Outline

Lesson Overview
I. INTRODUCTION
Scripture Mark 4:35-41; Matthew 14:22-33 Have you ever had a problem that made you afraid?

Memory Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help II. PROGRESSION OF EVENTS
Verse in trouble.” A. One evening Jesus told the disciples to go with Him across
the lake. (Mark 4:35-36)
Teaching The saved child will trust Jesus to help him in problem situations,
Bible as a ready reference.

B. A great windstorm arose, causing the boat to fill with water

Objective remembering the promise in today’s memory verse.
and start to sink. (4:37)
This page has been designed for
you to photocopy and place in your

Main Trust Jesus to help when you have a problem. C. Jesus was asleep in the stern of the boat, so the disciples awoke
Teaching Him, asking whether He cared if they drowned. (4:38)
D. Jesus got up and rebuked the storm, and immediately it
Emphasis Trust Jesus to solve your greatest problem—sin. stopped. (4:39)
for Unsaved E. Jesus asked the disciples why they feared instead of trusting
Him, but they feared all the more and wondered at His power.
Word Up! Jesus is the mighty God.
(4:40-41)
Visual Aids Flashcards 2-1—6 or figures 3C-2—3, 8, 13—18 F. On a different day Jesus sent His disciples across the lake
on their own while He went up on a mountain to pray. (Matt.
14:22-23)

Life of Christ 3 © 2000, 2010 Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc.

G. A storm came up, tossing the boat in the wind and waves.
Schedule 60- 75-
min min
(14:24)
H. Jesus approached the boat, walking on the water, but the
Complete attendance record, listen to each child
disciples cried out, thinking He was a ghost. (14:25-26)
Before Club recite previous verse, check Wonder Devotional Books, — —
“Fill the Tent” attendance incentive I. Jesus called out to them, and Peter asked to walk on the water
to Jesus. (14:27-28)
Opening Welcome, prayer, review rules 4 4
Life of Christ 3

J. When Jesus bid Peter, “Come,” he walked on the water,

Prayer Prayer requests and praise reports from the children 3 3 but in fear he began to sink and called out to Jesus for help.
(14:29-30)
Gospel Activity Gift Box 4 4 K. Immediately Jesus reached out and rescued Peter, questioning
his faith. (14:31)
Song “That’s the Gospel!” 3 3
L. Peter and Jesus got into the boat and the wind became calm.
Jesus Calms the Storms

Bible Lesson/ (14:32)

Jesus Calms the Storms 18 18
Invitation
III. CLIMAX
Song “Jesus My Savior” (visualized song) 3 3
Once again Jesus showed He could handle any problem for those
Story: Taming “The Creature,” part 2
who trust Him!
Missions Song: “If You Tell Two People” 10 10
“Circle of Prayer” missions chart, emphasis, prayer
IV. CONCLUSION
(Review previous verse) The disciples worshiped Jesus and proclaimed Him the Son of God.
Memory Verse Psalm 46:1 8 8
Repetition: Guess Who
(14:33)
Challenge (saved child): Trust Jesus to help when you have a problem.
Lesson

Review “Take a Seat” review game 0 6 [Psalm 46:1]

“God Wants to Spend Time with Just You,” quiet time teaching Invitation (unsaved child): Trust Jesus to solve your greatest problem—
Wonder Time 6 15
and 60-Day Wonder Devotional Book review, awards

Lesson 2
sin. [Acts 16:31]
2

Announcements, prayer, verse/teaching tokens, Wonderzone.com Scripture verses in parentheses are background text.
Closing 1 1
bookmarks, CEF Mailbox Club starter lessons Bracketed verses should be quoted or read from God’s Word.

1
Extended Class Time: Use additional sidebar activities.
This verse is taken from the
King James Version. If you
Teaching the Memory Verse

are using another version,
Memory Verse: Psalm 46:1
you may need to adapt the
explanation slightly. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Preschool Memory Verse Introduction: Have you ever gone somewhere that made you feel safe? (Let children share
Review Matthew 17:5. ideas.) We all want to feel safe, especially when something makes us afraid.

Today’s Bible verse tells about a place of safety you can always go to.

Presentation: (Show your Bible, explaining that it is the Word of God. Read the verse
from your Bible and describe how you found it. Have the children read the
verse with you from the verse visual.)

