Curriculum
Doubting Thomas Believes
Memory Verse:
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Jesus understands when we have doubts and questions. He comes to us, just like He did for Thomas, in order for us to believe.
Scripture Summary
The disciples were locked in a room together because they were afraid. They were afraid of the Jewish people and what could happen to them as Jesus’ disciples. The disciples spent the last few years following, supporting, and advocating for Jesus–a man who was just beaten and crucified.
Jesus broke through the disciples’ fear. He walked in (through a locked door, mind you) and offered His peace. And Jesus knew His disciples well. They were still fighting unbelief, so Jesus showed them proof in the scars on His hands and side. The disciples believed and were overjoyed.
Just as God had sent Jesus, Jesus was now sending the disciples out to carry on the Good News of salvation. Jesus wasn’t sending them out alone; He gave them the Holy Spirit as a guide and source of power.
Then, there was Thomas. Thomas was away when Jesus visited, so he was unable to see the risen Jesus for himself. Thomas continued doubting that Jesus was in fact risen, that what the disciples described was even true. Again, Jesus appeared to Thomas and the disciples through locked doors and allowed Thomas to see for himself.
Jesus didn’t condemn Thomas for his unbelief. Jesus sought out Thomas to meet him in his unbelief. Likewise, Jesus is there for everyone who has questions and unbelief. Often, people doubt before they can believe.
Why Is This Important
Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with each of us. He will seek us out and help us with our unbelief.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
Just for Thomas
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!” Matthew 18:12-13
Just as the Old Testament prophets foretold and just as Jesus said He would, Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus was alive! Mary, the other Mary, and the disciples were just hearing the news and beginning to spread the word.
Jesus met with the disciples Himself, but Thomas was left out. When the disciples told Thomas that they had seen Jesus, Thomas replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 19:25).
The Scriptures don’t share where Thomas was, but he missed out on the first-hand experience with the risen Lord. And a second-hand experience just wouldn’t do. While Thomas was still loyal to the believers, he just didn’t believe.
A week later, Jesus returned to the disciples and spoke directly to Thomas, allowing him to see His hands and side. Jesus knew what Thomas needed, sought him out, and wanted him to believe.
Jesus doesn’t offer us a second-hand relationship with Him. He desires a personal relationship with you, with me, with each child in your classroom. No one is left out, and Jesus will search for anyone lost or unbelieving. That’s just how awesome and personal Jesus is.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for seeking me out when I was lost and when I struggle with doubt. Help me trust You more today than I did yesterday. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: “John 20:29, Signs” handouts — 1 per child
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
Give each child a “John 20:29 Signs” handout. Teach kids the Bible memory verse with the signs for the words: Blessed, Seen, and Believed.
First teach kids the signs. Click on each link to learn the signs.
Blessed: https://www.handspeak.com/word/search/index.php?id=227 Have Seen: https://www.handspeak.com/word/search/index. php?id=992 (shake head no while making this sign)
Believed: https://www.handspeak.com/word/search/index.php?id=183
Review the Bible memory verse several times, using the signs as you do so.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Someone to play the role of Jesus, Flashlight, A place for someone to hide, Something to darken any windows
Get Ready:
Create a setting for this Bible experience. Darken the windows ahead of time. Ensure that you have enough light in the room so kids won’t stumble but make it as dark as you can. You will also need a place where your Jesus actor can hide—a closet, turned over table, or partition.
Start with telling children that they’re going to travel back in Bible times. Take them outside the room and have your Jesus actor turn off the lights and hide.
SAY: Here we are outside of the room where Jesus’ disciples met after Jesus died. They were scared. They were sad. And they were confused about how Jesus could be dead. Let’s go inside.
Take the children to the center of the room and have them huddle together on the floor. Remind them that if Jesus died, then the soldiers might be looking for them too.
ASK:
- What do you think the soldiers will do to us if they find us?
As kids’ answers slow down, the Jesus actor appears. (Shine a flashlight on him.)
Jesus says, “Peace be with you!” (He shows the children his hands and side.) Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Tell kids that Jesus is going to breathe on them in the same way that He did on the disciples that night. And when the Jesus actor breathes on them, have them fall over.
Have the Jesus actor breathe on them and they fall over.
Once they sit up again, the Jesus actor says: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
SAY: Wow! Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit! And He says to forgive people who’ve done things to hurt us. And...He forgives us!
Have the Jesus actor hide again.
Ask:
- What do you think of all that?
SAY: It’s too bad that Thomas could not be here with us. You
know what he said when he heard about Jesus being here? He said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Choose one child to be Thomas. Then have kids pretend that it’s another night when they’re in the room.
The Jesus actor appears. (Shine a flashlight on him.)
Have the child who is playing Jesus say, “Put your finger here; see my hands. (Child touches hands.) Reach out your hand and put it into my side. (Child touches side.) Stop doubting and believe.”
SAY: When Thomas touched Jesus’ hands, he said, “My Lord and my God!”
The Jesus actor says, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
ASK:
- Why do you think it was hard for Thomas to believe?
- What makes it hard for you to believe sometimes?
Snack
Ice Cream in a Bag
You’ll Need: ¼ cup salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 cup, Half and Half, 3 cups of ice, 1 small, Ziplock bag, 1 large Ziplock bag, Two oven mitts, Bowls, Spoons, Large spoon
Get Ready:
This recipe makes enough ice cream for two children. Increase the recipe as needed. While kids are shaking the ice cream, show the
video below.
Tell kids that they’re going to eat ice cream today but they first have to make it. Set out the ice cream ingredients one by one, naming them each time.
ASK:
- Do you believe we can make ice cream with all of this?
- Why or why not?
Have kids follow these steps to make the ice cream.
- Pour the Half and Half in the smaller bag.
- Add the sugar and vanilla.
- Close the bag tightly.
- Place the smaller bag in the larger bag.
- Add the ice and salt in the larger bag.
- Squish everything around.
- Put on the oven mitts and shake it for 7 to 10 minutes.
- When it’s hardened, scoop it out and enjoy!
Game
Faith March Game
Lead kids in a fun Faith March as they follow you around the room. Lead them in this chant:
I trust Jesus, yes I do!
I trust Jesus, how about you?
I believe God’s Word is true! I believe it, how about you?
I believe that Jesus died, Rose again and lives on high!
Lead kids in this several times. Cheer after each round.
Craft
Jesus Loves Me Craft
You’ll Need: “Jesus Loves Me” handout for each child, Crayons
Give each child a “Jesus Loves Me” handout. Help follow these
- Trace both handprints on the paper.
- Draw a big black dot in the middle of each handprint.
- Color “Jesus loves me” at the top of the page.
Prayer
I Believe Prayer
SAY: Many times when we pray and talk to God, we ask God for the things we need. Today, we are going to do a responsive prayer where we get to tell God what we believe. I will pray and you will respond by saying, “I believe.”
PRAY:
Dear God, we believe that You love us. (Kids say, “I believe.”)
We believe that You sent Jesus to die for us. (Kids say, “I believe.”)
We believe that Jesus came back to life after three days. (Kids say, “I believe.”)
In Jesus’ name, amen.
