Welcome: Welcome to Backyard Club! Thank you to ____________ for allowing us to come today! We’re glad you’re here!
I have a project for you to work on right away. I need your help creating storm streamers to help us tell today’s story.
You’re going to use streamers, tape, and a wide popsicle stick. We’ll help you as much as you’d like us to.
You’ll need 8 strips of streamers, use the colors you’d like. When you have those, have a seat on the blanket and we’ll help you tape them together.
Allow time to create. (8 minutes)
Great job making storm streamers! Let’s test them out. Let’s wave them over our heads GENTLY…..the wind is coming up…..let’s wave them a little harder……here comes the storm……wave them like a storm! Great job!
God is powerful! Trust God! When you hear someone say “God is powerful!” you finish the saying by shouting “Trust God!”
Let’s try it! God is powerful! TRUST GOD! God has the power to do anything, even calm a storm. God loves us, and we can trust Him.
Have a seat on my blanket. Today’s Bible story is about a time when a big storm came up while Jesus and His disciples were out on the sea. Do you think they were afraid? Let’s find out!
Tell the Story: Jesus Calms the Sea
Say: Today we're going to listen to a story about what happened to Jesus' disciples. And you're going to help me tell it.
Practice each of these cues and responses with the class:
Whenever I say "boat" everyone say "creeeak" and pretend you're pulling hard on the oars
Whenever I say "disciples," all the boys (and men) count to 12 really fast
Whenever I say "wind," the girls (and women) cup their hands around their mouths and blow.
Whenever I say "waves," put your hands side by side and make waves in front of you.
Whenever I say "Jesus," point to upward and say, "Christ, the Lord."
As you tell Jesus Calms the Sea story, be sure to put an emphasis on each of the bold words; then pause for kids to respond.
Say: Here we go! Everybody stick together so you don't get too scared.
Read the story. After you finish, have kids give themselves a round of applause for helping you tell the story.
Jesus Calms the Sea
The disciples were exhausted. All day crowds and crowds of people had been following Jesus, listening as he taught and watching as he healed the sick. Now the sun was beginning to set over the Sea of Galilee. Seeing how tired his disciples were, Jesus said, "Let's get in a boat and go over to the other side of the lake." It would be good for all of them to get away from the crowds for a while.
The disciples rowed away from the shore while Jesus went to the front of the boat and lay down on a cushion. The waves lapped gently against the side of the boat, lulling Jesus into a peaceful sleep.
But suddenly a wind began to blow dark clouds across the sky. The waves weren't so gentle anymore. The little boat began to pitch and rock. The disciples began to get a little worried. But Jesus still lay sleeping in the front of the boat.
Then the wind grew stronger still. The spray from the waves got the disciples all wet. This was getting to be a bad storm! But Jesus still lay sleeping in the front of the boat.
By the time the fishing boat reached the center of the lake, the wind had turned into an angry gale that whipped the waves so high they washed right over the boat. The disciples were terrified. They thought they might drown. But Jesus still lay sleeping in the front of the boat.
Finally, someone went and shook Jesus. "Master," he cried, "don't you care if we drown?" Jesus looked around. He listened to the howling wind. He felt the cold, stinging spray as waves crashed over the little boat. He saw the fear in the faces of his disciples. Then Jesus stood, stretched out his arms to the wind and the waves, and commanded: "Peace! Be still!"
And all at once the wind died down and the waves became completely calm. Then he asked the disciples: "Why are you so afraid? Where is your faith?"
Jesus showed his power over the wind and the waves that day on the Sea of Galilee. Just as he cared for his disciples in that little storm-tossed boat, he will care for you.
Then ask:
What happened that made the disciples feel unsafe?(Their boat got in a bad storm; they were afraid of drowning.)
What did they do to get help?(They woke Jesus up.)
What did Jesus do to make things okay again?(He told the wind and the waves to be still.)
God tells us in His Word: Call Cup hands around mouth Upon Me Point up In the day cross arms in front of you, raise right arm at elbow, hand pointing up Of trouble form X with hands in front of face, cross & un-cross twice Psalm 50 Hold up5 fingers on one hand, make a fist with the other hand Verse 15 Hold up1 finger on one hand, 5 on the other hand
Let’s say it again! Repeat Psalm 50:15
When the disciples were afraid their boat would sink, they must have wished they had lifesavers like this one to keep them safe. Lifesavers help us feel safe because we trust them to keep our heads out of the water if we fall into deep water. We have a lifesaver we can trust when it feels like we’re in trouble too: Jesus!
I have a lifesaver candy for each of you. I’m going to give you each one. “________, trust Jesus as your lifesaver!” Child’s name
God is powerful! TRUST GOD!!!
Let’s Play a Game! Sploosh Ball Bail Out
If you were in a boat that was filling with water, what would you do? Let’s play Sploosh Ball Bail Out!
You’ll need: Sploosh Balls and Buckets of Water, Pool Noodles to mark line Divide group in half.
You’ve been divided in half so we can play our game. When I say go, you are going to grab 1 ball out of the water bucket and toss it to the other side of the line. Continue until you’ve run out of balls in the bucket. Then you’ll grab the balls on the ground and toss them to the other side. When I say FREEZE, you must stop. We’ll then count the balls on each side. Ready? GO!
At your signal, kids begin tossing sploosh balls out of their area and into the area occupied by the other half of the group. Kids keep tossing sploosh balls until you call “FREEZE!”
Kids stop and count sploosh balls on their side of the line. Repeat with kids tossing sploosh balls into large buckets.
How did you feel tossing the balls to the other side? What about the balls on your side? How did that make you feel? Do you think the disciples were worried when Jesus was asleep in their boat with the storm all around them?
God is powerful! TRUST GOD!
Paper Twirlibird
You’ll need: Copies of Twirlibird already cut out – have plenty of extras! Paper clips – 1 per twirlibird
Say: wouldn’t it be incredible to do amazing things? Fly? Trampoline into outer space? As we know from our Bible, Jesus didn’t need to imagine amazing things. He DID amazing things. When in doubt, remember to trust in Jesus, the Son of God. No matter what the weather – stormy, sunny or cloudy with a chance of rain – Jesus is powerful! TRUST GOD!
Bend tops away from one another. Fold bottom pieces into center and bottom up, use paper clip to secure. Hold it up high, let it go and watch as it twirls to the ground.
God Is Powerful! TRUST GOD!!!
Let’s huddle together and pray: Dear God Thank you for loving me and protecting me. You are powerful! Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to be my Savior and friend. I love You. Amen.
Blessing: May God, who is all around you, Beginning at the bottom of the circle, slowly pour his love upon you.make a large circle with your hands. Finish by bringing your hands down and wiggling the fingers to resemble rain.) And Jesus, his life a sacrifice,Slowly make a large sign of the cross. Then walk right there beside you.move your hands out to the sides. And may God’s Holy Spirit, Cross your hands over the heart. the one who lives inside you, keep you strong,Move to a “strong man” position. Then comfort, lead and guide you!cross your arms with the hands on corresponding upper arms to communicate comfort. Bring one hand forward with “lead” and the other with “guide” to complete the blessing.)
