Lesson 9: Jesus Calms the Storm

Welcome

            Thank kids for coming.

            Just for fun, have kids link arms with a partner and swing each other in a circle.

            Make announcements.

            Introduce new kids.

            Celebrate birthdays by having preschoolers shout “Happy birthday!”

            Collect the offering.

Introduce the Lesson

            Say: Today we’ll learn about a time Jesus showed his special friends, the disciples, that he has the power to calm storms.

Share

            Say: Storms happen a lot in the spring and summer! You’ve probably all been in a storm.

            Tell about a storm you’ve been in.

            In leader-led small groups, have kids share about a storm they’ve been in.

Summarize

            Open a Bible, and say: Storms can be scary! Today we’ll learn that Jesus has power to calm storms. We’ll look in the Bible to see how he used that power to calm a storm his friends were in. The Bible is God’s special book. God uses the Bible to talk to us. It tells us about Jesus. We can learn from Jesus and the Bible right now!

            Pray, thanking Jesus that he has the power to calm storms.

Tip 

Sing Songs to God

          Sing the three songs in any order.

Make a Windsock

            Say: Today we’re learning that Jesus has power to calm storms. In the Bible story, it was very windy on the lake! It was so windy and the waves were so big, Jesus’ friends got scared.

            We’re going to make a craft to remind us that even when it’s very windy, Jesus has power to calm storms.

            Give kids each a water bottle and a few pony beads to put in their bottles, and then help them screw the caps back on. This will help the bottle make noise when the wind blows it.

            Set out stickers and plastic strips. Have kids each use the stickers like tape to fasten the plastic strips onto the bottle, hanging them from the top of the bottle.

            Finally, have kids each make a handle for their windsock by taping each end of a chenille wire to the bottom of the bottle.

Use the Craft

            Plug in the fan, and have kids stand near it. Say: Right now it’s calm. There’s no wind blowing in our room. But sometimes, storms come! Turn on the fan and have kids hold up their windsocks so they blow in the wind. With everyone’s windsocks blowing, it should make a very loud noise.

            Turn off the fan, and say: When it’s very windy and stormy, we know that Jesus has power to calm storms. Eventually, all storms go away. And then more storms may come. Turn the fan on again, and have kids hold up their windsocks to catch the wind. Then turn it off and lead kids in saying: Jesus has power to calm storms.

            Repeat this experience several times, telling kids that storms will come and then  turning on the fan. After several times, let kids decide when you turn the fan off by shouting, “Jesus has power to calm storms!” to get you to turn it off.

            You can also use this method to tell the Bible story again. As you tell about the boat in the storm, let the windsocks blow in the breeze of the fan. When you turn off the fan, say: Jesus said, “Silence! Be still!” Jesus has power to calm storms.

            Ask: • Tell what you like or don’t like about storms.

            Say: Take your windsock home and hang it outside as a reminder that Jesus has power to calm storms. When you see or hear it blowing in the wind, you can wait and watch for it to calm down again.

Act It Out

            Gather the children in a circle. Hold up your Bible and tell children that the Bible is God’s special book, and that the words and stories in the Bible are true. Open the Bible to the book of Mark.

            Point to the Bible, and say: Today’s Bible story is from the book of Mark. Jesus was with his special friends, called the disciples, beside a huge lake. He had been teaching all day long. Crowds of people gathered to see and hear him. Many brought sick people for Jesus to heal. Jesus was busy. Let’s be busy like Jesus. When I say “go,” get up and walk around the room really fast. Please use your “walking feet,” not your “running feet.” When I say “stop,” you stand still. Say “go” and “stop” several times, allowing children to walk quickly around the room each time.

            Say: All day long, people pushed and shoved and crowded together to get close to Jesus. Let’s make a circle. I’m going to pretend to be Jesus and stand in the middle of the circle. Help children form a circle around you. Take three giant steps toward me to crowd together. Have preschoolers take enough steps toward you so they are very close to you and feel a bit squished.

            Ask: • How does it feel to be squished together?

            Have children return to their seats.

            Say: By evening, Jesus was very tired. Show me your tired face.

Ask: • What do you like to do when you’re tired?

            Say: Now the sun was going down and Jesus was ready not to be around so many people. Jesus said to his friends, “Let’s go to the other side of the lake.” A lake is a big pool of water, but it’s smaller than an ocean.

            Ask: • How could we cross to the other side of a lake?

