Preparation
Download and print the Jesus Calms the Storm “Spoons” Cards.
You will need to print 4 copies for up to 8 players. Cut each sheet into 10 cards.
If you have 9 to 16 players, you will need to print 8 copies, and so forth.
To play, you will need the following numbers of cards:
1. “Storm” cards – 4 cards with the same colored boat per player
For example, if you have 6 players, you will need 4 “Storm” cards with dark blue boat, 4 with red boat, 4 with yellow boat, 4 with green boat, 4 with purple boat, and 4 with pink boat.
Total of 24 “Storm” cards.
2. “Quiet! Be Still!” cards – 1 card per player, less 1.
For example, for 6 players, you will need 5 “Quiet! Be Still!” cards.
How to Play
Make sure you have the correct number of cards as explained above.
Place the “Quiet! Be Still!” cards in the center within reach of everyone.
Shuffle the “Storm” cards and distribute them, facing down. Each player should receive 4 cards.
On “go”, everyone looks at the 4 cards in their hands and discards 1 card. Each player should simultaneously place this discarded card on their left side and quickly pick up the card discarded by the person on their right. At any one time, everyone must have 4 cards.
This is repeated until someone has 4 “Storm” cards with the same-colored boat. The first player who succeeds in doing this must now pick up one “Quiet! Be Still!” card from the center.
As soon as this happens, everyone else must rush to grab one “Quiet! Be Still!” card from the center. (Only the first player to pick up the “Quiet! Be Still!” card needs to have 4 “Storm” cards with the same-colored boat.)
The last person will not have a “Quiet! Be Still!” card.
Scoring
– 10 points for being the first to collect 4 “Storm” cards with the same-colored boat
– 10 points for successfully grabbing a “Quiet! Be Still!” card
(The first to collect 4 “Storm” cards with the same-colored boat will get 20 points)
You can end the game anytime or as soon as any one player accumulates 100 points.
Bible Lesson for Kids – Jesus Calms the Storm
Discuss
1. Did you enjoy this game? Why or why not?
2. Which goal was easier to achieve? Collecting 4 cards with the same-colored boat or grabbing the “Quiet! Be Still!” card?
3. Does this game remind you of any story in the Bible?
Read
Mark 4:35-41
Discuss
4. What happened in this story?
5. What was Jesus doing when the storm started?
6. Why do you think Jesus was sleeping? What does this tell us about Jesus?
Say
The Bible tells us that Jesus had been teaching near the Sea of Galilee before He decided to take a boat with the disciples to the opposite shore. He must have been so exhausted by the teaching that even the battling of the boat by the furious storm did not wake Him. This tells us that even though Jesus is the Son of God, He was also 100% human when He came to dwell on the earth.
Discuss
7. What did the disciples say to Jesus when they woke Him?
8. How were they feeling at that point in time?
9. What does this tell us about the disciples’ faith?
Say
Jesus’ disciples had been following him around for some time now. They’d heard him preach and watched him perform miracles. But yet, when the storm hit, they were afraid.
Discuss
8. What did Jesus do about the storm?
9. What does this tell us about Jesus?
Say
When Jesus commanded the wind and waves to be quiet and still, the wind died down and it became completely calm! Jesus could do this because, even though he was 100% human, Jesus is also God at that time! He has power over the wind and the waves!
Discuss
10. What did Jesus say to the disciples after he had calmed the storm?
11. How did the disciples feel after Jesus had calmed the storm?
Conclude
Even though the disciples were afraid and did not have faith in Jesus, Jesus did not forsake them. He showed them mercy and reminded them that He is God.
After witnessing yet another miracle by Jesus, the disciples were in awe of Jesus. Even the wind and waves obey Jesus!
We can have faith in Jesus! Jesus deserves our worship because he is the Son of God.
Related Bible Passages
Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25
Bible Lesson for Youths/Adults – Jesus Calms the Storm
Get Started
1. Tell us about the strongest winds or worst storm you have experienced.
2. Can you recall a Bible story about a furious storm experienced by Jesus’ disciples? Tell us more.
Get into the Word
Read Mark 4:35-41
3. When the storm first started, what was Jesus doing? Why do you think Jesus was sleeping? What does this tell us about Jesus?
4. How were the disciples feeling when they woke Jesus?
5. What does this tell us about the disciples?
6. What did Jesus do about the storm? What does this tell us about Jesus?
Say
The Bible tells us that Jesus had been teaching near the Sea of Galilee before He decided to take a boat with the disciples to the opposite shore. He must have been so exhausted by the teaching that even the battling of the boat by the furious storm did not wake Him. This tells us that even though Jesus is the Son of God, He was also 100% human when He came to dwell on the earth.
When Jesus commanded the wind and waves to be quiet and still, the wind died down and it became completely calm! Jesus could do this because, even though he was 100% human, Jesus is also God at that time! He has power over the wind and the waves!
Jesus’ disciples had been following him around for some time now. They’d heard him preach and watched him perform miracles. But when the storm hit, they were afraid. Nonetheless, despite the disciples’ lack of faith, Jesus did not forsake them. He showed them mercy and reminded them that He is God. After witnessing yet another miracle by Jesus, the disciples were in awe of Jesus. Even the wind and waves obey Jesus!
Get the Word into your Life
7. How did the disciples feel about Jesus after He had calmed the storm?
8. How would you have felt if you were one of the disciples with Jesus at that time?
9. We did not have the same identical experiences as the disciples, but most of us have encountered Jesus’ presence in our lives. Can you recall a personal encounter with Jesus? Tell us more.
10. What can you do to remind yourself about Jesus during those times when you are facing problems?
Conclusion
Jesus is the Son of God and He deserves our worship! Jesus loves us. We can count on Him to journey with us through life’s ups and downs. We can and must always have faith in Jesus!
Related Bible Passages
Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25
