How to ask for help
Children's Activity
Object:
The drama of today's lesson is perfect for children to explore. The story is pretty cut and dried. The narrative invites imagination; we don't need anyone to interpret the verses and then tell us what really happened. More than likely, your children will have a pretty good image of what's going on in this passage. Don't forget, though, that imagining something isn't the same as understanding and wrestling with it. There are lots of ideas just waiting to be examined and discussed:
o How did the disciples feel when they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water? Why?
o Why didn't they believe it was really Jesus?
o Was Peter offering Jesus a dare? Did he want Jesus to prove something?
o How did Peter feel when he first got out of the boat?
o How did he feel once he got a look at the waves?
o How did he feel when Jesus saved him?
o How did Jesus feel about Peter?
o What does it mean that even the wind and waves obey Jesus?
With the children, perform this passage as a skit. There are obvious roles for Jesus, the disciples and Peter, but you might consider having some children be the wind or the waves that batter the boat. (Note that the wind and waves quiet immediately when Jesus commands them.) If appropriate, invite the children to take turns in the various roles and ask them to consider how it might've felt to be there on that dramatic day.
o How did the disciples feel when they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water? Why?
o Why didn't they believe it was really Jesus?
o Was Peter offering Jesus a dare? Did he want Jesus to prove something?
o How did Peter feel when he first got out of the boat?
o How did he feel once he got a look at the waves?
o How did he feel when Jesus saved him?
o How did Jesus feel about Peter?
o What does it mean that even the wind and waves obey Jesus?
With the children, perform this passage as a skit. There are obvious roles for Jesus, the disciples and Peter, but you might consider having some children be the wind or the waves that batter the boat. (Note that the wind and waves quiet immediately when Jesus commands them.) If appropriate, invite the children to take turns in the various roles and ask them to consider how it might've felt to be there on that dramatic day.