Explanation: God is our refuge and strength—If you have believed on Jesus as your
Savior, God is your place of safety. You can go to Him no matter what
is happening. He will give you strength to go through hard times.
a very present help in trouble—God is with you no matter what. He is
there even in times of trouble.

Application: Saved: If you have believed on Jesus as your Savior, you can trust Him to
help you when you have a problem. Tell Him about the problem through
prayer, then trust Him to help.
Unsaved: If you have never believed on Jesus as your Savior, your biggest
problem is sin (things you think, say or do that break God’s laws). Jesus
died to take the punishment for your sin then came back to life three
days later. If you believe on Jesus as your Savior, your sin will be forgiven
and your biggest problem will be solved.

Preschool Repetition Repetition: Guess Who
“Popcorn” (Read the verse with the children, beginning and ending with the reference.
Beginning with the reference, Then choose a child to come to the front and turn his back to the class. Say
say part of the verse then stop
the verse with the class, beginning with the reference, then point to another
and sit down. The children and
your helper then “pop up” and child, who says the reference at the end in a disguised voice. The child at the
continue the verse until you front tries to guess who said the last reference. Repeat several times.)
pop up, at which point they
stop and sit down. When you
stop and sit down, they pop Gospel Activity
up again to continue with the Gift Box
verse. Another way to play
(Show gift box.) All of us love to receive gifts. Let’s see who this gift is for! (Read tag.)
the game is to divide your
class into two teams and have This gift is for you from God! Have you ever tried to figure out what’s in a box by shaking
them alternate with each other. it? Would one of you like to come and shake the box to see if you can guess what’s inside?
Repeat the verse several times (Let a child try to guess.) I think the only way to know for sure is to unwrap the gift. (Have
now or at another point in the
the child unwrap and open the box.)
class hour.
(Hold up 3C-36.) Wow! This is a very special gift God gave many years ago. God is the
Before class place the cross Creator of the world and everything in it, including you and me. God created you special
and tomb visual, 3C-36, in a so that you could know and love Him.
box. Gift wrap the box using
But you were born with a “want to” to have your own way. God calls that sin. The Bible
colorful paper and ribbon then
attach a tag that says “To: You; says, “For all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). You do things every day that are sinful—like
From: God.” thinking mean thoughts about people, saying bad words or fighting. Your sin separates
you from God because He is holy (clean from all sin). God says sin must be punished and
the punishment is separation from God forever in a terrible place. The Bible says, “The
wages [payment] of sin is death [separation from God]” (Rom. 6:23).
But God loved you so much. He made a way for you to be saved from your sin. He sent
His own Son, the Lord Jesus, to live on Earth. Jesus lived a life like you and me but He
never did, said or thought anything sinful. One day God allowed wicked men to put Jesus
to death on a cross. (Point out cross on visual.) Jesus bled and died, not for sinful things
He had done, but for your sin and mine. He took the punishment you and I deserved. After
Jesus died He was buried, then three days later He came alive again. (Point out tomb on
visual.) Later He returned to Heaven, where He lives today.
2 Life of Christ 3
 The Bible says, “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom.
6:23). God’s gift to you is life forever with Him. But you need to receive that gift. You must
admit to God that you are a sinner. You need to believe (trust completely) that Jesus is
God the Son, who died and came alive again for you. God’s Word says, “Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). When you believe on Him, He
will forgive your sin and change you on the inside. If you’ve never received God’s gift of
eternal life by believing on the Lord Jesus, there will be a special time for you to do so
later in class today.

Lesson
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever had a problem that made you afraid? (Let children share ideas.) Do
you think grownups sometimes have problems that make them afraid? (Allow response.) Allowing children to share their
thoughts helps your auditory
Yes! In fact even Jesus’ disciples were sometimes afraid. Two different times they were
learners to recall the lesson.
afraid while they were out on the water!

PROGRESSION OF EVENTS See Matthew 8:23-27 and
Luke 8:22-25 for comparative
One day Jesus had been busy teaching great crowds of people near the city of accounts.
Capernaum close to the shores of the Sea of Galilee. When evening came, He said to His
disciples, “Let’s get into that boat and go across the lake.” Your visual learners will enjoy
locating these places on a map.
Jesus and His disciples were tired and needed a rest. As the sky grew darker, they all

got into the boat and started across to the other side of the lake. Preschoolers can pretend to
get into the boat and row.
Slide 01
The disciples who rowed the boat were lifelong fishermen. They were familiar with
the lake and knew just how to guide the boat skillfully toward the opposite shore. Jesus Preschoolers will enjoy
went to the end of the boat where He could lie down, and soon He fell asleep. pretending to sleep.

