible (Eph 3:20). 

After a long day of teaching, Jesus and His disciples got into a boat to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. When their short sailing trip was interrupted by a violent storm, the disciples found themselves in danger with nowhere to turn—except to the One who created all things.

  Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen. They had spent significant time on the Sea of Galilee, but this storm was so strong that the waves overtook the boat. The disciples were afraid they would drown. As the disciples panicked, what was Jesus doing? He was sleeping!

The disciples woke Jesus. The situation was out of their control, and perhaps they felt forsaken by God. But their reaction was full of irony: “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” (Mark 4:38).

The disciples obviously did not know why Jesus had come to earth. Jesus had come to rescue people from sin. In dying on the cross, Jesus would truly be forsaken by God. (See Matt. 27:46.) Jesus would die the death the disciples—and all sinners—deserve so that they could live forever with God. Did Jesus care that the disciples were going to die? Absolutely. But He was going to rescue them from something worse than drowning. Jesus would save them from spiritual death.

Jesus calmed the wind and the waves. He displayed His power over creation and demonstrated that He is truly God. God has power over the wind and the waves. (See Job 12:15; 28:25; Ps. 33:7; 107:25-30; Amos 4:13.)

As you teach kids this Bible story, seize the opportunity to share the gospel. Help them understand the truth the disciples did not yet fully grasp. Who is this man? He is the Messiah, the Savior, and the Son of God.

As we begin to explore this week’s lesson, may I encourage you with a verse from Deuteronomy about teaching your children the scriptures? Chapter 6 verse 9 says, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Maybe you don't have time to sit and have an hour of Bible time all at once, or maybe your children are to young to sit for that long. Take the key points and ask God to give you opportunities to speak them into the hearts of your children throughout the week. Let the Bible become a part of your day to day. Be blessed this week my friends!  

Each week we will include songs, activity pages, the bible lesson video, memory verses and possibly a craft or 2. We pray this will help you find ways to engage your kids spiritually. It is written in script form from the K-2nd grade lesson so you can read directly from it or change it up to suit your children. Take a few moments to print the activity pages as well as the additional activities and review the lesson so you can make adjustments as needed. I have included the Bible and Discussion questions along with a breakdown of the Gospel in the Older Kids Activities pages and loads of activities and crafts on the Preschool Extra Activity Pages. Once you are ready, go ahead and start with these songs if you'd like or pick some of your favorite worship songs and then jump right in! Have fun! And remember, this does not need to be done in one sitting! Feel free to break it up over the course of the week. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! 

So, let's get started. I like to begin each week with Blessings and Bummers. Tell me, what have you seen the Lord doing in your lives during this time at home? What have your greatest blessings been? How about your biggest bummers? 

  Parents share your blessings and bummers and encourage the kids to do the same. 

  Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father God, Thank you. Thank you for calming our storms and giving us peace. You are so good to us even though we don't deserve it! Thank you for continuing to bless us Lord. Thank you for protecting us, keeping us safe under your wings. Thank you for being our shelter and our strength. Thank you for our friends as well as our families. Help us to appreciate all you do for us and to look to you in all that we do. In Jesus name, Amen. (please add to or customize prayer time to fit your family)

  Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers! Prompt the kids to think about and discuss a time they felt afraid. What scared them? 

Say •We often feel afraid when we face situations that we don’t understand or weren’t prepared for. Today we will learn about a time Jesus’ disciples felt very afraid. What do you think scared them? How do you think they handled their fears?

  Optional Session Starter Activity (Pick one of two options, or do both, this is your party ) (In activity pages attached below) 

  As we get to the story, let’s take another look at the big picture question.

As we get into this new unit, we have a new big picture question. Why did Jesus perform miracles? A miracle is something God can do that would normally be impossible. Jesus did many miracles while He was on earth. As we learn about some of the miracles Jesus performed, I want you to try to figure out why He did them. Let’s set the scene for our first story.