            Say: Jesus and his friends decided to use a boat to get across the lake. Let’s get in the boat like Jesus and the disciples did. Have preschoolers stand up and follow you into the taped outline of the boat. Let’s sit down in the boat and continue our story. Pause. Jesus was so tired from his busy day. When he got into the boat, he fell asleep. Choose one child to be “Jesus,” and have this child pretend to sleep in the boat while the other kids sit in the boat.

Make a Storm

            Say: Suddenly a big storm with lots of wind started on the lake. Turn on the “storm” sound effect. The wind made waves on the lake, and the boat began to rock.

            Have half of the kids and “Jesus” stay in the boat, and have the other half of the children take the edges of the sheet or parachute and hold it over the heads of those in the boat. Have them gently shake the sheet so that it makes waves.

            Have one of your helpers mist the children while the waves are rocking. Say: I think I’m getting wet from these waves. Are you?

            Suddenly, the wind began to blow very hard. Have children make the sheet or parachute move faster. The wind made a big storm. It was loud. The boat was rocking side to side in the waves, and everyone was getting wet. The waves were so big, water started to fill the boat. Have one of your helpers mist the children again. The boat was about to sink.

            The disciples were very afraid. But they knew Jesus could help. Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. Pretend you are one of the disciples who was afraid.

             Ask: • How would you wake Jesus up? Take a few responses.

            Say: Jesus’ friends shouted at Jesus, “Wake up! The boat is sinking. We’re going to drown!” Let children shout this.

            Say: Jesus sat up and looked around. Have “Jesus” do this. He said to the roaring wind and waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Have “Jesus” do this.

            Say: The wind died down and the waves stopped. The lake was calm. Have all the children stop rocking and moving and be still.

            Say: Jesus looked at his friends and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you know you can trust me?” Jesus’ friends were amazed. They looked at each other and asked, “Who is this man? Even the wind and waves obey him!” Jesus has power to calm storms.

Sing About the Storm

            Say: Let’s review what happened in our Bible story by singing a song.

            Sing this song to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell,” and show children the motions. Sing it a few times so they can learn the words and motions and sing with you.    

A storm came up one day, (wave arms above head side to side)

The disciples were afraid; (make a scared face)

The boat was rocking in the waves (rock side to side)

While Jesus was asleep. (put palms together and rest head on them)

The disciples woke him up (pick up head, hands down)

By shouting, “We will drown!” (pump arm three times as you say “we will drown”)

Jesus said, “Quiet! Be still.” (put pointer finger in front of mouth on “quiet” and arms at side on “still”)

The wind and the waves stopped. (arms down by sides)

            Say: Thank you, God, for Jesus who has power to calm storms and other scary things in my life. Help me to trust Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Tip 

Discuss and Watch “Calming the Storms”

          Say: Today our Bible story is helping us know that Jesus has the power to calm storms. Let’s watch a video to help us think about this.

          Watch “Calming the Storms.”

          Say: This video tells us that sometimes life feels stormy. We might experience stormy times at home, at school, or even in our hearts. When is a time you’ve felt like your life was stormy? For me… Tell about a time you felt like your life was stormy. Share at an age-appropriate level, and talk for about a minute to model the type of sharing you hope children will do. After you’ve shared, have kids get into groups of three and share about a time they felt like something was stormy—at home or at school or somewhere else.

          After about three minutes, thank kids for sharing in their groups and say: Storms can be scary, and they can make us feel a lot of fear. But sometimes good things come from storms. For example, storms might bring a lot of rain to an area that’s very dry and needs moisture. Or they might end with a beautiful rainbow, which makes us smile. Let’s watch this video again, and this time look for something good or something pretty or even something beautiful about the storms you see on the video.

          Watch “Calming the Storms” again.

          Ask: • What did you see that was good, pretty, or beautiful in these storms?

          Say: Let’s take a minute to silently pray and ask God to take the stormy times in our lives and show us something good or beautiful that he is doing—even in the middle of that storm.

          Invite children to pray silently for one minute, and then close with “amen.”

Tip

• Before printing, turn on page numbering in Word to keep the pages in order (or simply hand-number each page after printing). You may also find it helpful to highlight your part and set the script on a music stand nearby during the skit.

Leader: It’s time for our puppy friend, Theo, to come for a visit. Let’s call him to our class with a “woof, woof.” Ready? (Leads kids to bark until Theo is brought into view.)

Theo: Hi, friends! (Pants.) My back is so itchy today. Would you scratch my back? (Circulates among kids so each child can pet him.)

