Rotation.org Writing Team
Peter Sinks, Jesus Saves!
The story of Jesus walking on water
Drama & Music Workshop
Summary of Activities
Students will watch a poignant interpretation of the story of Peter and Jesus set to the music of Hillsong United's worldwide hit, "Oceans" (aka "Where Feet May Fail"). They will then either discuss the lyrics using a lyrics video (linked below), and/or make their own version of the skit and videotape it.
This lesson plan has several options depending on how much time you have.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtDfm-99d3Q&
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Notes about Video Clips and Song:
This lesson has two different videos to show. The first has the skit. The second has the lyrics. Both have the Oceans song on them –the 4 minute "radio" version.
The SKIT VIDEO visible above was videotaped at a mission conference at California Baptist College. Their version of Oceans uses the shorter 4 minute "radio" version of Oceans, not the longer 9 minute album version. You will show the skit video to your students. However please note: the skit's song audio quality is not good enough for using it's audio to make your own version of the skit. You'll need to use another video clip's audio for that, so keep reading for more about that.
When discussing the lyrics, we recommend showing the unofficial "LYRICS VIDEO" version of Oceans found on YouTube. It shows the lyrics on the screen and does not have the skit on it. This Lyrics video uses the 4 minute version of the song and has good audio quality. Because the lyrics video has much better audio quality than the skit version, we suggest you play the lyrics version next to your videocamera when you are re-enacting the skit. Link to the Lyrics version of Oceans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2PNTq_-mZs
If you are going to be videotaping your own version of the skit, you will need to have Oceans playing in the background. To play it in the skit's background, you can simply play the above "Lyrics" version of the Oceans video on a device that you place NEXT TO your video camera microphone. Or, you can play next to the microphone the copy of Oceans you paid for and downloaded. Be sure you purchase the 4 minute version. Purchasing the song means your use of it in a teaching situation is fair use. However, if you want to "perform" it outside of class, such as, in worship, you will need to check your church's music license to make sure the song is covered for use in worship/performance.
In Summary: Show the Skit Video to your kids to introduce them to the song and skit. Use the Lyrics Video when discussing the video or as your song source when you re-enact and record your own version of the skit.
Scripture for the Lesson
Matthew 14:22-33
Key Verse: "Take courage! It is I! Don’t be afraid!" Matthew 14:27 (NRSV)
Lesson Objectives
See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives.
Preparation and Materials
- Read the Bible Background and scripture.
- View and listen to the skit and song.
- Download the Skit video clip from YouTube to show the skit.
- Download the Lyrics video clip from YouTube for discussion.
- Purchase a legal copy of the "Oceans" by Hillsong.
- Copies of the lyrics with questions (seen below.)
- See "downloading and playing videos" notes at the end of this lesson.
If creating and videotaping your own version of the skit. you will also need the following:
- A video camera or cellphone's video camera on a tripod.
- A monitor to playback the video.
- Two long lengths of gossamer "wave" cloth (see special notes.)
- Several large pieces of black poster board cut ahead of time in the shape of shark fins (to be written on by students using jumbo liquid chalk markers).
White Liquid Chalk Markers (jumbo tips, inexpensive and a fast way to write BIG on black poster board).- Some costume pieces to distinguish Peter and Jesus in the skit.
Lesson Plan
Open
Welcome your students and explain how today's lesson will unfold. Tell them that today, they will be watching the video of a skit about today's Bible story that was put together by some Christian college students and performed to the popular Christian song, "Oceans," by Hillsong United.
Read the Bible story out loud, then immediately turn off the lights and show the video of the skit.
After viewing the video, ask them what they thought the "rope" and "sharks" meant?
Lesson Options
Here are your options for the rest of this lesson depending on how much time you have, or if you have the option to stretch this lesson plan over two class periods (weeks), or if you want to skip something:
Option 1: Prepare and Perform the Skit
Option 2: Show the Lyrics Video (or not) and discuss the Lyrics using the Lyrics and questions below. Skip making your own video.
Option 3: Prepare and Perform the Skit AND Discuss the Lyrics Video over a longer class period or two week class.
Prepare the Skit
Assign the roles of Peter, Jesus, a few disciples, and "wave wavers." Give the characters some identifying costume to put on, and give the wavers their blue gossamer (see Gossamer notes below).