Slide 02
After a time the disciples may have noticed it was getting harder to row. What may have
started as a small breeze on the lake was turning into a windstorm! As the wind blew harder
and harder, the disciples had to struggle to control the direction of the boat. The wind pushed Kinesthetic and tactual learners
would enjoy acting out this part
and stirred the water higher until great waves crashed in over the sides of the boat, drenching
of the story. Preschoolers can
the men and filling the boat with water. The disciples were terrified as every crashing wave pretend to row hard against
seemed like it would tear the little boat to pieces, sending them to their death! the waves and bail water out
What was Jesus doing while all of this was happening? He was still asleep! How could of the boat.

Jesus sleep through such a terrible storm? the disciples must have wondered.
Struggling over to the end of the boat where Jesus was sleeping, the wet and very
frightened disciples woke Him and asked, “Master, don’t You care if we drown?” The
situation around the disciples had made them very afraid!

Slide 03

Do situations around you sometimes make you afraid? Many times problems
that are out of your control come your way. Perhaps your family has to move, and
you’re going to have to go to a new school. You’re afraid you won’t be able to make Teaching Card
new friends. Maybe someone you love is ill and there’s nothing you can do to help. Have children shout “Jesus is
the mighty God.” This Word Up!
When problems come, you may get so involved in thinking about them that you
statement—a shortened version
become frustrated and afraid. You may even forget that Jesus can help you. of the teaching emphasis for the
If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, trust Him to help when you have a saved child—will be easy for kids
problem. The Bible says we can expect to have problems in our lives. Jesus said, to repeat. Tell the kids that anytime
you call out “Word Up!” they are to
“In the world ye shall have tribulation [problems]” (John 16:33). Jesus knows about
shout the phrase back. Call it out
your problems and how frightening they can be. But He is there with you to help during transition times, times when
you. In the rest of that verse He says that you can have peace and joy because He kids are restless or anytime!
is more powerful than the problems of this world. Jesus wants you to trust Him
Preschool Song
when situations around you make you afraid.
Sing “1, 2, 3, Jesus Loves Me.”
Life of Christ 3 Lesson 2 3
Jesus literally ordered the wind The situation around the disciples had made them very afraid! When they woke Jesus
and waves to “be muzzled” or “be
up, He could probably see the fear in their eyes.
silent and remain so.” His words
and their effect showed His total
authority as Creator God. Slide 04
Jesus got up from where He’d been resting. Standing in the boat, He spoke to the
howling winds and stormy sea in a voice filled with authority.
“Peace, be still!” Jesus said. And the Bible says “the wind ceased”! Imagine that! One
Mark 4:39 seems to indicate moment the storm was howling in all its fury, and the very next moment all was peaceful.
that there were no residual
waves after the storm ceased,
as would normally be the case. Slide 05
This was a supernatural calm. Jesus turned and looked at His surprised disciples. He must have felt sad as He asked
Help children to appreciate this them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you don’t have faith?” They needed to learn
for the miracle that it was.
to trust Him in their problems.
Sometime later they had another opportunity to do just that! Jesus had again been
teaching huge crowds of people. This time Jesus sent His disciples across the lake on
Ask the preschoolers what their own while He went up on a mountain to pray.
they think Jesus prayed about.
Share in a brief time of prayer.
Slide 06
See Mark 6:45-52 and John 6:15- Evening came, and along with it came another terrible storm. The wind and waves
21 for comparative accounts. tossed the small boat. The disciples were again in danger of drowning as they struggled

to stay afloat.
Even though Jesus was miles away on the mountain, the Bible says that He saw the disciples
struggling and He went to them, but not by boat. Jesus walked out to them on top of the water!

Slide 07
The weary disciples were looking out through the storm and saw something coming
toward them. Every eye must have focused on the figure coming closer and closer on top
Have preschoolers pretend to of the tossing waves.
be afraid.
Perhaps one of them whispered, “It’s a ghost!” The word must have gone from one to

the other. “A ghost!” The disciples were terrified, and they cried out in fear. It didn’t occur
to them that it might be Jesus. They didn’t expect to see Him walking on top of the stormy
waves! How could He do that? Jesus is the mighty God—He has the power to do anything!

