Children's session
The story of ‘doubting Thomas’ is often seen as a negative one – the disciple who wouldn’t believe without seeing the risen Jesus – and yet he is someone who just wanted to see the evidence for himself. It would have been easy for Thomas to go along with his friends who had already seen Jesus, but Thomas wanted to experience it for himself in order to believe. The meeting with Jesus provides him with the chance to test the truth for himself.
This week we explore how we come to believe.
Share the Word
Read the story and pause at the  to share these points with the children
Stop and share
- Ask the children what they understand by the word ‘sin’. Talk about sin being the bad things that people do, that go against what God wants.
- Explain that in the Bible the word ‘Messiah’ means the ‘anointed one’ – someone chosen by God to save the Jewish people, and also a title used for Jesus.
Craft Activity
Hand cut-outs
Make a reminder of the proof Thomas needed
You will need: white card, pencils or crayons, scissors, a hole punch, glue, a long strip of paper.
- Ask the children to draw round their hand on a piece of card and help them to cut it out.
- Invite the children to punch a hole in the middle of the palm, then write the words ‘Do not doubt, but believe’ around the hole and decorate the hand cut-out (provide a copy of the words for those who need it).
Talk to God: Put it to the panel
Ask others to help you believe
You will need: volunteers to form a panel.
- Explain that you are going to have a discussion with a ‘panel’ of Christians to talk about faith. Discuss the questions you want to ask the panel, about God and being a Christian – including things you find hard to believe or what doubts you have.
- Read out the questions to your panel – allow space for anyone to ask follow-up questions if they want. Conclude by praying together about the questions you have discussed.
 
Go with God
Consider together what you have explored, what that means for each of you and how it might influence your daily lives.
- Watch the music video My faith is in you together and encourage the children to make it their own prayer by joining in with dancing and clapping!
- Afterwards, discuss what the song says: ‘I believe when I can’t see, you are real, no matter what I feel, there’s proof, no mystery, my faith is in you.’ Ask: How do these words help us live our lives as Christians?
A prayer for children
God of truth:
For those who doubt: give them certainty.
For those in darkness: give them light.
For those who need to see: give them living proof.
Amen.
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