Peter has the most to do, so pick someone who listens and will not be afraid to act.
Block out the skit similar to how you saw it in the video. Ideally, you will have a raised platform on one side (the boat) and a raised platform on the other (for Jesus). If you don't have "platforms" of some type, consider using chairs to form a boat, and two chairs on the opposite side of the waves for Jesus.
Rehearse the Skit
In the video there are 7 parts. You will need to decide if you want to do them all.
- Boat on the waves.
- Jesus appears.
- Peter heads out onto the waves and struggles.
- Peter tries to get to Jesus but is held back by a rope. (You may leave this one out if needed.)
- Shark "signs" appear (fears, doubts, sins that keep us from being able to walk on water.)
- As Peter sinks, Jesus grabs hold and they embrace.
- Jesus and Peter get in the boat.
In the video clip, Peter makes several attempts. You can reduce these to save time and avoid complexity. The "shark signs" are terrific reminders of the things we are afraid of, or pull us down.
Suggestion: Decide on how many PARTS you will re-enact and write them on a flipchart Peter and Jesus to see and follow. The teacher can act as "director" by cue-ing Peter "what to do next."
Play the Lyrics video right next to your video camera so that your skit re-enactment has the song with it! The Lyrics video has higher quality audio than the Skit video.
Perform and Videotape the Skit
Playback the song and cue all the actors. You may need to do it twice to get it right. If you have a large number of students, you can switch roles.
View the Lyrics Video
Discuss the Lyrics
Depending on how much time you have, and the age of your students, you may show the Lyric Video and use this discussion of the lyrics immediately AFTER viewing the Oceans Skit Video, or AFTER you videotape your own version of the skit, or during a second week working with this lesson.
Below is an excerpt for teaching purposes of the Oceans song lyrics (the 4 minute radio version) with questions you can ask about them. Complete lyrics can be found by googling "Hillsong Ocean Lyrics."
Say: Imagining that Peter is the one singing this song really helps us think about how Peter may have felt and what he learned that morning on the Sea of Galilee.
View the Lyrics Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2PNTq_-mZs. Pausing the video after each section where you want to ask a question.
Verse 1:
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
What is the "great unknown"? What is "the mystery"? (The existence and presence of God. What God wants from us. What's to become of our lives.)
Refrain:
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Why does Peter sing, "my soul will rest"? How is that possible when you're sinking?
Verse 2:
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now
What did Peter learn about trusting Jesus out on that water? (That grace/forgiveness/rescue "abounds" no matter how deep the water or difficult the storm. That Peter needs Jesus and can't walk on water on his own.)
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
What is the "deepness" that Peter seeks? (Deepness of belief, relief, purpose, a deep feeling of Jesus' presence.)
Final Verse:
I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
(Jesus has me!)
Enjoy watching your video!
Adaptations and Notes
For Younger Students: You might consider having a teenager take the roll of Peter –because Peter has a complex part...sinking, falling away, and then eventually making it to Jesus.
For larger groups: split into two or more skit groups and see how each interprets the skit and song.
As a Blacklight Drama: Use fluorescent colors, fabrics and costumes and videotape the skit under blacklights. See Rotation.org's Blacklight Theater manual.
About creating gossamer "waves"
Gossamer 
fabric comes in big rolls and is useful for many Sunday School lessons where you need a quick background or "water" decor. It's lightweight, durable, and inexpensive. You'll find it in party and prom supply stores online.
Videotaping Tips:
1. Use a tripod. It will make the video look a lot nicer.
2. Place the music near the video camera so that the video records the song.
Downloading the Videos from YouTube
Many Sunday Schools do not have internet capabilities. Fortunately, it's easy to download the videos from YouTube and bring them into your classroom on a tablet or laptops, or on a DVD or USB flash drive.
To download any video from YouTube, copy the URL of the YouTube video clip and paste it in the "convert" field at www.clipconverter.cc. Save it as an MP4 video file. After clipconverter is done converting it from YouTube's format to MP4, you can click the DOWNLOAD button.
If you don't want to show it on a laptop or tablet, your MP4 file can be put on a flash drive and plugged into a smart tv, or burned to a DVD and played on your classroom's DVD player for viewing by a large group.
Written by the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2016, Rotation.org Inc.
