This lesson teaches children that Jesus is with us in scary moments and can calm any storm, and they can repeat it in one breath: “Jesus is in the boat with me.” It works well for children roughly 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, a verse, and a short activity.
Big Idea
Jesus is always with us, even when we feel scared, and He is stronger than any storm.
Memory Verse
Mark 4:39
He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
(WEB)
Stand up tall, then put both hands up like waves crashing, and slowly bring them down flat as you say the words. Let the children copy you, so they remember that Jesus calms the wind and the waves with just a word.
The Story
One evening Jesus said to His friends, “Let us go across the lake.” Jesus was tired from teaching all day, so He climbed into a small boat and lay down in the back to rest. His friends rowed out onto the water, and some of them were fishermen who knew the lake well.
Soon a big windstorm rose up over the water. Waves crashed over the sides of the boat, and water began to fill it up. The fishermen were frightened, and they ran to where Jesus was sleeping. Ask the children what they think the men felt inside.
The men shook Jesus and called out, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are going to drown?” Their voices were loud with worry. Jesus woke up, stood up in the boat, and looked at the wind and the waves.
Then Jesus spoke to the storm in a calm, strong voice. He told the wind to stop and the sea to be still. Right away the wind died down, and the water grew smooth and quiet, as if someone had turned off a switch.
Jesus turned to His friends and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” He wanted them to trust that He was with them. The men were amazed and asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
The boat reached the other side safely, and the friends knew that Jesus had power over everything. They were not alone in the storm, because Jesus was right there in the boat with them.
Read It Together
Mark 4:37-38
37 A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. 38 He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”
(WEB)
Point out how big and sudden the storm was, and how the men were scared while Jesus was asleep. Ask the children to notice that Jesus was not worried, even though the boat was filling with water.
Psalm 107:29
He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still.
(WEB)
Explain that this psalm is a song about God calming the storms that people face. Show the children that the same God who calmed the sea is the one who hears our prayers today.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(WEB)
Read this slowly and talk about what “a very present help” means. Help the children see that God is close to us, like Jesus was close to His friends in the boat.
Talk About It
- What kinds of storms do you sometimes feel inside, like when you are nervous or scared?
- How do you think the friends felt when the waves were splashing into the boat?
- Why do you think Jesus was able to sleep during the storm?
- What did Jesus say to the wind and the waves, and what happened next?
- What is one thing you can do the next time you feel afraid, knowing Jesus is near?
Activity Ideas
Paper Boat and Waves Craft
You will need construction paper, crayons, glue, and a sheet of blue paper. Have each child draw a small boat and cut it out, then glue the boat onto the blue paper. Let them draw a tiny figure of Jesus sitting in the boat, and talk together about how He is with us in our own boats.
Calm the Storm Game
Gather the children in a circle and ask them to stand up and wave their arms like wind and waves. Then call out “Peace, be still!” and have them freeze and slowly lower their arms to the floor. Repeat a few times, so the children enjoy moving and then learning to be calm.
Take-Home Storm Jar
You will need a clear jar, water, a few spoons of glitter or craft glitter, and a lid. Fill the jar mostly with water, add the glitter, and seal it tightly. Shake the jar to make a storm, then watch the glitter settle slowly, and tell the children to say, “Jesus, You are with me,” as they watch it calm down at home.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage shows that Jesus is both fully human, since He slept and was tired, and fully God, since He commanded the wind and the sea. It reminds us that faith is trust in His presence, even when circumstances feel out of control. The rebuke in the story is gentle, a question about trust rather than a scolding.
Be careful not to suggest to children that faithful people will never face storms or that trusting Jesus guarantees an easy life. The friends still faced real danger, and God’s presence does not always remove the storm. Focus on the truth that Jesus is with us in the storm.
A Prayer to Close
Lord Jesus, thank You for being with us in our boats. When we feel scared, help us remember that You are near and You are stronger than any storm. Help us trust You and not be afraid. Amen.
