Curriculum
Seeing Is Believing
Memory Verse:
“Then Jesus told him, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:29
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
After Jesus was raised from the dead, He appeared to His disciples. He wanted them to see and believe that He was alive. Even when Thomas, one of the disciples, wasn’t there, Jesus came back to ensure Thomas believed, too.
Scripture Summary
Jesus did what He said He would do. After a three-year ministry of preaching, healing, and befriending all people, He was brutally crucified. He died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Two disciples had seen the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. Though Jesus had only appeared to Mary Magdalene at this point.
Now it was the disciples’ turn to see the risen Lord. They were locked in a room, fearful of what the Jews would do to them as followers of Jesus. Jesus came into the room and breathed His spirit on them. It might have been a special anointing of the Spirit—a taste of what was to come for all believers after Pentecost.
Jesus was boldly giving the disciples their mission, and He gave them the Spirit, the power, by which the disciples would minister. They were to continue Jesus’ ministry, preaching and healing in Jesus’ name.
Thomas was away and didn’t see Jesus when He visited the disciples. So a week later, Jesus made another visit to ensure Thomas could see and believe. Jesus didn’t rebuke Thomas for his honesty or his doubts. Even though Thomas doubted, he still remained faithful and committed to Jesus.
Why Is This Important
While we can’t physically see Jesus, we can still believe that He is alive. Jesus did what He set out to do, and we can trust Him to continue to keep His promises.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
Left Out and Waiting
“A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’” (John 20:26)
I appreciate Thomas, his honesty, and his doubt. He’s quite relatable. Too often I’m tempted to paint on a smile and say that everything is “fine.” But not Thomas. He spoke up. He didn’t allow his commitment to waver, but he made it known that he was struggling.
And then he waited.
Take a moment to dive into Thomas’ story. He was one of the 12 disciples. He had just seen his Lord crucified and buried. He was in the midst of unfathomable grief. While he had heard of Jesus’ resurrection, he missed out on seeing Jesus with his own eyes. Thomas was left out.
For an entire week, Thomas lived with a void. We don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing that the disciples continued talking about seeing Jesus throughout the week. And Thomas was there, taking it in, feeling like an outsider.
It would have been one thing if Jesus had mentioned to the disciples that He’d be back to chat with Thomas or had left Thomas a handwritten note. Thomas was forced to wait without knowing when or how his doubt would be alleviated. I would guess Thomas felt forgotten as he waited.
What are you waiting for? What are you hearing in the silence of waiting?
Take a moment to identify what you’re experiencing as you wait. Share with God your doubts, fears, joys, questions, and revelations. Ask Him to show up in a special way for you today.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for being present as I wait. Sometimes it’s hard to believe in You, Your promise, and Your provision when I have so much doubt. Please help me believe while I wait. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: Construction paper, Markers, Scissors, Bibles - one per child
“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:29
Lead kids in these steps:
- Give each child a piece of construction paper and invite them to fold it in half.
- Instruct kids to trace their hand on the construction paper, mak- ing sure the pinky side of the hand is overlapping the fold.
- Invite kids to cut out their traced handprints while the paper is still folded in half, so they can open the paper and have two hands connected by the fold.
- Ask kids to turn in their Bibles to John 20:29.
- Read the verse aloud together, and then invite kids to write the verse on their hands cutout.
- Kids can also add circles for the scar holes in Jesus’ hands.
SAY: Today we’re going to learn about a disciple who needed to see the holes in Jesus’ hands to believe Jesus was alive. Jesus told His disciples that “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: “Snapshot” handout - one set per small group, Crayons, Bibles - one per child
Get Ready: Print a set of seven snapshot coloring pages for each small group. Mix each group’s individual set, so they will not be in order when the group
receives them.
- Divide the class into small groups of seven or fewer kids.
- Give each small group a set of snapshot coloring pages from today’s lesson.
- Invite each small group to color their snapshot photos.
- Once they have been colored, ask kids to open their Bibles to John 20:19-31.
