Rotation.org Writing Team

Peter Sinks, Jesus Saves!

The story of Jesus walking on water

Computer Workshop

(or) Writing Workshop

This Computer Workshop has "writing" options for those without computers.

Summary of Activities

Students will view Lesson #20 on the Life of Christ  CD software and take the quiz. They will then hear and work with Psalm 46 ("Therefore we will not fear... though waters roar and foam") - using Cal and Marty's Scripture Memory Game software to learn the first three verses.  At the end of the lesson, they will "mannequin pose" (freeze pose) a scene that you will photograph, and stay frozen while you recite a "Jesus Version" of Psalm 46.

"Cal and Marty" software program is now free to the supporting members of Rotation.org!

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Why Psalm 46?

When you read Psalm 46, you can easily imagine it being confidently, even defiantly recited in the face of strong winds and towering waves. Psalm 46 is one of those psalms our kids will hear many times in their lives, especially at funerals. Its strong images are inspirational and memorable. Christians and Jews recall its words in times of trouble. They put into vivid poetry Jesus' admonition to "not be afraid."

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam....

Scripture for the Lesson

Matthew 14: 22-33  "Take heart. It's me! Do not be afraid." (v27)

Psalm 46: 1-7 "God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble." (v1)

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at rotation.org for additional "things to share" and this set's complete list of objectives.

Preparation and Materials

• Read the Bible Background and scripture.
• If using computers, preview both software programs, Life of Christ and Cal & Marty's Scripture Memory Game.
• If using computers, ahead of time, type just the first three verses of Psalm 46 as a memory verse game into the Cal and Marty software interface and save it. Add a 3 question quiz when prompted. See suggested questions at the end of this lesson plan.
• Bibles
• A camera for the reflection activity, and way to display the photos/videos.
• Print copies of the attached handout for your opening discussion.
• Paper and pencil
• Paper Towel Tube

Lesson Plan

Open

Welcome students and explain how today's lesson will unfold.

Introducing the topic: "Afraid and in trouble"
Point out that "sinking" is a way to describe how a person feels when they are:

• Afraid for the future or have lost hope.
• When their life changes for the worse.
• When they are constantly having trouble getting along with others.
• Experiencing some emotional, physical, or mental problems.
• Feeling powerless, or not good enough.
• Thought they were doing well, but suddenly realize they aren't.
• Feel overwhelmed by all they need to do.
  
  

Show your students the handout attached to this lesson. It has pictures of kids in trouble. Ask the questions on the handout.  (There are four pages of pictures and you may choose to only use a few.)

Share a difficult time in your life when you needed God's help.

Ask students to recall a time in their life when they had that "sinking" feeling (fear, depression, loss, stressed, overwhelmed).

Tell your students that today's story is about Jesus teaching us a very important lesson about "sinking."

Bible Study

Software Option

1. Dive into Life of Christ CD Lesson #20, "Jesus Walks on Water."  Lesson 20 functions as your scripture reading.  Skip the single question at the end. You'll come back to it in step 3.

2. Take the 6 question quiz offered at the end of the Life of Christ Lesson to reinforce their story memory.

3. Discuss the question heard and seen at the end of Lesson 20: "When you pray do you focus your attention more on Jesus' power or on your problem?"  Restate the question like this: "When you're in trouble, where do you look for help?" --and have the kids answer.  

4. If you have time, use the "Jesus and Peter demonstration" found in the writing option below.

Writing Option (for those without a computer)

1. Read Matthew 14:22-33. With older children, assign someone to read Jesus and Peter's parts.

2. Do the "Jesus and Peter Demonstration"
Do the following demonstration to illustrate the answer to the question: "where should you look in times of trouble?"  Have a volunteer named "Jesus" stand at one end of the room or hallway, and a student named "Peter" at the opposite end. Place the other students between Jesus and Peter, then tell Peter he/she can only look at their feet (their "troubles"). Give them a tube to look through to constrain their view.  Have the other students hold out on arm in any direction. Cue Peter to try and cross the room towards Jesus without "sinking" if they hit an arm.

Say: When we pray, worship, and read scripture, they help us keep our eyes on Jesus and guide us through trouble. When we focus on our troubles and forget Jesus is our guide and savior, we stumble and sink. But that's not the final part of the story is it?  Jesus steps in and saves the sinking, ...even though they have "little faith" and many doubts. All we have to do is call to him and let him grab hold of us.