Jesus even has the power to solve your greatest problem—sin. Sin is anything you
think, say or do that breaks God’s laws. You were born wanting to do sinful things,
Since this lesson is focused on and your sin separates you from God. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no,
Christian growth, the message not one” (Rom. 3:10). There is no one who does only right and never sins.
of salvation is condensed.
But God, who created the wind and the seas, also created you. He loves you
You will want to reinforce the
presentation of the Gospel at with a perfect love. In His holiness and wisdom, He made a plan to show His love
another point in the class hour for you. The Bible says, “But God commendeth [showed] his love toward us, in
as noted in the schedule. that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). His love for you
is greater than your sin.
Preschool Song
Sing “G-O-S-P-E-L Means God’s plan was to send His Son, the Lord Jesus, to Earth from Heaven. Jesus
Good News.” never sinned in His thoughts, words or actions. That’s why He is the only one
who could die to pay the price for your sins. He did it by allowing wicked men to
beat Him and put Him to death on a cross. As He suffered, bled and died, He took
the punishment for all of your sin. The Bible says Jesus “loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood” (Rev. 1:5). It is only through the Lord Jesus that
you can be forgiven so you won’t be lost forever in your sin. Jesus died and was
buried, but three days later He proved His mighty power over death by coming
back to life again! He returned to Heaven where He is alive today. Because the
Lord Jesus is the mighty God, He is the only one who has the power to solve your
greatest problem—sin.

Jesus, the mighty God, has the power to do anything. He could even walk on top of the
tossing waves to help the struggling disciples in the storm.

4 Life of Christ 3
 Seeing their fear, Jesus called out to them, “Don’t be afraid, it is I!” One disciple,
named Peter, was excited when he realized it was Jesus.
“Lord!” Peter cried out. “Let me come to you on the water.”
“Come!” Jesus invited Peter.

Slide 08
The other disciples must have watched in amazement as Peter climbed out over the
side of the rocking boat and found himself standing on top of the water! He began to walk Preschoolers can pretend to
across the stormy waves toward Jesus. But Peter heard the howling wind and looked down walk on the water like Peter.

at the crashing waves around him and became afraid. At that moment he began to sink
into the raging waters!

Slide 09
“Lord, save me!” Peter screamed. Peter had taken his eyes off Jesus, the mighty God.
He had forgotten to trust Jesus in this scary situation.

Slide 10

Have you sometimes forgotten to trust Jesus in scary situations? If you know
the Lord Jesus as your Savior, trust Him to help when you have a problem. Maybe
when you have a problem you look to yourself for help, thinking, I can get myself Teaching Card
out of this problem. Or maybe you look to other people, expecting them to help Have children shout “Jesus is
the mighty God.” This Word Up!
you. Sometimes God may use you or someone else to help in a problem, but He
statement—a shortened version
wants you to look first to Him so He can direct you. of the teaching emphasis for the
God won’t necessarily make the problem stop. There may be things He wants saved child—will be easy for kids
you to learn through your difficulty. He can help you make friends in a new school. to repeat. Tell the kids that anytime
you call out “Word Up!” they are to
He will give you the strength inside to calmly trust Him when someone you love
shout the phrase back. Call it out
is ill. Whatever He chooses to do, He promises to be right there with you to help during transition times, times when
you and give you His peace even in hard times. Our memory verse today says, kids are restless or anytime!
(quote Psalm 46:1). God is your place of safety and strength in times of trouble.
Preschool Song
Talk to Him about your problem. Repeat today’s memory verse to yourself, and
Sing “1, 2, 3, Jesus Loves Me.”
ask God to help you think about Him instead of the problem. Ask Him to direct
you to the right answer. Then be sure to thank Him when He does! Jesus is always
there to help you. Don’t forget to trust Him in scary situations!

Peter had forgotten to trust Jesus in his scary situation. As he started to sink, he
screamed out for help. Immediately Jesus reached out His strong arm and grabbed hold
of Peter, pulling him back to the surface.

Slide 11
As they stood together on top of the waves, Jesus asked Peter, “Why didn’t you trust Me?”
Together Peter and Jesus walked through the storm to the boat and climbed in.
Then the winds became calm.