- Explain that their small group needs to put the snapshot photos in order using the Bible.
- After each small group has had enough time, go over the order of the events for today’s lesson.
ASK:
- What do you think about how Jesus showed His friends He was resurrected?
- Do you think you would have reacted like Thomas? Explain why or why not.
- What does it look like in your life to believe without seeing Jesus?
SAY: Jesus died on the cross and then came back to life. Jesus is alive! Thomas needed to see that to believe it. But Jesus says we can believe in Him even though we haven’t seen Him with our eyes.
Snack
Eye See Snacks
You’ll Need: Oreo cookies - two per child, M&Ms - four per child, Blue and green gel icing, Paper plates - one per child, Napkins - one per child
Follow these steps to make the “Eye See” snacks:
- Give each child a paper plate, napkin, two Oreos, and four M&Ms. Explain that you are trying to create the look of a per- son’s eye with the supplies.
- Instruct kids to gently twist apart their cookies to leave just enough white filling on each side.
- Invite kids to make a circle of blue, green, or mixed-together icing gel in the middle of their cookie filling.
- Have kids put an M&M in the middle of their colored circle to complete the eye.
- Invite kids to make one more set of eyes with their additional supplies.
- Enjoy the eye cookies.
SAY: Thomas had to see Jesus and wanted to touch the holes in His hands before he could believe Jesus was really alive.
ASK:
- What is something you still need help believing when it comes to Jesus?
- What would it take for you to believe in it?
SAY: Even though we were not there to see Jesus after He rose from the dead, we can believe it is true because of many eyewitness accounts of people who saw Jesus alive. The Bible is a great place of truth to help us know more about the life and ministry of Jesus.
Game
Hide and See Game
You’ll Need: Indoor or outdoor area with many places to hide
Follow these steps to play the “Hide and See” game:
- Divide the class into two teams.
- Teams will take turns hiding. Each kid on the team will hide in his/her own spot.
- The other team will try to SEE them.
- When each person on the hiding team has been SEEN, it will be the other team’s turn to hide.
- The teacher can also have the teams hide an object for the other team to find and SEE.
SAY: You really had to open your eyes to see the hidden teams (or objects), didn’t you? Thomas got to see Jesus’ scars with his own eyes, but we have to believe with our hearts. Remember our memory verse tells us that we are blessed if we believe without having to see.
Craft
Heart Face Craft
You’ll Need: Red construction paper - one sheet, per child, Markers, Googly eyes - two per child, Yarn, Glue, Cardstock paper, Scissors
To make the “Heart Face” craft, have kids follow these steps:
- Give each child red construction paper and two googly eyes.
- Have them draw and cut out a heart from the paper.
- Have kids glue the googly eyes to their hearts to make a heart face.
- Invite kids to add yarn for hair and draw a mouth.
- Instruct children to write EYE BELIEVE on their hearts.
- Glue a thick strip of cardstock paper to the back to make a “stand” so the heart can stand up on its own. (The strip of card- stock will need to be folded, with one end glued to the bottom of the heart, and the other section will be perpendicular on the table to hold up the heart.)
SAY: Jesus being alive after dying on the cross is a miracle! And we can believe in our hearts even though we have not seen Him with our eyes!
Prayer
Look and See Prayers
You’ll Need: An area with people (church lobby, parking lot, hallways, etc.)
SAY: Today we are going to look with our eyes and see people we can pray for. We will walk around and when you see someone you can pray for, just stop and quietly pray for that person. You might see a church leader, a family member, or even another church member.
- Walk around an area in or around the church, and invite kids to open their eyes and look for people they can pray for.
- Explain that they don’t have to go over to them and pray out loud (although they certainly can if they want to), but they can pause and silently pray for them as they see them.
- After you have walked around and prayed for various people, return to your classroom.
PRAY: Dear God, give us hearts to believe that You are Lord and Your Son Jesus came to earth to save and rescue us from sin. Give us eyes to see those in need of prayer and encouragement. Also give us the courage to pray for others and to help them when we can. In Jesus’ name, amen.
