YEA Lesson Library
Jesus Walks on Water
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches about Jesus miraculously walking on the water to the disciples in the boat in the midst of the storm, Peter walking to Him, and Jesus calming the storm.
Scriptures
Genesis 18:14
Numbers 11:23
Psalm 62:11
Psalm 119:116-117
Matthew 14:22-33
Matthew 14:31
Matthew 19:26 28:18
Mark 6:45-52
Luke 1:37
John 6:16-21
Words to Know
HEAVEN - the place where God lives
FRIGHTENED - to get scared or be afraid
FAITH - to believe or trust
DOUBT - not to believe or trust
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Psalm 62:11
Monday - Numbers 11:23
Tuesday - Matthew 19:26
Wednesday - Genesis 18:14
Thursday - Psalm 119:116-117
Friday - Luke 1:37
Saturday - Matthew 28:18
YEAH — At-Home Activity
1. Overwhelming Water. Bring a wash basin and toy boat (and some towels) to class. Fill the basin with water. As you’re telling the story from this lesson, demonstrate how too much water can swamp a boat and cause it to sink. (Children this age love this and will probably ask you to do it again.) Even though these kids are very concrete thinkers, it’s still a good idea to talk about the metaphor: Sometimes stressful things happen in our lives and we feel like we’re sinking. Jesus saves. Reach out to Him when you feel like you’re overwhelmed and in trouble from the storms of life.
2. Fold a Paper Boat. As you’re telling the story, fold a paper boat. You may wish to have small toy people to put in the boat as you’re telling the story. Portray the turbulence the boat would have experienced in the storm. Talk about how afraid you’d all be. It would have been a dangerous place to be during a storm. Tell the rest of the story and then let the students each decorate a boat. You will want to have folded several prior to class so that each student can have one. Students this age will not be able to do the folding. Here’s a link to an instruction video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNba3jbBSOw]
3. Role Play. The teacher’s edition has directions for obtaining a refrigerator-size box and decorating it to look like a boat: spray painting it brown, cutting port holes, gluing blue construction paper waves, etc. Actually have the students get into the boat as you tell the story. Talk about the event and then tell the students you are going to read the story again. This time you need the students to act as the disciples did. They all need to pretend to be afraid because of the storm. (A great recording for the storm is Mannheim Steamroller’s Yellowstone album, “Grand Canyon Suite - Cloud Burst.” Make sure you listen to it so you can get the timing down.) One of them needs to be brave enough to step out of the boat onto the water. Have them role play what happens when Peter took his eyes off Jesus. [link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gdLHYFn88Y]
4. Water Color Painting. Take the picture from the student edition. Enlarge it at a print shop. Let the students use crayons to color everything but the water. Let them use water color paints (or tempera paints) to paint the water. This age will struggle with fine motor skills so painting a larger area is more realistic than thinking they can paint the fine details. Retell the lesson to them.
5. Write a Letter to Grandma. After having read the lesson or told the story to the students, talk about what an incredible miracle this was!! This was scary! Not only did the disciples think they might die from the storm, there was what looked like a ghost walking on the water. It was truly frightening. They would have told and retold this story many times. They might even have written a letter to Grandma, telling her all about it. Using a huge newsprint pad, have the students tell you what to write in your letter. You can prime the pump by writing first, “Dear Grandma, How are you? I am fine. I have an incredible story to tell you about.” Although the students are too young to do this independently, having them retell the lesson by “writing a letter to Grandma” will reinforce the story.
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Tell that Jesus has power over the wind and the waves.
2. Describe how Peter walked on water.
3. Explain that God will help us when we are afraid or need help, if we
ask Him.
4. Recite their memory verse.
Topics & Themes
Disciples
Peter
Faith
Fear
God’s Omnipotence
God’s Protection
Jesus, His Ministry
Jesus, His Miracles
Walking on Water
Peter
Sea of Galilee
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students’ and Teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, stars, music CD, CD player, CD of thunderstorm, flannel board and pictures or picture depicting this story, large cardboard box, white, blue, gray and tan construction paper, glue, brown spray paint
Preparation
As you give children stars for the charts, explain that the stars show how thankful you are that they loved Jesus enough to come to Sabbath School and learn their memory verse. This is an important concept to move rewards from the extrinsic to the intrinsic.
Telling the story is far more powerful and effective than reading the script. Children are used to many visuals and drama from TV, video games, amusement parks, movies, etc. Visual aids are imperative in holding kids’ attention and effectively teaching the lesson. You can purchase a flannel board and story figures from your Christian bookstore. Play the CD of the thunderstorm for sound effects as you tell the story and put the pieces on the flannel board. This story has suspense, so make use of vocal variety and drama.
Be sure that the children understand that they cannot walk on water without a miracle. They should not try this at home or anywhere else!
It’s important to teach our children that God takes care of us. However, God doesn’t always keep bad things from happening to us. If we are not honest with this truth, we can undermine a child’s faith in God.
Before class, obtain a large cardboard box (possibly a refrigerator box) to be used as a boat. Spray paint the box brown, and allow the paint to thoroughly dry. Cut several circles the size of a paper plate out of white construction paper for “portholes.” Cut an “anchor” out of gray construction paper. Cut a “steering wheel” out of tan construction paper, and “waves” out of blue construction paper (enough to go the length of your box).
Review Questions
Have the children sit on the floor around a small tub with water and a plastic boat in it. Have one child push the boat across the water to another child. The child the boat comes to can answer the question, then push the boat to another child.
1. Where were the disciples when the storm came up?
2. Who did they see walking on the water?
3. Who wanted to walk out on the water to Jesus?
4. When Peter was afraid and began to sink, what did he do?
5. Did Jesus help Peter when he cried out for help?
6. Who will help you when you are afraid?
7. What do you have to do to get Jesus to help you when you are afraid or in trouble?
8. Why do you think the storm stopped when Jesus got into the boat?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Have the children help decorate their boat by first attaching the “anchor,” then glue on circles for “portholes,” add the “steering wheel,” and glue “waves” to the outside of your boat along the bottom. Children can then take turns riding in the boat across the “Sea of Galilee.” Enact the story by having one of the children pretend to be Peter.
REACH Activity
Letter: W
Words: walk, water, way, waves, wind
Sentence:
THE WIND WAS BLOWING AND THE WAVES WERE HIGH! JESUS WALKED ON THE WATER TO HELP HIS FRIENDS. WOW, WHAT A DAY!
Song
“Peter, James and John In A Sailboat” is on page 12 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Dear Father, We thank you that you and our Friend, Jesus, are always ready to help us. When we are afraid or in trouble we can pray and you will help us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Printable Pages
