This lesson teaches children that Jesus has power over sickness, storms, and even demons, so they can trust him in every situation. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the verses, and the activity.
Big Idea
Jesus is stronger than anything that scares us, and he cares about us when we are sick, afraid, or in trouble. We can always trust him.
Memory Verse
Matthew 8:26
He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.
(WEB)
Ask children to cup their hands like a little bowl when they say “Why are you fearful?” then open their hands wide and lift their arms up high on “great calm.” Repeat it together three times, slowly, then once more fast, like a storm calming down.
The Story: Matthew 8 for Kids
One day, Jesus came down from a mountain, and a big crowd followed him everywhere he went. A man with a terrible skin disease called leprosy came close to Jesus and knelt down. He was sure Jesus could help him. He said, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, which many people would not do. Jesus said, “I want to. Be made clean.” Right away, the man was healed.
Later, Jesus went into the town of Capernaum. A soldier who was a leader over other soldiers came to him. His servant was at home, very sick and in great pain. Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the soldier said, “Lord, I am not good enough for you to come into my house. Just say the word, and my servant will get well.” Jesus was amazed at how much the man trusted him. He told the soldier, “Go your way. It will happen just as you believed.” And at that very hour, the servant was healed.
Jesus went to Peter’s house, and he found Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a high fever. Jesus took her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and started serving them a meal. That evening, many people came to Jesus with sicknesses and with demons, which are evil spirits. Jesus healed every one of them with just his word.
Then Jesus got into a boat with his friends, the disciples, and went to sail across the lake. Suddenly a huge storm came up, and the waves crashed over the boat. The disciples were terrified. Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat! They woke him up and cried, “Save us, Lord! We are dying!” Jesus stood up, spoke to the wind and the waves, and said, “Be still.” Right away, the wind stopped and the sea was calm. His friends looked at each other and asked, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
When they reached the other side of the lake, two men who were controlled by evil spirits ran out from among the tombs. They were so wild that no one could walk safely past them. The spirits asked Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs that were feeding nearby. Jesus told them to go. The pigs ran down a steep hill into the lake and were drowned. The men who were healed sat calmly with Jesus, and the people of the town came out to see what had happened.
Read It Together
Matthew 8:3
Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus touched the leper, even though most people avoided him. Ask children what this tells them about how much Jesus cares for people who are hurting or left out.
Matthew 8:10
When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, “Most certainly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel.
(WEB)
Show children that the soldier trusted Jesus without even seeing him, and Jesus was amazed by that trust. Explain that believing Jesus means trusting that he can do what he says, even when we cannot see how.
Matthew 8:27
The men marveled, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
(WEB)
Let children notice the question the friends asked after the storm stopped. Help them see that the wind and waves listened to Jesus, which shows he is more powerful than anything in nature.
Talk About It
- What is something that makes you feel scared or worried, and how can you remember that Jesus is with you?
- Why do you think the soldier said he was not good enough for Jesus to come to his house, and what did Jesus do with that kind of trust?
- How do you think the disciples felt when the storm was crashing around them, and why did they feel better after Jesus spoke?
- Who is someone you know who is sick or hurting, and how could you pray for them this week?
- When the men who were sick were healed, how do you think they felt about Jesus afterward?
Activity Ideas
Calm the Storm Painting
You will need a sheet of paper, blue and gray crayons or watercolors, and a cotton ball. Have children paint or draw rough, wavy blue water across the bottom and dark gray clouds at the top. Then they glue the cotton ball in the middle of the paper as a calm sun or peaceful cloud and write “Jesus is stronger than the storm” underneath. Talk about how Jesus calmed the sea as they work.
Storm and Stillness Game
Ask children to stand in a open space. Call out “storm!” and have them stomp, wave their arms, and make wind noises. Then call out “Be still!” and have them freeze like statues. Play several rounds, speeding up the storm and slowing it down. Each time they freeze, remind them that Jesus says “Be still” to the things that frighten us.
Take-Home Prayer Card
You will need an index card, a marker, and a small rubber band or hole punch with string. Have each child write “Jesus is stronger than my fears” on one side and draw a small boat on the other. Attach it to a backpack, lunch box, or bedroom doorknob. Encourage them to read it aloud whenever they feel scared, and to pray for someone who is sick that week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that Jesus has authority over disease, demonic powers, nature, and death itself. The healing of the leper, the centurion’s servant, and Peter’s mother-in-law reveal his compassion, while the calming of the storm reveals his power over creation. The story also shows that Jesus calls people to follow him wholeheartedly, even when the cost is high.
Avoid suggesting to children that prayer will always produce the healing they ask for, or that a lack of fear means a lack of faith. The text shows Jesus rebuking his friends for fear, but it also shows him caring for them. Speak instead of God’s faithfulness and his care, and let children know it is fine to bring their worries to him honestly.
A Prayer to Close
Jesus, we thank you that you are stronger than anything that scares us. Help us trust you when we feel afraid, and help us care for people who are sick or hurting, just as you did. Thank you for always being with us. Amen.
