Unit 24 • Session 3 Use Week of: Unit 24 • Session 3 Jesus Walked on Water BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 14; Mark 6; John 6 STORY POINT: Jesus showed He is God by walking on water. KEY PASSAGE: Psalm 40:5 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus performed miracles to glorify God, to show He is the Son of God, and to care for people. INTRODUCE THE STORY TEACH THE STORY APPLY THE STORY 1015 MINUTES 2530 MINUTES 2530 MINUTES PAGE 190 PAGE 192 PAGE 198 Additional resources are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by- session help, visit ministrygrid.com/gospelproject. Older Kids Leader Guide 186 Unit 24 • Session 3 © 2020 LifeWay LEADER Bible Study 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 3 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. Jesus the Miracle-Worker 187 © 2020 LifeWay The BIBLE Story Jesus Walked on Water Bible Storytelling Tips Matthew 14; Mark 6; John 6 • Use facial Jesus had been teaching crowds of people by the Sea of Galilee. It expressions: As was getting late, so He told His disciples to get into the boat and go you tell the story, use facial expressions to to the other side of the sea. Jesus sent the crowds away and went up reflect the emotions on the mountain to pray by Himself. of the disciples. That evening, the boat was far from the • Display a map: Display the New shore. The wind blew, and the waves Testament Israel Map tossed the boat around. Jesus was from the Small Group still on the mountain alone. Timeline and Map Set (005802970) and point Around three in the out the location of morning, Jesus came toward the Sea of Galilee. His disciples, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Jesus, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they cried. Right away, Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It’s Me. Do not be afraid.” Peter answered, “Lord, if it really is You, tell me to come to You on the water.” So Jesus said, “Come!” Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter saw how strongly the wind was blowing, he was afraid. Peter began to sink. “Lord, save me!” he cried. Jesus reached out His hand and grabbed Peter. Jesus said, “You have little faith. Why did you doubt?” Older Kids Leader Guide 188 Unit 24 • Session 3 © 2020 LifeWay Jesus Walked on Water They got into the boat and the wind stopped. Then Bible Storytelling Tips Matthew 14; Mark 6; John 6 everyone in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “Truly You are the Son of God.” • Use facial Jesus had been teaching crowds of people by the Sea of Galilee. It expressions: As was getting late, so He told His disciples to get into the boat and go Christ Connection: Jesus proved that He can be trusted. you tell the story, use facial expressions to to the other side of the sea. Jesus sent the crowds away and went up His miracles, teaching, death, and resurrection showed that He reflect the emotions on the mountain to pray by Himself. is who He says He is. Only Jesus can save us when we look to of the disciples. That evening, the boat was far from the Him in faith. • Display a map: Display the New shore. The wind blew, and the waves Testament Israel Map tossed the boat around. Jesus was from the Small Group still on the mountain alone. Timeline and Map Set (005802970) and point Around three in the out the location of morning, Jesus came toward the Sea of Galilee. His disciples, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Jesus, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they cried. Right away, Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It’s Me. Do not be afraid.” Peter answered, “Lord, if it really is You, tell me to come to You on the water.” So Jesus said, “Come!” Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter saw how strongly the wind was blowing, he was afraid. Peter began to sink. “Lord, save me!” he cried. Jesus reached out His hand and grabbed Peter. Jesus said, “You have little faith. Why did you doubt?” Jesus the Miracle-Worker 189 © 2020 LifeWay INTRODUCE the Story SESSION TITLE: Jesus Walked on Water BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 14; Mark 6; John 6 STORY POINT: Jesus showed He is God by walking on water. KEY PASSAGE: Psalm 40:5 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus performed miracles to glorify God, to show He is the Son of God, and to care for people. Welcome time Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Prompt kids to share about a time they stayed up late. Have they ever stayed up past 3 a.m.? Explain that in today’s Bible story, Jesus’ disciples were in a boat on the water overnight. Activity page (5 minutes) • “It’s a Ghost!” activity Invite kids to complete “It’s a Ghost!” on the activity page. page, 1 per kid Guide kids to connect the dots to reveal whom the disciples • pencils or markers saw walking on water. SAY • Imagine being on a boat in the middle of the night and suddenly seeing someone walking toward you! That’s what Jesus’ disciples experienced in the Bible story we will hear today. We’ll find out how they reacted. • beach towels, 1 per Session starter (10 minutes) team OPTION 1: Cross the river • paper plates, 1 per player Form teams of five kids. Guide teams to line up at one side of the room. Explain that the floor is a river that they need Older Kids Leader Guide 190 Unit 24 • Session 3 © 2020 LifeWay to cross to get to the other side. Give each team five paper plate “rocks” and one beach towel “log.” Tell kids that the rocks are heavy, and kids cannot throw or slide them but may pick them up and pass them. If a player steps into the “water” at any point, the whole team must begin again. Give kids a minute to discuss their strategy and then allow a few minutes for teams to try to cross the river using the equipment provided. For an added challenge, explain that if a rock is in the water without anyone standing on it, the rock is swept away by the river and becomes unusable. SAY • Great job working together to cross the river. Do you know what would have been easier? If you could have walked on the water! That’s what Jesus did in the Bible story we will hear today. OPTION 2: On eggshells Spread a plastic tablecloth over the floor and arrange two • 2 dozen eggs cartons of eggs next to each other. Invite a volunteer to • plastic tablecloth stand on the eggs. Can she do it without breaking them? • hand wipes Guide the volunteer to remove her shoes and socks. Tip: Inspect eggs Assist her in stepping onto the first open carton of eggs with before the session one foot and then onto the second open carton with the to make sure none are cracked. other foot. Step back so her full weight is on the eggs. Allow additional volunteers to stand on the eggs. Encourage kids Note: If an egg to wipe their hands and feet after touching eggs. breaks, thoroughly clean and disinfect SAY • How did you feel standing on the eggs? Were you the area. afraid they would break? In today’s Bible story, one of Jesus’ disciples stepped out of the boat—not to walk on eggs, but to walk on water! Transition to teach the story Jesus the Miracle-Worker 191 © 2020 LifeWay TEACH the Story SESSION TITLE: Jesus Walked on Water BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 14; Mark 6; John 6 STORY POINT: Jesus showed He is God by walking on water.