Jesus Calms the Storm
Video Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities: Uses video "McGee & Me, Twister and Shout" (30 mins).
Nick and his friends, hanging out while Nick's parents are gone, deal with the news of an impending twister as they deal with fear and faith in God. 

Wormy Notes:  

1. You can find this episode on YOUTUBE. It also appears on the compilation DVD entitled "McGee and Me Recharged: The Complete Series DVD Box Set", 978-1414301303 (includes 12 McGee videos).
   
   
2. An additional option, if you own a copy or have access to the following videos then show short clips (which will vary from 2 – 10 minutes) of "Jesus Calming the Sea" from the several videos as time allows: The Visual Bible Video - Matthew (this is the best), Jesus Video, The Miracles of Jesus (Nest), The Miracles of Jesus (The Greatest Adventure).
   Have students compare/contrast the versions.

Presentation

 Opening-Welcome and Lesson Introduction:

Greet the children and introduce yourself.

Open with a prayer.

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

Bible Passage:

• Choose the scripture passage you like best to read the story. Always tell the children where in the Bible the verses are located.
  
  DEFINITION: Miracle – A wonderful event that shows us the power of God. (For older) – An especially vivid moment when as a result of an unexpected and surprising event one becomes aware of the presence and power of God at work.

Activities/Application:

God can help us through "storms" in our lives. Storms can be anything that causes us to worry or be afraid.

Discussion: (as time allows – adapted from information folder included with the video)

• Comment:
  That story reminds me of a time I was really scared! (Be open with the children about a time you really needed to trust God.)
• Ask:
  When was a time you were afraid? Have you ever helped someone else not be so afraid? How? How does it help to know God is with you when you’re afraid?
• Comment:
  Sarah and Nick and the other kids had to do quite a few things to make it through that stormy night.
• Ask:
  What did you see the kids doing to endure the storm? (They found flashlights, candles, and a lantern; patched a broken window; placed a bucket under a leak; swept up the broken glass; found blankets and sleeping bags; talked to each other about God’s care for them)
• Ask:
  If we had a bad storm, and you were home alone, what would you do? (Discuss places to go, neighbors to contact, the need to encourage one another and pray in any emergency)
• Comment:
  When Nick’s parent’s learned they could not drive home or even phone their children, they knew they must trust God for their family’s safety. As the Children began to realize that their parents would not make it home, they began to think and talk about God’s presence with them.
• Ask:
  How can you know that God is always with you? (First, because the Bible says so. Genesis 28:5 says " I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go." Second, each time God helps us, we learn to depend on him a little more.
• Ask:
  If you trust God, will he make nothing bad ever happen to you? (No, God’s promise is not to stop all trouble from bothering us. In Psalm 46:1, the Bible says "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." God’s plan is to help us grow stronger. Learning to handle problems is one way we experience growth. Some things happen that we think God should not allow. Sometimes we do not understand why hurtful things happen. That’s when we really need to believe that God loves us and he will make something good out of even the worst things.)
• Comment:
  There wasn’t much time with the storm blowing and the lights out for the kids to do all they had to do. Even so, Nick took a moment in the dark to pray. Sometimes people get so busy trying to solve a problem, they forget the most important thing of all: to pray for God’s help.
• Ask:
  Why is it important to pray when trouble comes? (God already knows about the trouble, but prayer is one of the most important ways we show our trust in him.)
• Ask:
  What can a person do when there isn’t time to stop and pray? (Even though closing your eyes can help you think about God while you’re talking to him, you can pray while you’re working or running, or doing anything else that needs to be done. God will answer a quick silent prayer just as readily as a long spoken one.)
• Ask:
  Will God always do what you ask? (God will always hear, but his answer may be different than you expect. We usually think we know what God should do, but he’s the one who really knows what is best. So, sometimes his answer is ‘no," and sometimes it’s "wait." At other times his answer is totally unlike what we have asked. Trusting God means you believe he will do what you need, not necessarily what you want.)

Closing:

End with a prayer.

A lesson written by Steve and Brenda Klusmeyer

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