4
Jesus Calms the Storm
This is a FREE sample session of DWELL. The entire session is below, except for accompanying PDFs (song lyrics, printable resources). To receive an email with links to PDF samples of all DWELL leader and children resources, please use our Get Samples form.
Scripture
Focus
Jesus' power over the storm shows he is God's Son.
Faith Nurture Goals
- Imagine the disciples' feelings before and after Jesus' miracle.
- Answer the disciples' question “Who is this?”
- Praise Jesus for his power and presence in our lives.
Session Outline
- Leader Reflection
- Steps
- Easy Extras
Leader Reflection
Preparing to Tell God's Story
In the next several sessions we will focus on some of the miracles that show Jesus' power over the forces of nature in the world and in human lives. These miracles are not meant merely to show Jesus' superhuman power. They are meant to tell us something about Jesus and about the kingdom of God that Jesus is announcing.
They show that the ordinary human being called Jesus is also the Son of God who can show God's power in the world. They demonstrate the kingdom of God that Jesus will usher in—when sickness and death will be destroyed and the powers of evil brought under control.
The Bible story for today displays all of these aspects of Jesus' miracles. Here we have an ordinary human being who is tired and falls asleep in the boat. Here we have the Son of God who has power over the wind and the waves. Here we have a picture of how God's kingdom will bring under control all the powers that are against us.
Imagine the scene: Tired and weary after a long day of teaching and healing, Jesus falls asleep on some cushions in the stern of the boat. Suddenly a violent storm whips up over the lake. This is not uncommon on Galilee, and because it's a relatively small body of water with smaller boats that could easily capsize, it could be even more chaotic.
The disciples, scared out of their wits with the waves crashing over the boat, wake Jesus up. They don't just wake him, they scold him. To them Jesus seems indifferent to the dangers they face, and their panic turns into accusation.
Awakened from his sleep, Jesus stands and orders the wind and the waves to be still. Literally, it's more like a rebuke: "Shut up!" It's as if Jesus were talking to a wild horse or a frenzied dog. His words display both power and authority, and the forces of nature obey Jesus' calm command. Immediately all is calm.
It's almost humorous, then, to see Jesus, having awakened and ordered the wind and the waves into a state of calm, turn to his frightened disciples and upbraid them for their lack of faith.
The disciples, filled with fear, awe, and wonder, ask "Who is this?" Who is this person who falls asleep and then wakes up to quiet the forces of nature? That's the question that reverberates through this session and will reverberate through this quarter. Who is this person who does such great and good deeds?
Over the centuries this story has acquired deep meaning for many believers. The picture of a storm-tossed boat with the cross for a mast became an early Christian symbol for the church (and in our time was adopted by the World Council of Churches). This image expresses the great comfort we have as those who are in the boat with Jesus on the stormy sea of life.
Steps
Step 1 Breathe
Re
formed
formedThe disciples’ question “Who is this?” is haunting and powerful. It’s a question you and I may ask too! In this story Jesus reveals himself to them—and to us—as “one who is truly human and truly righteous, yet more powerful than all the creatures, that is, one who is also true God” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 15).
Use this time to focus your attention on God.
Do this with me: calm your head, heart, and hands as you slowly breathe in . . . and out. (Demonstrate a few deep "in and out breaths" with eyes closed.)
Step 2 Tell and Wonder
Let's enter God's story together. Here's the story symbol for the part of God's story that we'll be spending time in today. I wonder what clues it gives us about the story we're about to hear? (Show the story symbol. Accept any answers without giving away whether or not the kids have guessed correctly.)
Listen closely as we read the story together to see which story our symbol represents.
Read "Jesus Calms the Storm" aloud, pausing throughout to allow children to answer the wondering questions. NOTE: It's always a good idea to read through the story beforehand so you'll be able to tell it well.
You can also read the story from a children’s Bible or a simplified translation of Scripture like the New International Reader's Version (NIrV). Remember to pause throughout to allow time to wonder.