Leader: Thanks for welcoming Theo, friends!

Theo: (Promptly swings the blanket over his head.)

Leader: Theo, what are you doing?

Theo: (Peeks his head out from under the blanket.) I think there’s a storm coming.

Leader: You do?

Theo: Yes, and storms make me so scared! (Shivers.)

Leader: Well, you’ve come to the right place today, Theo.

Theo: Are you going to keep me safe from the storm?

Leader: I could help, but Jesus has the power to calm storms.

Theo: Really?

Leader: Yes! Friends, would you share with Theo about the story we read in the Bible today? (Leads kids in taking plenty of time telling and acting out how Jesus and his friends were on a boat and Jesus went to sleep. Then a storm came and they were all scared. They woke up Jesus, and all he did was tell the storm to stop and it did!)

Theo: That’s amazing!

Leader: I know, and now you can remember that Jesus takes care of us all the time because Jesus has the power to calm storms.

Theo: (Takes blanket off completely.) I guess I don’t need this, then. I’m going to go put it back in my baby box.

Leader: Baby box?

Theo: That’s where my mom keeps all the things from when I was a baby. I don’t need this blankie anymore.

Leader: Okay, Theo. Kids, let’s say goodbye. (Looks to kids.) Let’s give Theo a big “woof, woof, goodbye”! (Leads kids in a “woof, woof, goodbye,” and then puts Theo out of sight.)

Tip

• Duct tape works, but you’ll have a stronger connection between the bottles if you use the Tornado Tube.

Make Storms in a Bottle

            Have children get into groups of 10, each with an adult or teen helper. Give each group one set of two connected bottles.

            Say: Jesus did something really amazing! He made the storm stop just by saying, “Silence! Be still!” Jesus has the power to calm storms!

            Show one set of connected bottles. Say: I can make a storm inside these bottles, and we can watch it stop—just like Jesus stopped the storm in the Bible.

            Do the following, and have adult or teen helpers in other groups of 10 do the same: Flip the bottles over so the empty one is on the bottom. Always keep a strong hold on the bottle that’s upside down. (If your bottles are taped together, hold the bottle openings to keep that connection strong.) As much as possible, keep the bottom bottle in one place while gently circling the top bottle to create a swirling motion with the water as it funnels into the bottom bottle.

            Create this tornado a few times while children watch. Point out how the storm in the top turns into calm water in the bottom.

            Help the children as they take turns making storms in the bottles. (The adult or teen helper can help flip the bottle for the child and then hold it in place with one hand. With the other hand, he or she can help the child make a circling motion with the top bottle.) As children take turns, help all of them talk about what they like about watching the water change. Continue to let children take turns, as time allows.

Talk About It

            Say: We watched the storms in the bottles become calm like the storm that Jesus calmed for his friends. Our bottles just had tiny storms in them, but Jesus has the power to calm the big storms outside! Jesus can do anything. Jesus is amazing!

            Share some things that Jesus can do for the children, and then invite them to talk about things they think Jesus is powerful enough to do.

            Say: Thanks for sharing all those great ideas! This week, if you see a storm, remember that Jesus has so much power that he can make it stop! If he can do that, think of all the other things Jesus can do for you!

Make a Storm and Be Still

            Open your Bible to Mark 4:39.

            Say: Our Bible verse for today says, “When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.”

            Let’s practice saying what Jesus told the storm. Have kids repeat “Silence! Be still!” with you several times.

            Say: Now let’s try saying this Bible verse in a game!

            Choose one child to play “Jesus.” Give everyone else a blue streamer. Have everyone wave their streamers all around to make a storm while Jesus lies on the floor, pretending to sleep. Jesus can choose to jump up at any point and say, “Silence! Be still!” and everyone has to freeze in place.

            Say: “Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.”

            Repeat with a new Jesus, allowing Jesus to jump up and say, “Silence! Be still!” and then repeating the rest of the verse for kids.

            If you brought music and a music player, you can add a fun variation to this game. As kids wave their streamers, play the music loudly. When Jesus says, “Silence! Be still,” you’ll help calm the storm by turning off the music.

Talk About It

            Ask: • What helps you feel calm?

            Say: When Jesus said, “Silence! Be still,” everything got really calm. The storm stopped because Jesus has power to calm storms! When you feel worried or scared, Jesus can help you feel calm.

