This particular lesson is from Mark 4:35-41 when Jesus calms the storm. The faith of the disciples is tested and Jesus displays his authority. Preschoolers will feel comfort in knowing they can always trust in Christ to be present with them always. This lesson includes age-appropriate learning activities and a simple Bible memory verse.
Bible Passage: Mark 4:35-41
Bible Lesson Title: Jesus Calms the Storm
Target Age Group: 4-5 years old (preschool & Kindergarten)
Target Time Frame: 37 minutes
Original Teaching Context: Preschool Sunday School
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Knowing Jesus through the Book of Mark: Lesson Fourteen (37 minutes)
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
Exegetical Idea: The faith of the disciples is tested and Christ’s authority as God is displayed.
Pedagogical Idea: Jesus is God, and He desires for us to have steadfast faith in the knowledge of who He is.
Cognitive Aim: Preschoolers will know that Jesus is God and that He desires for them to always have faith in who He is.
Affective Aim: Preschoolers will feel comfort in knowing they can always trust in Christ to be present with them always.
Behavioral Aim: Preschoolers will memorize Mark 4:41.
Memory Verse: Mark 4:41, “They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” (NIV)
Lesson Overview
- Kindle Curiosity (5 minutes) Description: Put on Bible outfits, talk about times when they are afraid. Supplies: Bible outfits, Bible
- God Revealed (15 minutes) Description: Hear and experience the lesson. Supplies: Blow-up mattress or whatever you would like to use for a “boat,” spray bottle of water, Bible.
- Personal Pursuit (10 minutes) Description: Discuss how the disciples forgot who Jesus was. Apply this to their lives. Supplies: Bible, Rembrandt’s painting printed out, Christ In The Storm On The Sea of Galilee (can be found on Google images)
- Daily Knowing (7-10 minutes) Description: Memorize Mark 4:41. If there is time, lead them in praise to the song they learned last week, Go Light Your World. Supplies: Notecards with Mark 4:41 written on them for the parents. On the back, ask the parents to remind their children to share the truth they have learned today with others. Optional: Song, Go Light Your World http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVSHCbolJew&feature=related
**Before the children arrive, have the Bible outfits ready.
1. Kindle Curiosity (5 minutes)
- Allow the children to put on their Bible outfits. Gather them around you on the floor. Ask: When was a time when you were very afraid? (Provide time them to respond). What did you do when you were afraid? (Provide time for their responses.)
- State: Sometimes when we are afraid, we can forget about the promises of God. We can forget that He is always with us and in control over everything that is happening. Today in our lesson, the disciples are going to be afraid. Our lesson is from the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word. He wrote it, so we know everything in it is true. Let’s see how the disciples responded when they were afraid and how we can come to know Jesus more through this lesson!
2. God Revealed (15 minutes)
- State: The story is found in Mark chapter 4. Last week, Jesus taught His disciples (us) many things. We learned we need to be shining our light of His Word everywhere we go. After Jesus finished teaching, it was evening. We are going to be His disciples. Listen closely so you can hear what is going to happen next!
- State (have your Bible open and use it as a reference): Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the sea.” So we leave the crowd (motion for the children to follow you) and follow Jesus into a boat to cross the sea (lead them to your “boat” and begin “crossing” the sea). Oh no! The wind is beginning to blow powerfully and waves are rising and crashing over the boat (spray all of the children with the squirt bottle)! There are so many waves that the boat is filling up with water! What are we going to do? (Show your fear in the situation.) Wait. Where is Jesus? Jesus is asleep! What do you think the disciples did? They woke him up and said, “Teacher, do you not care that we are going to die?” Jesus got up and said to the sea, “Hush. Be still.” And the wind immediately died down and everything became perfectly calm (put space between your words in this sentence, emphasizing the difference between the chaos of the storm and the peace). Jesus said to His disciples, “Why are you afraid? Do you still not have faith?” Then they became very much afraid and said to each other, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
- Ask: Who do you think Jesus is, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?
3. Personal Pursuit (10 minutes)
- State: The disciples were Jesus’ closest followers. They went with Him everywhere and knew Him more than anyone else. They had heard Him teach and have seen Him do amazing miracles! He had revealed to them who He really is. He is God. But in the midst of this storm, the disciples forgot to have faith. They forgot who Jesus is and saw Him more as just a man who had amazing powers. They knew He could help them, but forgot He was with them as God and not just as man. If they had remembered that Jesus is God, they would have known He was in complete control over everything happening to them. Since He was asleep, they believed they were going to die. They did not believe that He was watching over them and was with them.
- Hold up the picture of the storm. State: Now this was a very scary storm. The disciples had a good reason to be afraid! And it was okay for them to be afraid. But it was not okay for them to be so afraid that they stopped trusting God and forgot who Jesus is. We come to know Jesus through this lesson as truly having ultimate authority over all. Even the wind and seas obey His voice! He is God, and He desires for us to never forget that truth about Himself. He desires for us to never lose faith in the truth we have learned from His Word (hold up your Bible).
- State: No matter what happen in our lives, God is always going to be right here with us. He never leaves us or forgets us. He knows everything that goes on in our lives and is control of everything in our lives. I want you to close your eyes and be very quiet. Imagine you are sitting in God’s lap. Imagine His arms are wrapped around you tight, keeping you safe. His arms are always around you, just like this. When you are afraid, remember that He is there and is holding you closely in His arms. Let’s pray together now.
4. Daily Knowing (7-10 minutes)
- State: Today we are going to memorize Mark 4:41 (show them the book and verses in your Bible). This verse it the response of the disciples right after Jesus calmed the storm. It says, ““They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” (NIV). What is the answer to the question, “Who is this?” (God!) Jesus is God. We can believe and trust that He is always in control of our lives and that He never leaves us. Let’s see if we can use hand motions to help us remember this verse!
- Make sure you review with them the next week or when you have encounters during the week one-on-one. Remind the parents how important it is for them to help their children review their verses all throughout the week. Provide each parent with a notecard that has Mark 4:41 written on it. On the back, ask the parents to remind their child to share the truth they learned to day with others throughout the week. Be conscious of children who do not have parents who are believers and strive to communicate these things with them, along with encouraging them in their pursuit of Christ.
- Optional: If there is time, incorporate Go Light Your World, the song the preschoolers learned last week. Remind them that God desires for them to share the truth each week that they learn with everyone around them. By doing this, they are shining their lights for Christ.
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