Single lesson

Jesus Calms the Storm: Bringing Our Fears to Him

Matthew 8:23–27; Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25

In this lesson, children hear how the disciples were frightened in a storm, woke Jesus for help, and saw him bring a great calm. They will name the fear in the story and describe Jesus’ response.

6–10 years30 minutes

Before you teach

Matthew, Mark, and Luke each tell this boat story. In each account, Jesus and his disciples go out on the water, a fierce storm threatens them, the disciples cry out, Jesus rebukes the wind and water, and the disciples marvel at who he is.

Learning aim

Students will be able to identify the disciples’ fear in the storm and explain that Jesus responded by speaking to the wind and water and questioning their faith.

Welcome: Storm words and big feelings

5 min

Ask children to name words from the passage that show the danger: violent storm, waves, filled, dying, dangerous amounts of water. Then ask what the disciples did when they were afraid. Keep answers tied to the story itself, not to imagined details. Explain that today they will listen for both fear and Jesus’ response.

Matthew 8:24, Matthew 8:25, Mark 4:37, Mark 4:38, Luke 8:23, Luke 8:24

Read and explain: What happened in the boat?

8 min

Read one account aloud, then briefly compare key lines from the others. Jesus got into the boat with his disciples and fell asleep. A strong storm came, and the boat was in danger. The disciples woke him and cried out for help. Jesus rebuked the wind and water, and the storm became calm.

Matthew 8:23, Matthew 8:24, Matthew 8:25, Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:38, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:22, Luke 8:23, Luke 8:24

Discuss: Fear, faith, and Jesus’ question

6 min

Help children notice two parts of Jesus’ response. First, he acted and the storm stopped. Second, he asked the disciples about their fear and faith. Discuss how the passage shows both their real fear and Jesus’ authority. Keep the focus on what the verses say: afraid, little faith, no faith, and where is your faith.

Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:39, Mark 4:40, Luke 8:24, Luke 8:25

Make and respond: Storm boat craft

7 min

Children make a simple paper boat scene and add speech bubbles from the passage such as “Save us, Lord!” or “Peace! Be still!” As they work, ask them to point to the moment of fear and the moment of calm. This helps them retell the story in order using the Bible’s own words.

Matthew 8:25, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:24

Closing: Who is this?

4 min

Finish by reading the disciples’ amazed question. Explain that all three accounts end with wonder at Jesus, because even the wind and sea or water obey him. Invite each child to say one sentence: either what scared the disciples, or what Jesus did. Close with a short prayer if appropriate.

Matthew 8:27, Mark 4:41, Luke 8:25

Questions to explore

What words in these verses show why the disciples were afraid?

Look for the storm descriptions and the disciples’ own cries such as “we are dying” and the boat filling with water.

Matthew 8:24, Matthew 8:25, Mark 4:37, Luke 8:23, Luke 8:24

What did Jesus do after the disciples woke him?

Answer from the text: he rebuked the wind and the sea or water, and then there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:24

What question did the disciples ask after the storm became calm?

Read the ending carefully and notice their words of wonder about the winds and water obeying Jesus.

Matthew 8:27, Mark 4:41, Luke 8:25

Make, think or respond

Storm Boat and Speech Bubbles

What you’ll need

paper
pencils or textas
blue crayon or coloured pencil
scissors
sticky tape or glue

Try it together

Fold or draw a simple boat on paper and add waves underneath.
On separate small paper pieces, write or copy short lines from the passage such as “Save us, Lord!” and “Peace! Be still!”.
Place the first speech bubble near the stormy waves and the second near calm water.
Ask each child to point to the fearful part of the story and then the calm part, retelling both in order.

The boat and speech bubbles help children identify the disciples’ fear and Jesus’ response using phrases taken from the passage.

Adapt for your group

For younger children, use one Gospel account only and let them repeat two key lines aloud: “We are dying” and “Peace! Be still!”.
For older children, compare the wording in Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:40, and Luke 8:25 about fear and faith, and ask what each account especially highlights.

An optional closing prayer

Suggested prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank you that the disciples called to you in their fear. Please help us remember to turn to you and trust you.”

Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic

Matthew 8

²³ When he got into a boat, his disciples followed him.

²⁴ Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves; but he was asleep.

²⁵ The disciples came to him and woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We are dying!”

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.

²⁷ The men marveled, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Mark 4

³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”

³⁶ Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.

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 asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”

³⁹ He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

⁴¹ They were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Luke 8

²² Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.

²³ But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water.

²⁴ They came to him and awoke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are dying!” He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; then they ceased, and it was calm.

²⁵ He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, “Who is this then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”

World English Bible Classic. Public domain.