What is God Like?

JESUS
AIM: God shows us His character through Jesus

God is AVAILABLE (Y3 T2 U2)

Teaching Idea: God shows us He is AVAILABLE through Jesus being there and helping
when the disciples needed Him – God is always there when we need Him and He has the power to help us.
Learning Tool: Bead with ‘AVAILABLE’ written on it for bracelet
Bible Verse: “LORD … you are all around me on every side; you protect me with your
power.” Psalm 139:1, 5

Daniel’s Dilemma

This story could be dramatised by adding simple mimed movements.

*Yawn* Daniel was tired. He had had a late night last night, a test at school today, and then he had chopped firewood like his Dad had asked him to after school. It had been a busy day, and it was his turn to do the dishes after tea! But when tea was over, instead of telling Daniel to get on with the dishes, what do you know? *Roll up sleeves* His Dad said that he would do them instead! Daniel could take his ball for a kick around the park since he had had such a busy day. *Grab ball* Daniel grabbed his ball and off he went. He was happily kicking his ball *Kick* around when he noticed a group of bigger boys gathering *Look worried* at the edge of the park. He didn’t like the look of them very much. They looked like the same gang who’d scared him a few days ago. Daniel kept kicking his ball and trying to work out how he could get away. He felt small and scared *Look scared* and when the group started to walk in his direction he was really frightened. They were so big. Someone called out, “Hey Dan! Over here! Give us a go!” *Turn & pick up ball* “No way!” thought Daniel. “They’re not going to trick me like that!” and he turned and picked up his ball to go home. But the voice called again, “Hey, spoil sport! Can’t I have a go?” and this time Daniel recognised the voice, *Smile* and gave a funny kind of smile. It was Dad! He had finished the dishes and he had come to have a kick around with him. Boy was he glad to see him, and as they played together the bigger boys walked past, *Kick again* and somehow, Daniel didn’t feel scared of them anymore – not when Dad was with him!

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Daniel thought he was in trouble, didn’t he? But then his Dad came along at just the right moment. Sometimes we feel like Daniel and wish that someone else could be there with us.

When was the last time you remember being scared and wished that somebody could be there to help you?

Trouble on the Lake

The disciples had had a busy day just like Daniel had had. They had worked hard with Jesus while He taught a big crowd of people, and at the end of the day Jesus had fed them all, and the disciples had had to help give out the food and clear it all up. Jesus decided that the disciples had worked hard enough, and that He would finish everything while they got into their boat and headed for the other side of the lake where they could rest.

Listen for the answers to these questions as the story is read:

What trouble did they get into?
What did Jesus do to help them?
How did the disciples feel about the way that Jesus helped them?

Mark 6:45-51
“At once Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida, on the other side of the lake, while he sent the crowd away. After saying goodbye to the people, he went away to a hill to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, while Jesus was alone on land. He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because they were rowing against the wind; so sometime between three and six o’clock in the morning, he came to them, walking on the water. He was going to pass them by, but they saw him walking on the water. “It’s a ghost!” they thought, and screamed. They were all terrified when they saw him. Jesus spoke to them at once, “Courage!” he said. “It is I. Don’t be afraid!” Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind died down. The disciples were completely amazed.”

Discuss the three questions:

What trouble did they get into?

The lake became rough and they had trouble rowing into a strong wind.

What did Jesus do to help them?

He came to be with them, walking on the water; and when He got into the boat, He calmed the storm on the lake.

How did the disciples feel about the way that Jesus helped them?

At first they were frightened because they did not recognise Him just as Daniel had not recognised his Dad, and later they were amazed because they still did not really realise Jesus was God’s Son and therefore had different powers from other people.

Whenever His disciples were in any kind of trouble Jesus was always with them, and it is the same for us. God is always there when we need Him, and He has the power to help us.

Worksheets

Hand out worksheets and pens and complete.

Prayer

Use the children’s ideas written on their worksheets.