Open the Bible at Matthew 14.22-33

Peter learns what it means to trust Jesus when he steps out of his boat and walks towards him on the water.

Act out the story as if you are sitting in the boat. Use cardboard boxes for the boat sides (ask the children to bob these up and down with the movement of waves), and wave blue material to recreate the movement of the water. Even use small water pistols to squirt people with (being aware that not everyone will appreciate this!) and ask a couple of children to act out the parts of Jesus and Peter walking on the water, miming and adding the spoken words that those characters say.

Talk together 

• If you were Peter, would you have stepped out of the boat?
• What are some of the big and small things that scare you?
• When you’re in trouble or scared, who might you ask to help?

3D Peter pictures

Create a visual reminder of Peter’s act of courage

You will need: paper, pens/pencils, glue, wooden lolly sticks, pipe cleaners.

• Give each child paper and pens/pencils, then ask them to draw an image of the disciples’ boat and Jesus walking on the water towards them.
• Help everyone to use glue to attach lolly sticks to look like the timber of their boat and pipe cleaners to fashion a Jesus figure to glue on.
• Invite the children to use pens/pencils to add other details to the picture.

 

DIY lava lamp

Explore intentionally spending time with God

You will need: empty plastic bottles or glass jars, warm water, glitter glue, gel food colouring, glitter.

• Help the children to fill the containers a third full with water, then add glitter glue and stir, followed by three drops of gel food colouring.
• Encourage the children to carefully add some glitter. The quantity you need depends on how dark you want the liquid to look. Stir until well combined and top up with water, leaving enough room for the mixture to move around.
• Screw the lids on tightly and invite the children to shake their container, and then spend time talking to God as they watch their glitter settle.

 

Pray - Stepping over doubt  

Ask God to help you overcome doubt

You will need: length of blue cloth, card ‘stones’, pens.

• Ask the children to think about the things that might hold them back from knowing and trusting Jesus.
• Write their answers on card ‘stones’, and lay these on the blue cloth to form a path across the ‘water’ with the writing facing up.
• Pray together about the doubts and worries written on the cards. Gradually invite the children to turn the stones over one by one as they pray over them, and walk across to the other side of the ‘sea’ cloth.

Taking a risk  

Get into the habit of turning to God when taking a risk

• Beforehand, think of situations that feel like stepping out and taking a risk, e.g. starting a new hobby, crossing a busy road, inviting someone to play with you at school or nursery.
• Invite the children to sit in a circle, and ask them to think of any examples of risk-taking (suggest your ideas if it goes quiet), and ask them what they might say to God in that situation, e.g. please help me to be brave, help me to be wise, please keep me safe when crossing the road, etc.).
• After each suggestion, invite the children to say a one-line prayer and all join in with Amen.