Follow up question: What if Peter had never cried out. What do you think Jesus would have done then?  Point out that Jesus didn't wait for "game over" —for Peter to sink and drown. Jesus had his eye on Peter.

Say: Jesus is not standing idly by when we're in trouble, he comes offering his hand.

Ask: Do you think Jesus would have let Peter drown if Peter had not cried out for help?

Note: This is a key and challenging theological point. We are not saved by our own faith or cries for help, but in spite of having "little" of it!  How much do we have to "want to" reach out to Jesus before he saves/helps us?  And what if we never cry out? What then? We know that later Peter will deny and be saved again when Jesus comes to him at the resurrection, while others fell away. The freedom to choose, even to refuse God, is also God's gift. In this sense, salvation is God's "ongoing offer," a gracious gift that is always there for us, never runs out, and isn't dependent on how much faith we have. Indeed, Jesus doesn't think Peter had much faith and still saved him. As Psalm 100 puts it, "the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting...."  As Psalm 46 puts is, "God will help...."  Your church may express these ideas differently. But it's important to express to children that Jesus will not abandon them, even if they choose to abandon or deny him.

Remembering the Words of Psalm 46

Say:  I want you to hear a part of scripture that was written hundreds of years before Peter was on that boat. It comes from the book of Psalms, #46, and is one of the most famous psalms in the Bible. One of the reasons we learn God's Word is so that we can remember it during times of trouble. This is something we know Jesus did on many occasions. After I'm done reading it, we're going to play a game on the computer to see how well you remember what you heard SO LISTEN CAREFULLY!  (Have older children follow along in their Bibles.)

Read Psalm 46: 1-7  s-l-o-w-l-y.  Then ask students which parts remind them of Peter's story.

Say: I'm going to read it a second time, but just the first three verses, then you're going to play a scripture game to see how much of it you can remember.  Ready? Listen!

Now Read Psalm 46 again at a normal pace, but just the first three verses.

Software Option:

Turn on Cal and Marty's Scripture Memory Game software, open Psalm 46:1-3 (which you have previously entered and saved for them), and have them begin unscrambling it and then answer your three quiz questions you entered into the software.  

Writing Option:

Option 1: Have each student write out the words of Psalm 46: 1-3 on a piece of paper, but leave up to FIVE KEYWORDS BLANK.  When everyone has created their "fill-in-the-blank" version, have them trade papers with other students to be filled in.  

Reflection Freeze Frames: "A Jesus Version of Psalm 46"

1. Have everyone stand up and gather around a single student designated to be Jesus. Give them a "robe" if you have one handy, or some other distinguishing item. Count down from 3 and have everyone "freeze pose" like mannequins in various sinking and reaching out positions. Make some suggestions, and then take several photos or a video using your cellphone or a camera.  

2. Next, tell everyone to pose confidently and strongly as you read to them the "Jesus Version of Psalm 46" included at the bottom of this lesson. Tell them that when you get to the end you're going to yell "freeze" and take photos.

Share your photos/videos on a monitor or computer screen.

After class follow-up:  Print the photos and display in the classroom, or upload the video or photos to your church's website.

Adaptations

Younger students will be able to follow along in Lesson 20 on Life of Christ CD, but will need the quiz read to them. For younger students who can't read the Psalm 46 "Cal and Marty" scripture memory game on the computer screen, you can read the verses to them, then note the part that needs filled in (is blank in the game onscreen), and then pick two or three of the possible words seen on the lower part of the screen, read those as possible answers, and ask them "which one is the correct one to fit in the verse."

Written by the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2016, Rotation.org Inc.

Psalm 46 - A "Jesus" Version

(Feel free to adapt this. You may also want to write it out and post it on the wall to reinforce long term memory.)

Suggested "3 Questions" to type in your Cal & Marty Scripture Memory Game

When you create a verse set to be memorized in Cal & Marty software, you will also be prompted to add 3 questions which will appear after the students have successfully unscrambled the verse. Here are three suggested questions you can use.

1. Where in the Bible will you find the Psalms?
a.  In the beginning
b. Right smack dab in the middle of your Bible*
c. In the New Testament before the Gospels

2. True or False: Jesus knew the Psalms and sometimes quoted them.
a. True*
b. False
c. This is a trick question

3. True or False:  Jesus quoted parts of Psalm 46 to Peter
a. True
b. False
c. We don't know*