WELCOME TO WEEK 3

Welome to week 3! Do you ever have questions or doubts? Maybe you question what you will have for dinner, or if your friends will still be your friends. Or maybe you doubt if Jesus will do the things He said he would do. This week we will read about how Jesus helps us with our doubts.

BIBLE STORY

Sometimes things are hard to believe until we can see, touch, hear, or even smell it! I’m going to make this sandwich bag explode, do you believe I can do it? Do the following activity in your kitchen or utility sink to contain any mess. Fill a quarter of a sandwich ziplock bag with vinegar. Zip the bag half way. Then pour about 1/2C of baking soda into the small opening of the bag. Then quickly zip the bag completely closed and wait for the baking soda and vinegar to mix and then explode.  Wow! Did you see the bag explode? That was unbelieveable, but now that you’ve seen it with your own eye you can easily believe it! Today we are continuing our story from last week. Last week the women at the tomb saw that Jesus rose from the dead and was now alive. Jesus will now appear to the disciples but not everyone is there. Let’s read or listen to our story. (If you don’t have the materials for the science experiment above you can watch this video on other experiments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L0ZHxcoWhM )

Materials: Baking soda, vinegar, sandwich bag

Read or listen to the scripture John 20:19-20, 24-29 

Where were the disciples? (locked in a room)

How did Jesus get to the disciples? (He stood and appeared among them)

What did Jesus give the disciples? (the Holy Spirit)

Which disciple was not there? (Thomas)

What did Thomas say he needed to believe Jesus was alive? (See the nail marks, put his finger where the nails were and put his hand into his side)

When Jesus came to see the disciples a week later, what did he tell Thomas? ( put your finger here, see my hands, touch my side. Stop doubting and believe.

Jesus helped Thomas believe. Jesus knew exactly what Thomas needed to believe. He loves us so much and wants us to believe. Jesus will meet each of us in a special way so that we can believe in him. 

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

God gave us 5 senses to help us understand the world around us. He gave us the sense of touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste. Thomas used sight and touch to believe that Jesus was alive. Use each one of your senses to strengthen your faith today.

Do one or more of the following activities.

Activity:

Using brown paper bags or another bag your child can not see through and fill it with objects for them to touch. Use a variety of textures, hard, soft, furry, squishy, rough, smooth etc. I have several objects in each of these bags. I want you to feel each object and guess what you think it is. Describe what you feel. (help them use the texture vocabulary)

Materials: brown paper bag, variety of items of different textures

Alternative:

Look around you and discover God has given things all around you to help strengthen your faith. Do the following activities for each of your senses.

Sight: read a scripture Sound: Listen to this song of faith  Smell: find a flower or any scent that you enjoy. Taste: honey. The bible says honey is healthful to the soul. Touch: give your parent or sibling a hug and tell them you love them

Materials: things in your environment

Create:

Complete this cut and paste activity. Match the correct sense that is used for picture.

Materials: printed cut and paste activity

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Hand cut-out with heart in the middle. On the hand write “Jesus Helps me Believe

Materials: paper, handprint, crayons or paint

CRAFT 2

Coloring Page

Materials: Coloring sheet printout, Crayons or Markers

FOLLOW-UP

Jesus helped Thomas believe by showing Thomas the scars on his hands and on his side. Jesus helps us believe too! We often may have questions about Jesus and He wants to help us find the answers. 

When we have questions about God, how can we find answers? (looking in the bible, asking a parent, teacher, or pastor to help us)

Is it okay to have questions? (Yes, it means we are wanting to believe for ourselves)

Will all of our questions always be answered? (maybe not always on this side of heaven)

Practical Application at Home

This week let’s use our senses to learn more about God and believe in Him. We can use our 5 senses to grow closer to God by seeing and smelling his creations, hearing his word or songs, using our hands to help those around us, and even smell and taste the wonderful foods He has given us. Throughout the rest of this week show how you used your senses to believe in God. Complete the following chart by cutting and glueing the sense you used and then writing or drawing a picture of what God showed you.

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Go to a park and spend time in worship and prayer. Ask God to show you ways to trust him and listen to his voice.