Jesus Calms the Storm

Drama/Movie Making Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Interview the workshop leader (who is an experienced sailor)
Pose as disciples and interview each other with the same questions
Create scene vignettes of the story, captured with digital camera
View the photos in the “theater” workshop on the big screen and narrate the story

Bible memory verse:

"Be still, and know that I am God” … the Lord Almighty is with us …” Psalm 46:10-11

Lesson Objectives: Throughout the four-week unit, children will be helped to

• Retell the story of Jesus calming the storm
• Explore why the disciples were afraid
• Identify with the disciples in the “storms” of their own lives
• Recall the qualities of God and God’s faithfulness to us in all situations
• Discuss and choose ways they will call on Jesus when they need help

NOTE: The workshop leader had a sailboat and was an experienced sailor. She brought some of her gear – life jacket, ropes, etc.

Leader Preparation:

• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Gather the materials.

Supplies List:

• Index cards with questions on them.
• Pencils
• Bibles
• Camera
• Fan
• Spray Bottle
• Costumes
• Popcorn
• Juice

Presentation

Opening- Welcome and Lesson Introduction: 
Welcome the children warmly into the workshop. Introduce yourself and tell them that you are an experienced sailor. Engage in a very brief conversation about sailing, asking if any of them have ever sailed before.

Tell them that in order to get to know you better and more about sailing, you’d like them to become investigative reporters. Put them in pairs or groups of three and give each group an index card that you have previously written one of these question starters on: Who, What, Where, When, Why, How. You may need duplicates of some of the questions, depending on how many children. Invite them to create one question as a group they’d like to ask you about sailing using the question starter word on their card. Partners should agree on the question. Distribute pencils and have them record their questions on their card. [Example: Who do you like to go sailing with? Or What would you do if …?]

After a few minutes, gather them together and invite them to ask you the questions they’ve created. Answer honestly.

Let them know that they should keep these questions handy because they may want to use their question again for another interview they’ll be conducting shortly.

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:
Distribute Bibles and tell children that the story about Jesus we’re discovering this month is found in 3 of the 4 gospels. Ask which section of the Bible stories of Jesus would be found in – OT or NT? Ask if they can name the 4 gospels. This story is in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Have them turn to the Mark account in 4:35-41.

Read the story together in whatever way you’d like – you read odd verses, children read even verses aloud together; girls-even, boys-odd; around the circle, etc. If this is the third or fourth week of the unit, you can use a toy sailboat and pass it from child to child, having them each add on a sentence from the story so they are retelling it in their own words.

Let them know that it’s time to put their investigative skills to work again. Have kids choose and put on “disciple” costumes from selection on the rack. Get back in pairs/groups of three with their question card and spread out in the room. This time they are all the disciples that were in the boat with Jesus in the story. They should see if the question that they previously asked you could be asked of each other now as disciples and answered, in character. For the above example: “Who do you like to go sailing with?” it could be answered: “Jesus and the other disciples”. If the question will not work to ask of a disciple for this story, have them flip their card over and come up with a new question using that word. As they interview each other, walk around and listen in on their conversations. Encourage and support. After the pair/threesome answers their question have them trade cards with another group and continue till they’ve answered one of each of the types of questions.

The shepherd will now play the part of Jesus and all the kids will be the disciples. Tell them they will be doing a freeze frame of the following 8 scenes that you will describe by reading from the story. After they hear you read it they will get into positions that describe what they heard. Be sure to remind them there is no sound so their facial expressions and body language have to tell the story. When they are frozen, you’ll snap a photo. You can use the electric fan and spray bottle to help them imagine with “effects”. Scripture from NIV:

1. That day when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."
2. Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
3. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
4. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
5. He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!"
6. Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
7. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
8. They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

After taking photos, give our “techie” the digital camera and USB cable. Have the kids put away their costumes, then quietly move to the movie theater. Popcorn and juice boxes will be pre-made and available as they enter.