Story: Jesus Calms the Storm
It had been another busy day. Large crowds of people followed Jesus and his disciples to the lake. So many people came. Some wanted to hear Jesus tell about God. Others wanted to be touched by Jesus and healed. Some just wanted to see Jesus and listen to him. Many people had heard about his power. There were people here, people there—people, people, everywhere! And Jesus and his disciples were tired.
(Open your Bible and read Mark 4:35.) That’s how this part of God’s great story begins. Jesus needed to rest. The disciples climbed into the boat with him. They grabbed the oars and headed off for the other side of the lake.
It was a beautiful evening. The sun was going down. Imagine a quiet night after supper on a hot day. Can you picture Jesus and his disciples quietly rowing across the water? What sounds do you think they heard as they rowed on this peaceful evening? (Pause for responses.)
As they got out into the middle of the lake, a wind came up. The disciples noticed a cool breeze. Then waves started splashing against the boat. The boat began to rock from side to side. The sky grew very dark. The wind whistled across the water. Soon waves were pounding and crashing and splashing into the boat. The disciples were drenched!
But that’s not all—the boat began to sink! The disciples—these grown men—some of whom were fishermen who were used to being out in bad storms—were scared! They tried to scoop the water out of the boat, but no matter how fast or how hard they scooped, their boat filled up.
What sounds do you think the storm made? (Pause for responses.) What sounds do you think the disciples made? (Pause for responses.)
While everyone else was scooping and yelling and tossing and turning in the boat, Jesus was fast asleep, his head on a cushion at the back of the boat.
What sounds do you think Jesus made? (Pause for responses.)
The disciples shook Jesus awake. They shouted to be heard above the storm: “Jesus, don’t you even care if we all drown?”
Jesus woke up and saw the storm raging around their boat. He saw the terror in his disciples’ eyes and heard the fear in their voices.
Then Jesus stood up and stretched out his arms over the waves. “Quiet! Be still!” he commanded the wind and the waves. The wind and the waves listened to Jesus—and they obeyed. In an instant the crashing waves melted into calm. The wind vanished. All was quiet and peaceful on the lake.
But in the small boat, the disciples’ hearts were still pounding. Imagine the expression on their faces. How do you think their faces looked? (Pause for responses.)
Then Jesus spoke. “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you believe that I have the power to save you? Where is your faith?”
For a minute the disciples were silent. They were still terrified. Their bodies had not stopped shaking. When they were able to speak, they didn’t answer Jesus’ question. But they had a question of their own. Listen to what the Bible says. (Read Mark 4:41.)
Does that seem like a strange question to you? The disciples had been living and working with Jesus for a while by then—why do you think they might have asked who he was? (Pause for responses.)
Step 3 Pray
Close with this prayer, having the kids say the bold lines:
Jesus, Jesus,
You are God’s Son!
Jesus, Jesus,
You are the powerful one!
Jesus, Jesus,
You calmed the sea.
Jesus, Jesus,
You take care of me!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
See 5 Ways to Pray with Kids for other ways to pray.
Step 4 Respond
Select and do one or more of the response activities from God’s Big Story card #96 or check out 5 Ways to Retell a Bible Story with Kids for some fun ways to retell this story. Include older kids in the retelling by having them read the story aloud while the younger children act it out.
Use the Flex Family Resources to encourage and equip families to form faith at home by posting the shareable image or sending home the printable page (see Step 4 files). Both will point families to God’s Big Story cards* so make sure families have those as well! Additional details can be found in 3 Simple Ways to Help Families Form Faith at Home With DWELL Flex Family Resources.
*God's Big Story cards can be ordered from DwellCurriculum.org/Cards.
Easy Extras
1. Storybook
Materials
story pictures printable pages
coloring materials
Print a copy of the story pictures (see printable page) for each child to color. Cut them apart to form a book of today’s story.
NOTE: Remember to email the file for parents to print out if you aren’t meeting in person.
2. Age-Specific Activities
Click below to access the full age-specific Dwell session for this story:
- Preschool: Jesus Calms the Storm
- Kindergarten-1st Grade: Calming a Storm
- 2nd-3rd Grade: Jesus Calms the Storm