Doubting Thomas
DOUBTING THOMAS
Objectives:
- Students should recognize the name of Thomas as a disciple.
- Students should be able to tell the story of Thomas in their own words.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Scripture Reference: John 20:24-29. Who was Thomas? What happened to the other disciples? Was Thomas there? What did Thomas say? What did Jesus do? How did Thomas respond? Why is he known as “Doubting Thomas”?
- Talk a bit about doubt: Has someone ever told you something that was hard to believe? If someone told you he saw a dead man walking around, would that be hard to believe? Did Thomas believe the other disciples? Would you? Talk a bit about the normal, expected way things usually are. Can the students describe some things that we know should happen in a certain way or look a certain way? Maybe, things fall down, not up; we walk on our feet and not our heads; leaves are green and not purple. Life is full of normal, everyday things and it would be impossible to live life otherwise. Imagine a world where things fell up, down, or sideways at random, where …But, do things always have to be normal? Is God in charge? Can He change anything He wants when He needs to? So He can and did change death, and surprised poor Thomas.
- Play a learning game: Don’t Make a Move. Take 10 popsicle sticks, numbered 1-10, and drop in a pile on the floor. Write 10 questions about today’s lesson on 10 numbered pieces of paper. Each player, in turn, attempts to pick up a stick without disturbing the rest. If successful, he gets to try to answer the question with the same number and earns a point if correct. If he moves the other sticks, or cannot answer the question, play passes to the next player.
- Add to your time line as usual.
- Close with prayer.