Children’s Worship 02.14.21
Dear Parents,
Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!
Note: Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com
Walking on Water
Based on: Matthew 14:22-36; 16:13-16
Activity One: Read the intro. Watch the video.
Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts. Prayer.
Worship: Singing
Activity Three: Respond to the story by doing the activity.
Activity Four: Bless your children
EQUIP:
(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.)
As I read the story of Peter walking on the water, I keep thinking of a friend who refuses to put his trust in Jesus. We’ve been through all the debates about who Jesus is and why we need to follow Him. This friend has witnessed answered prayers and has seen ways God has worked in other people’s lives.
Peter and the other disciples had seen much more evidence of who Jesus was: They had seen sick people made well, demons cast out, lives changed. Yet calling Jesus their Savior and Lord didn’t come easy for them either. When Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus told him that he understood that because God had revealed it to him.
So I continue to pray for my friend, and I encourage you to pray for your students and the other people around you, that they may come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
Jesus showed His power by walking on the water; and He told His disciples, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus used the name by which God was known and worshiped in Israel. God’s name expressed His dependable and faithful character. By using this name, Jesus was telling His disciples who He really was—God Himself! They could trust Him in every situation, and we can, too!
Activity 1: STORY
Introduction:To read the children:
One day, Jesus fed thousands of people from a little boy’s lunch. It was amazing and busy! Then it was time for some peace and quiet. Jesus’ disciples climbed aboard their boat and set out for the other side of the lake. Jesus sent the crowd away and then went up on a mountain side by Himself to pray.
While the disciples were sailing across the lake, the wind came up. The water in the lake went from making little waves that slapped against the side of the boat to making BIG waves that kept them from getting anywhere at all!
As the wind rose and the waves got even bigger, the disciples had to pull down the sails and row hard to keep from tipping over and to stay headed in the right direction. As the waves crashed into the boat, they tried to bail out the water. How do you think the disciples felt?
Watch the video:
Activity 2: DISCUSSION
Peter discovered that Jesus was powerful enough to walk on water and that Jesus loved him enough to protect him when he was afraid. We all feel afraid sometimes, too. But in every situation, we can trust Jesus to protect us.
Sometimes our lives are stormy—sometimes we have troubles or difficult problems. During these life storms, choose to trust Jesus. He is always ready to help you, just like He protected Peter. We can believe God’s promise in Isaiah 41:13 when we are afraid.
Read the verse aloud: For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Jesus showed His power by walking on the water. When Jesus told His friends, “It is I. Don’t be afraid,” Jesus was telling them who He really was—God Himself! They could trust Him in every situation, and we can, too!
- Why do you think Peter had the courage to step out of the boat and walk to Jesus?
- What words would you use to describe Peter at the beginning of the story? At the end?
- What amazing truth about Jesus did Peter discover? (Jesus is the Savior, the Son of the living God. He could trust Jesus to help him in every situation.)
- Let’s think about some time in our lives when we need to trust Jesus. How can you show you trust Jesus to help you? Can we pray about that now?
Encourage children to pray for these things with their own words. Then, transition into a time of prayer for personal requests.
Worship Songs:
Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY #1
Here’s a link to a Peter walks on water craft. I liked this one because it can be manipulated by the children.
You will need to print off the sea background and the figures. (Cardstock preferred).
1 and ½ popsicle sticks
Tape
Scissors
Cardboard or a cutting mat
Craft knife
Markers
Print and color the pages. Cut out the boat, Jesus and Peter. Cut slits where directions indicate in the boat and on the sea. Attach sticks to figures. Insert into slots and retell the story using figures,
You can add a message on the page. Eg. “ I can trust Jesus anytime!” Or Isaiah 41:13: For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Response Activity #2 Print and Color
Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING
We can trust Jesus’ love and help because we know that He really is the one and only God! As we finish up this lesson, you can pray and ask Jesus to help you with any tough situations you face this week.
(______________), I know that you can trust Jesus to love and help you in every situation!
