Walking on Water and Calming the Storm

WALKING ON WATER AND CALMING OF STORM

Objectives:

  1. Students should be able to tell the story of the two miracles in their own words.
  2. Students should be able to identify Peter as the disciple who walked on water.

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.

 

  1. Scripture References: Luke 8: 22-25, John 6: 16-21, Matthew 14:24-33, Mark 4: 36-41, 6:47-52. We have here 2 separate miracles, both involving boat trips. Make 2 columns on your board: “Calming the storm” and “Walking on Water.” Where were the disciples? What was Jesus doing in each case? What was the weather like? How did the disciples feel? How did Jesus respond? Who came walking across the water? Who wanted to walk with Jesus? What happened when Peter looked down? How did Jesus respond?

 

  1. Discussion questions: What do we enjoy about good weather? What are some consequences of bad weather? How do we feel in a storm? Has anyone ever seen a truly bad storm? Can we control the weather today with science? What was Jesus trying to teach his disciples when He stilled the storm?

      Is it easy to trust God? Peter leaped out of the boat, full of faith. While he kept his eyes on Jesus, what happened? When he looked at the water and thought about the danger, what happened? Look again at “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” Where should our focus be? Is it?

 

  1. Play a learning game: Bible Relay. Divide into 2 teams. Line the teams up at one end of the room, with the referee (teacher) at the other. Teacher should have cards with Scripture references on them (e.g., Luke 8:24, Luke 8:25, John 6:18, John 6:20, Mark 4:40, Mark 6:49, Mark 6:51, Matt.14:28, Matt.14:30, Matt.14:31 . The first player in each team should have a Bible. At a shout of “Go”, the first player in each team runs to the referee, is given a card, and must find the reference. He then reads it to the referee and runs back to his team, giving the Bible to the next player.

  1. Make a Sailing Boat: Take a paper plate and color it blue. Make a tiny boat with a half walnut shell (or plastic bottle top), clay or play-doh, a toothpick, and a tiny piece of paper or fabric. Stick a piece of adhesive magnet strip on the bottom of the boat and another on the end of a Popsicle stick. Now use the Popsicle stick below the plate “sea” to make the boat “sail” around.

 

Close with prayer, asking God to help us trust Him even in a storm.