Dr. Pat's Orthodox Super Sunday School Curriculum

Doubting Thomas

DOUBTING THOMAS

Objectives:

  1. Children should recognize the name of Thomas as a disciple.
  2. Children should be able to tell the story of Thomas in their own words.

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.
  2. Read the story of Thomas in the Children’s Bible Reader, pages 261-263, or the Children’s Bible, page 458, or use the Arch book, “Doubting Thomas”. This story is not in the Read with Me Bible. 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”?

 

  1. True/False Questions:

True                                                     False

            Thomas was a disciple.                                   Thomas was a thief.

            Thomas didn’t believe the other disciples.     Thomas saw Jesus before anyone.

            Jesus appeared also to Thomas.                      Thomas never saw Jesus.

            Thomas bowed and worshipped Jesus.           Thomas ran away from Jesus.

 

  1. Talk a bit about doubt: Has someone ever told you something that was hard to believe? Listen to the children’s stories of things they would find 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 children 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 …(go on with your children’s list). 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.

 

  1. Make Storybook People of Jesus and Thomas. Use a L’eggs egg half or a Styrofoam cup. Clip on clothespins for legs (3 or 4, or it won’t stand up!). Draw on the faces. Draw the clothing, or use fabric. What about yarn for hair? How would Thomas look? Surprised? What about a crown of thorns on Jesus made of pipe-cleaners? Can the children tell the story with dialogue for each of the characters?

 

Close with prayer.

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