CLIMAX
Once again Jesus showed He could handle any problem for those who trust Him!

CONCLUSION
The disciples looked with wonder at Jesus. They worshiped Him and said, “Truly You
are the Son of God!”

CHALLENGE
Slide 12

It’s true! Jesus is the mighty Son of God. If you know Him as your Savior,
you can trust Jesus to help when you have a problem. The next time you are in
a problem situation, talk to God about it. Remember our memory verse. (Quote
Psalm 46:1.) Put your own name in the verse (e.g., “God is Jason’s refuge and
Life of Christ 3 Lesson 2 5
Teaching Card
Have children shout “Jesus is strength…”). Ask God to help you think about Him and His great power instead
the mighty God.” This Word Up! of the problem, then trust Him to answer. And don’t forget to thank God that He
statement—a shortened version
of the teaching emphasis for the is right there with you to help you and give you His peace.
saved child—will be easy for kids Remember this week to trust Jesus to help when you have a problem.
to repeat. Tell the kids that anytime
you call out “Word Up!” they are to
shout the phrase back. Call it out INVITATION
during transition times, times when
kids are restless or anytime! If you’ve never trusted Jesus as your Savior, you need to know that the
Preschool Song greatest problem you will ever have is your problem of sin—and Jesus has
Sing “1, 2, 3, Jesus Loves Me.” already solved that problem for you! You could do nothing to get rid of your
sin, which separates you from God. That’s why Jesus came to Earth to be your
Savior. He died on the cross and rose again so you could be forgiven. The Bible
Invite children to receive the says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Lord Jesus using this method Only by believing (trusting completely) in the Lord Jesus as the one who died
or one you have found effective. for you can you be saved from the punishment of being lost forever in your sin.
Refer to “How to Lead a Child Will you turn to the Lord Jesus, trusting Him alone to save you?
to Christ” for further instruction.
Please bow your heads and close your eyes. If you would like to believe on the
Preschool Invitation Lord Jesus as your Savior, please show me by raising your hand. (Acknowledge
Sing “Good News” and present responses.) You may all open your eyes. Those of you who raised your hand may
the invitation using John 5:24 meet me (designate time and location). I would like to show you from God’s
and “believe on” terminology.
Ask those who would like to Word how you can believe on Jesus and be saved.
believe on Jesus to stay with
you at the story rug.
Review Questions
Review Game 1. Name some things that might make you afraid. (Storms, tests, a new school,
“Take a Seat”
bullies, etc.)
Play in circle(s) with one child
acting as “It” in the center 2. In Psalm 46:1 what promise did God give those who believe in Him? (“God is our
of each circle. Ask “It” the refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”)
question. If he answers 3. What happened while the disciples were out in the boat and Jesus was sleeping?
correctly, he may choose three (There was a big storm.)
people to get up and quickly 4. Why were the disciples afraid? (They thought they would die.)
change seats while he tries
to take one of those places.
5. What do you need to remember when you are afraid? (Jesus is there and can
The child left standing is the help you.)
next “It.” 6. What did Jesus do when the disciples woke Him up? (He told the wind and sea to
be still.)
7. How did Jesus come to the disciples when they were alone in a boat and in trouble?
(He walked on the water.)
8. Why could Jesus calm the sea and walk on the water? (He is God and has power
to do anything.)
9. Why was Jesus the only one who could die to pay for your sin? (He never sinned
in His thoughts, words or actions.)
10. How did Jesus prove His mighty power over death? (By coming back to life again.)
11. What did Peter need to do to keep walking on the water? (Keep trusting in Jesus.)
12. What should you do when you have a problem? (Talk to God about it;
remember Psalm 46:1; ask God to help you think about Him instead of the problem;
thank Him for being there with you to help and give you peace.)

Preschool Review Questions

Preschool Review Game 1. What was Jesus doing when the big storm came? (Sleeping in the boat.)
“Follow the Leader”
2. How did the disciples feel? (Afraid.)
When a child an s w e r s a
question correctly, he may do 3. What did Jesus do about the storm? (He made it stop.)
a funny action for the other 4. When you have a problem that makes you afraid, what should you do? (Talk to
children to imitate. Jesus about it and trust Him.)

6 Life of Christ 3