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the world was thrown into sin. Every part of God’s creation was damaged by sin in one way or another. God’s people struggled in sin, sometimes obeying God, but usually fighting against Him or ignoring Him altogether. All along, God had a plan to rescue people and destroy sin. Jesus is God’s plan to defeat sin. Jesus came into the world as a baby. He grew into an adult and traveled throughout Israel doing ministry: healing, teaching, and performing other miracles. Today’s story is called “Jesus Calmed a Storm.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve often wished I could control the weather. For starters, I’d never have to water my lawn again. But no matter how many times I sing songs asking the rain to go away or the sun to come out, I have no control over the weather. 

This story helps us see that Jesus is not like us. He doesn’t wish He could control the weather; He really does control it. At His command, the wind stopped, and the waves calmed. Only God is able to make all of creation do as He says. Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus performed miracles to glorify God, to show He is the Son of God, and to care for people. After Jesus ended the storm, His disciples were safe from drowning, and they began to understand who Jesus is. Jesus calmed a storm to show the disciples He is God.

We often feel we have a lot of control over our lives. As you grow up, it might be tempting to feel more and more in control. Many people think they can control their lives if they have enough money, the right friends, or a position of authority. But we have very little control over our lives. 

The Bible teaches that God is in control of all things. He is good, loving, and just. We can trust that everything He does is for His glory and our good. Whenever we face difficult or scary situations, we can remember that God can use it for good.

  Jesus’ disciples knew Jesus was a good man and a good teacher. But when Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, He showed His disciples that He is also God. God rules the sea and stills its waves. (Psalm 89:9)

Jesus did much more than saving His disciples from a dangerous storm. He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sin, and rose to life on the third day. His work made the way for us to be saved from something much worse than drowning. When we have faith in Jesus, God forgives our sin and gives us new life with Him forever.

Bible Time! 

Distribute a Bible to each kid. Help kids find Mark 4. Remind them to use the table of contents to find Mark and the large chapter numbers to find Mark 4. You may use the New Testament Israel Map to point out the Sea of Galilee (D6). Discuss the purpose of Bible divisions, and ask a volunteer to tell which division Mark is in. (to help us organize and understand the Bible; Gospels) 

Ask the following questions. Lead your kids to discuss:

What was Jesus doing when the storm hit the boat? (sleeping, Mark 4:38)

How did Jesus calm the storm? (by speaking, Mark 4:39)

How did the disciples react to Jesus’ miracle? (They were terrified and asked who Jesus was, Mark 4:41)

Why do you think the disciples were afraid? Direct the kids to think more deeply than the simple answer of the storm they faced. Help them see that their fear came from a lack of understanding of and trust in who Jesus is. If they had known who Jesus is and trusted Him completely even in the storm, they would not have been afraid.

How do you react to scary or hard situations? Guide kids to answer honestly. Discuss when it is hard or easy to trust God. Be sensitive if any kids share about abuse or neglect, and ensure you follow all proper reporting procedures according to the laws where you live and your church’s policies.

How can we know that Jesus is trustworthy no matter what? Prompt kids to provide ways we can know Jesus is trustworthy. Remind them that God’s Word is true, and it teaches us to trust Jesus. Jesus is God the Son, and the Bible teaches us that He has control over all of creation. We also know that God only does what is good and right. Everything He does is for His glory and our good.

Say • Jesus calmed a storm to show the disciples He is God. When we understand who Jesus is and put our faith in His work on the cross, God forgives our sins and gives us eternal life with Him.

Starting a new unit means memorizing a new Bible verse. Try this fun activity to help kids remember it:

  Invite the kids to sit in a circle. Select a kid to start the key passage and give him a beanbag or ball. He will say the first word then pass the beanbag to his left. The kid on his left will say the second word and pass the ball again. Continue in this way until kids have completed the key passage at least once and every kid has had a chance to hold the beanbag.

  Say • Our key passage reminds us that God does many wonderful things for us. Jesus is God the Son. He did wonderful miracles to show that He is God. Jesus’ most amazing miracle was saving sinners by dying on the cross and rising again.

  Let's pray:  Lord Jesus You are the Messiah, the Savior, and the Son of God. When the storms of this life feel rough and overwhelming, help us trust in You. You care for us and came to save us from something worse than drowning. You came to save us from our sins. Calm our hearts and give us peace. We love You. Amen.

  Thanks for joining us! See you next week!

  Thank you to Lifeway's Gospel Project for providing this material and allowing us to publish it.