Please tell us about your family time together by emailing shawn@forwardchurchfamily.com, posting on our forKids Facebook Group, or by tagging Forward Church on social media.
Lessons With Mrs. Shawn
Here is a fun activity for you to learn how to create a friendly letter to share with a friend. This goes along with our ENGAGE lesson below.
Nursery Parents
Each week we bless your children, and we want to be sure we give you the resources for that as well! Check out our Palma Smiley Curriculum songs that you can sing to your child(ren).
Explore
During Explore, your kids engage in fun, creative activities designed to pique their curiosity about the day’s portion of The Big God Story.
Will it Float?
Supplies
- Container filled with water
- Objects to experiment with – they may float or sink. Examples: toothpick, penny, paperclip, apple or orange, water bottle, rock, wooden block, lego…
Experiment with things that will sink or float. Make a guess as to if different objects will sink or float, and then put the objects on the water to see who guessed right!
CONNECT QUESTION
As a family, discuss this question: Would you rather use a raft to float on a river, a pool, or the ocean?
Optional coloring activities
Worship Together & The Big God Story
Have fun worshipping our Awesome God with motions!
Today’s Bible Story
After watching the Bible Story, READ Matthew 14:22-36 from a Bible in your home.
For preschoolers…
In this part of The Big God Story, the disciples learned that Jesus was near to them. Peter was afraid during the storm, but Jesus saved him. God is always near, and we can trust Him.
- What are some things we can trust God for today?
- Why can we trust God?
- What are some ways God shows us that he is near to us?
For elementary…
- How do you think the disciples felt in the middle of the storm? Matthew 14:24; John 6:16–18
- How would you have felt if you had been Peter stepping out onto the water? Matthew 14:28–29
- Why did Peter start to sink? Matthew 14:30
- Why can hard times be a good thing sometimes? Job 23:10
- When you feel like God is not near, how do you reassure yourself that he is? How can you still know that he is near?
- Does anyone want to share a story about experiencing God being near? Tell us about it.
Create: Letters of Encouragement
SUPPLIES
- paper to make cards and letters
- markers, crayons or other coloring and writing utensils
- envelopes and stamps, or take pictures of your drawings to text or email to people!
ENGAGE
Talk about how Jesus and Peter walked on water. Even though Jesus was there with him, Peter still became distracted by the storm. When he took his eyes off Jesus, he was in danger—sinking into the stormy sea. But, of course, Jesus was so close to Peter that Jesus only needed to reach out His hand and save him. Peter’s struggle is similar to the struggles we have in our lives. Even though our struggles might be scary, we know God is near. We can have faith that He is always with us.
Look up and read the following passages: Psalm 57:1–2; Psalm 136:1; Psalm 139:1–6; Psalm 34:17–18. Then discuss: What do these verses tell us about God? How do we know God is near? How can these verses help us trust God? How do you need God to be near you?
Using the supplies you have, write letters and make cards of encouragement for people you think might need them right now. You might even make one for yourself! Write or draw some words of encouragement about how God is near. Think of truths about God, such as “God loves me” or “God is with me.”
Mail the cards or letters, or take photos of them and send them electronically to friends and family, or a local nursing home that is accepting them .
BLESSING
Ask your children to hold out their hands to receive this blessing you read over them. A blessing implies a future hope, so speak these words with hope for your children!
Encourage your family to hold their hands in front of them, palms up. Open a Bible and read Hebrews 12:2 and Psalm 123:1:
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
Now close their eyes and picture Jesus Christ, seated on His throne, looking at you with love.
May you know that God is near you in hard times. May He give you patience, peace, and joy, and may your faith grow as you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