            If time permits, sing the song children learned in the Core Bible Discovery activity. Sing this song to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.”

A storm came up one day, (wave arms above head side to side)

The disciples were afraid; (make a scared face)

The boat was rocking in the waves (rock side to side)

While Jesus was asleep. (put palms together and rest head on them)

The disciples woke him up (pick up head, hands down)

By shouting, “We will drown!” (pump arm three times as you say “we will drown”)

Jesus said, “Quiet! Be still.” (put pointer finger in front of mouth on “quiet” and arms at side on “still”)

The wind and the waves stopped. (arms down by sides)

Tips

• If balloons pop, pick up the pieces right away to avoid a choking hazard.
• If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during the game. You can find the album here.

Keep Balloons in the Air

            Say: The disciples were in a bad storm. The wind was blowing so hard that big waves went up in the air and landed in the boat! Let’s create our own storm with these balloons.

            Give each preschooler a balloon.

            Have children throw their balloons in the air and try to keep them in the air by hitting them with their hands. If any balloons fall to the floor, have kids pick them up and throw them in the air again. It’s okay for children to bat each other’s balloons.

            Play upbeat music while children play.

            When you stop the music, say “Be still!” and have children sit where they are—letting their balloons fall to the floor.

            Let children play the game again. Occasionally stop the music and say “Be still!” so that children sit and let their balloons fall to the floor again.

            Play as long as time allows.

Talk About It

            Gather the balloons, and have children sit in a circle on the floor.

            Ask: • How did you feel when all the balloons were in the air?

            • How did you feel after all the balloons dropped to the ground?

            Say: When a storm happens it can feel wild and crazy, just like when all your balloons were in the air. But when a storm stops, it feels quiet and peaceful. Jesus has power to calm storms in our lives and help us feel peaceful, too!

Create a Storm

            Have preschoolers hold the edges around the parachute or bedsheet. Place the toy boat or small toy in the middle of the parachute.

            Say: When the disciples were in their boat, a storm started. Let’s shake the parachute to create a storm!

            Help preschoolers gently shake the parachute and make the boat bounce around. If the boat falls off, put it back on the parachute while preschoolers continue to shake it.

            Say: Jesus was sleeping in the boat. But when Jesus woke up, he told the storm to stop. He said, “Silence! Be still!”

            Have children stop shaking the parachute and let the boat settle.

Talk About It

            Ask: • How do you think the disciples felt when the storm was over?

            Say: When the storm was over, the disciples were surprised! They didn’t know that Jesus had power to calm storms. Jesus has power to calm storms in our lives, too!

            Let preschoolers play the game again. Play as long as time allows. Have them shake the parachute when you say “Storm!” Have them stop shaking it when you say “Be still!” You could also add more toy boats or other small toys to make the game more exciting.

Practice Making Storm Sounds

            Say: Jesus is amazing! He has the power to calm storms! Let’s practice making storm sounds. I’ll teach you a storm sound, but when I say “Be still,” you’ll stop and be as still and quiet as possible.

            Lead preschoolers in patting their legs. Have them do it for about 10 seconds, and then say “Be still!” and remind preschoolers to be as still and quiet as possible.

            Help preschoolers practice making storm sounds and then stopping immediately with these added motions: stomping feet and rubbing hands together.

            Then form three groups, and give each group one of the motions you taught them. Have all the groups make their storm sounds at once, and after about 10 seconds, say “Be still!” and have them be still and quiet.

Calm the Storm With Prayer

            Say: Great job making storm sounds! Sometimes storms can be scary. But we don’t have to be scared because we know that Jesus has the power to calm the storms. And when we’re in a scary storm or something else feels scary, we can always talk to Jesus. Let’s talk to Jesus about some scary things now.

            Share about one or two things that make you feel scared, and then help preschoolers think of things that make them feel scared, such as a dark room, a big bug, or when their parents leave them with a babysitter. Each time a preschooler tells one idea, have all the children make their storm sounds. Speaking loudly over the storm sounds, pray: Jesus, help us with [scary thing]. Pause. Be still! Have kids stop and be still.

            Say: Jesus can help us with every scary thing. Just like Jesus was with his friends on the boat, he’s with you. Jesus has the power to calm storms in your life. This week, when you’re scared, tell Jesus what you’re scared about and then remember that Jesus has the power to help you. Thank preschoolers for coming, and invite them back next week.

           Distribute a copy of the “Dig In @ Home” handout to kids as they leave, or email it to parents during the week.