Reflect:
At each photo, ask a different child to describe as best they can what was happening. You can follow what they say by reading the verses. Then pause before moving to the next photo and ask the following “I wonder” questions after each one:

1. I wonder … do you always follow Jesus … even when you’re tired, or not having a good day, or angry.
2. I wonder … what kind of storms are in your life right now … maybe having to do with your family, or school, or friends.
3. I wonder … do you ever feel like Jesus doesn’t know what you’re going through.
4. I wonder … do you go to Jesus when you need help with something, no matter how small or big the problem is.
5. I wonder … do you realize how powerful and good and loving Jesus is.
6. I wonder … do you know that Jesus can help you be calm even when things seem very chaotic and difficult.
7. I wonder … does Jesus ever say to you “Why are you so afraid? Do you have no faith in me?”
8. I wonder … how can you show yourself, God and others that you do trust in Jesus.

Closing:

Conclude in prayer … inviting kids to add their thoughts from the “I wonder” statements. The shepherd can help lead this discussion if you prefer.

NOTE: We will print out the pictures and they will be available the following week for this group to use in the retelling of the story in the Science workshop.

A lesson written by Jan from: First Presbyterian Church, 

Napa, CA

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Jesus Calms the Storm

Drama Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

This Storytelling lesson seeks to highlight (mostly by telling the story in three different ways) the two very different reactions to a scary storm. One reaction is from the disciples, the other, of course, is from Jesus. The lesson activities consist of watching a "movie" of the story (movie, here, refers to a "homemade" narration of slides - like a powerpoint presentation). The second activity consists of putting on a play that mirrors the events of the scripture story using popsicle puppets. An additional option is to video tape the puppet play and then let the class watch it after they've completed the puppet play.

Scripture Reference:

Luke 8:22-25 (with Mark 4:39 inserted)

To view the movie of the story and to download the supply document, click HERE (NOTE: The link will take you to the www.rfour.org page specifically created for viewers of this post).

For the full lesson, download the attached Word .doc at the bottom of this post. Note that the first three pages of the document are "background" and that the actual lesson starts on page 4 (which is also where you will find the supply list).

From the attached lesson, here is the story script with some of the teaching comments (in first person) included:

Leader Preparation:

• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Gather the materials.

Supplies List:

• DVD
• Props
• Costumes

Presentation

Opening-Welcome and Lesson Introduction:
Greet the children and introduce yourself.

Open with a prayer.

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

• We're going to watch a video now of the story.
• In it will be some ideas of why the disciples waited to wake Jesus up and what type of boat they were probably in. These things are not in the story that you just heard. Instead, there is some pretending about what might have happened that day to help us better imagine what this story looked like as it happened. 

WATCH DVD Video

Ask:

• Are there things that you think you can do and so you don't want someone to help you with it? (for instance, maybe you like to comb your own hair and not have your mom, dad or sibling do it)
• That seems to be what happened for the disciples, too. They thought they didn't need help, but then it turns out that they really did, didn't they?

Tell:

• Now we’re going to make our own movie.
• We have two groups of disciples that need readers (two or more readers to read at the same time OR if you're short on people, just one reader per disciple role). There's Jesus. And then I need someone who can make a good wind sound.
• There need to be holders for the wind, the cloud, the waves and the boat (if you have lots of students, readers and holders of puppets can be split up).
• [If need be, you can assign an “audience” part to the less than enthusiastic students].
• Our shepherd here will record our play (or maybe have a student help out here, too).
• So we’re going to go behind the screen, here.
• We’ll do a practice run through, where I’ll be the director, helping yall know what to do and when to do it.
• Once we got through the practice run, then we'll film it. 

Do & Record Popsicle Puppet Play
Characters: Disciples, Other Disciples, Jesus and the wind noise-maker.

Non-characters that need to be held up: The boat, the clouds, the wind, the waves.

POPSICLE PUPPET SCRIPT

Jesus: We are going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee tonight.

The disciples: Aww man!

Jesus: Sailing is better than walking.

Other disciples: That’s a good point, Jesus…and why you are our teacher!

Jesus: I'm going to sleep now. [Jesus moves to the front of the boat and sinks off stage]

The disciples: The boat sure isn't moving very fast tonight. We need some wind.

[wind starts to blow (make blowing sound). Rock boat a little bit. Have the puppets move back a little bit, and have the boat move forward a little bit to show acceleration]

The disciples: Yay, we've got wind!

