Jesus Walked on Water-Sunday August 30, 2020

Sunday August 30, 2020 (Vol 8, Unit 24, Session 3)

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).  

 Parent Devotional: Jesus walking on water is one of the most famous stories in the Bible and can be found in three of the four gospels. Matthew 14, Mark 6, and John 6. 

Jesus had just fed more than five thousand 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 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 to command him 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 they got into 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 kids, 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.

 As we begin to explore this week’s lesson, don't forget the verse from Deuteronomy about teaching your children the scriptures. Deuteronomy 6:9 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 information (found in the links at the bottom of the page) 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 providing for our needs. You are so good to us even though we don't deserve it! Thank you for continuing to bless us Lord. Thank you for being patient with us. 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 kids to talk about a time they have felt alone.

Say • Feeling alone is a normal part of being human. Any time we think that no one understands us or how we feel, we can turn to God for comfort. He is always with us. Today, we will learn about a time Jesus’ disciples felt afraid, and Jesus was not with them. Do you think they might have felt alone?

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. 

Our big picture question helps us think about Jesus’ miracles. Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus performed miracles to glorify God, to show He is the Son of God, and to care for people. Whenever Jesus did something by God’s power that would normally have been impossible, it communicated wonderful things about Jesus. His miracles met people’s physical needs and showed that He is the Messiah, God’s Son. Not only is He able to save us, He wants to as well!

A few weeks ago, we learned about a time Jesus’ disciples were overwhelmed by a storm. They thought they were going to die! When they cried out to Jesus, Jesus calmed a storm to show the disciples He is God. Another time, Jesus was teaching on a crowd when the disciples realized the people needed to eat. But they did not have enough food for everyone. Jesus miraculously fed a crowd with five loaves and two fish. After sending away the crowd and telling His disciples to go back across the sea, Jesus went to a mountain to pray. He met the disciples again on the sea.

Today’s Bible story is called “Jesus Walked on Water.”

Jesus’ disciples found themselves at the mercy of a dangerous storm once again, but this time, they couldn’t just wake Jesus and say “Save us!” But what I love about this story is that even though Jesus was still way back on the mountain, He knew about their troubles and came to save them.

Jesus showed He is God by walking on water. Not only was this something miraculous that could only happen by God’s power, it was also a picture of God’s love for us. Jesus did not walk away from danger, He walked right into it! He strolled into the middle of the storm to be with His disciples.

Peter—who was always confident but often wrong—showed great courage and faith when he stepped out of the boat, but it didn’t last long in the face of the storm. Even so, as soon as Peter began to sink, what did he do? [Allow responses.] That’s right! He called out for Jesus.

Jesus didn’t delay in saving him. Jesus didn’t say, “Sorry, Pete, looks like you’ll have to swim back to the boat.” Jesus saved him right away. Jesus wasn’t angry that Peter doubted, but He wanted Peter to have more faith. When they got back in the boat, Jesus calmed this storm too, and all the disciples worshiped Jesus. 

Jesus proved that He can be trusted. His miracles, teaching, death, and resurrection showed that He is who He says He is. Only Jesus can save us when we look to Him in faith.

Whenever we struggle to trust God or feel doubts growing in our mind, we can turn to Jesus and pray. We can ask Him to give us more faith and protect us from our doubts.

 Bible Time! 

Distribute a Bible to each kid. Help kids find Matthew 14. Consider using the New Testament Israel Map to show the kids where the Sea of Galilee is. Remind the kids that the Bible is God’s Word, and everything in it is true.

Ask the following questions. Lead the group to discuss:

Why did Jesus stay behind when the disciples crossed the lake? (to pray, Matt. 14:23)

What did the disciples think they saw when Jesus walked on the water toward them? (a ghost, Matt. 14:26)

When did Jesus save Peter from drowning? (immediately after Peter called out to Him, Matt. 14:30-31)

How was Peter able to walk on water? Guide kids to discuss how Jesus’ power allowed Peter to walk on water. Remind the kids that impossible things can happen when God’s power is involved. Point out the correlation between Peter’s faith in Jesus while he walked on water and his fear of the storm when he sank. Discuss the importance of faith in our lives.

Is there anything we cannot do with God’s power? Discuss the fact that God’s power is unlimited, but that doesn’t mean we can use Him for personal gain. Help kids see that testing the Lord is foolish and that anything He empowers us to do will be in line with His character and plans for the world.

When was the last time you trusted God to help you through a hard time? Guide kids to discuss experiences they have had in which God helped them through a difficult situation. Be sensitive to any kids who may disclose abuse or neglect. Report any suspicions according to the laws where you live and your church’s policies. 

Say • Jesus showed He is God by walking on water. Peter had faith that he could walk with Jesus on the sea, but when he focused on his fear, he began to sink. We can trust Jesus through our fears. He saves us.

Cut paper into thin strips, approximately 1 1/2 inches in width. Write each word or phrase of the key passage on a separate strip. Mix up the strips and distribute them among the kids. Guide kids to order the strips according to the key passage and connect them as a paper chain, using tape to fasten the ends together into links. Invite volunteers to say the verse from memory. Thank each kid for her efforts. Encourage all kids to continue working to memorize the passage.

Say • God’s works and plans are wonderful. Jesus is God the Son, so His work and His plans are perfectly aligned with God the Father’s. Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus performed miracles to glorify God, to show He is the Son of God, and to care for people.

 Let's pray:  Father God, when our eyes fall away from You, fear and doubt fill our minds. Draw us back to Yourself. Fix our eyes on Jesus, who saves us from our sin. You created the wind and the waves. You are in control of everything that happens. Help us trust You. You are good, and You love us. Amen.

 Thanks for joining us! I hope to meet you here again next week!

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

Additional Activities and Information