Other disciples: We're going to be in trouble....that type of wind always brings a storm.

The disciples: Maybe the wind will get us to the other side before the storm hits.

Other disciples: Not a chance.

[Put up rain cloud puppet above the boat]

The disciples: Ack! Rain!

[Put up wind puppet in front of the boat]

Other disciples: Whoa! That IS a strong wind. Should we wake Jesus up and tell him?

The disciples: Jesus is still sleeping. Besides, what can he do that we can't? The trip would've been better without the storm, but we'll be okay.

[Put up waves puppet in front of the boat]

Other disciples: Waves! Waves! AAAAAAAAAHHHH! THE WAVES ARE COMING INTO THE BOAT! BAIL! BAIL! BAIL! ROW! ROW! ROW!

The disciples: WE WERE WRONG! WE'RE NOT OKAY! JESUS WAKE UP! WE'RE DYING! WAKE UP! [All disciples go to front of Jesus to wake him up.]

[Jesus puppet pops back up]

Jesus: Wind, Waves and Storm, I rebuke you. Peace to you. Be calm.
[Remove wind and wave puppets]

The disciples: Whoa! That was cool. How'd he do that?

Other disciples: THAT’S why he’s our teacher!

Jesus: Instead of trusting God, you trusted yourselves. That's why you were afraid. Next time call on God for help like I do. Do not call upon yourself. You are not God. You cannot do what God can do.

The disciples: How did you do that!?!?! You must be a god!

Jesus: I just told you. God works through me, just like God can work through you. But not if you have no faith. Where is your faith? Trust God, not yourself.

The disciples: And then we'll be able to stop storms?

Jesus: Trust God and then the storms won't get inside of you and fill you with fear and panic. Trust God and you'll know what to do all the time, every time.

THE END

Closing:

End with a prayer.

A lesson written by Nathanael from rfour.com

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

If you like this lesson, and are interested in more, visit www.rfour.org/curriculum.html.

The Story

The following story was posted by member Neil MacQueen. 

Tell the FAMOUS STORY of the man waiting for God to rescue him, and have the students practice telling the story on their own so they can share it with their family and friends.

Once upon a time, it began to rain and overflow the river next to a farmer's house. And pretty soon the raging river water was surrounding the farmer’s house and waves were coming up his front porch.

"O Lord," said the farmer looking to the heavens, "save me!"

As he is standing there praying, a boat came up. And the man in the boat says, “Jump in, and I’ll take you to safety.”

The farmer crosses his arms and says stubbornly, “Oh no thanks, I put my trust in God.”

The boat goes away. The water rises to the second story. Another boat comes up. The man  says to the farmer, who is now at the second floor window, “Hurry, jump in. I’ll save you.”

The farmer again says, “Oh no thanks, I put my trust in God.”

The boat goes away. Now the water is inching over the roof. As the farmer stands on the roof, a helicopter comes over, and drops a ladder. The pilot yells down to the farmer, “I’ll save you.

Climb the ladder.”

The farmer yells back, “Oh no thanks, I put my trust in God.”

The helicopter goes away. The water continues to rise and sweeps the farmer off the roof into the swiftly moving water. Unfortunately, he drowns.

The farmer goes to heaven. God sees him and says, “What are you doing here?”

The farmer says, “I put my trust in you, and you let me down.”

God says, “What do you mean, let you down? I sent you two boats and a helicopter!”

----

Sometimes when we're scared or in trouble, the ANSWER to our prayer has already been sent. Jesus has been with you, but maybe you've ignored him. Or maybe Jesus sent you a friend or parent, whom you have chosen not to listen to. Or maybe he is trying to tell you something through scripture or prayer, but you have been ignoring those ways of Jesus being with you.

God promises to be with us, even in times of trouble. But it's important to KNOW HOW God comforts us, and what God's presence feels like, so we can receive that comfort. 

This is one of the reasons we come to church and study the Bible together, to learn how God is with us, what his voice sounds like, and strengthen our faith so that we can withstand the times of trouble. 

Let's pray that we recognize the help God gives us BEFORE we need it!