Curriculum
Can You Believe It?
Memory Verse:
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)
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Jesus is alive! After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples as proof that He was alive. Jesus also came back to visit with Thomas, who didn’t see Jesus the first time and was struggling with his own doubt.
Scripture Summary
Jesus’ ministry had come to a painful end. The disciples witnessed Judas betraying Jesus, the Roman soldiers torturing Him, the Jewish people turning against Jesus, and Jesus dying on the cross. On the third day following His death, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to Mary Magdalene.
The disciples were huddled in a room together hiding from the angry Jewish people. After Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion, the disciples feared for their lives as well. Jesus appeared to the disciples and spoke peace over them. He knew they were still confused and processing all of the recent events, so Jesus showed them His scars from the nails and sword. And the disciples were thrilled to recognize their risen Lord.
Jesus again told the disciples that His power and authority came from God the Father. Just as God sent Jesus, Jesus was sending the disciples to continue His good work. He also gave them the Holy Spirit as a guide and source of power. Jesus knew that ministry was impossible in their own strength.
Thomas, one of the disciples, was not there when Jesus visited. Even after hearing the disciples’ detailed account of Jesus’ appearing, Thomas continued to doubt. He wanted to see Jesus with his own eyes. While Thomas doubted, his loyalty never wavered. Jesus knew that Thomas wasn’t there and that he was struggling with doubt. Instead of correcting Thomas for his lack of faith, Jesus met Thomas and prompted him to see and touch Jesus’ wounds.
Why Is This Important
Jesus is alive, and He sees us. What the prophets and Jesus foretold came true. Jesus rose from the dead and intentionally sought out His disciples, and Thomas, to prove that He was alive. Jesus seeks out you and me, too.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24)
In this passage in Mark, a desperate father brought his possessed son to Jesus for healing. The disciples tried, but they weren’t successful. Jesus was frustrated with His disciples’ lack of faith, and He jumped in to heal the boy. In the process, Jesus told the man that “everything is possible for one who believes” (verse 23).
I can’t imagine the pressure the father felt at that moment. Jesus was telling him that his son could be healed; the father only needed to believe. If I were in the father’s shoes, my response would have been the same, “I believe! I believe.” Everyone knew the right answer. The father should have believed, so he believed.
But here’s where the father in this account and I are different. I often know what I should feel or should say. I should make amends with a friend, but her words still hurt. I should let God take control of my day rather than attempting it on my own. I should wake up ready to kiss the morning each day, like Cinderella, while the birds sing. So I force the “should.” I force the should before my heart has a chance to catch up.
But not the boy’s father. Yes, he knew the right response to what Jesus was saying, but the father was also truly honest through the process. He did believe in Jesus and His power to save his son. He was also human and struggling with unbelief. He shared both with Jesus, and Jesus honored the father’s faith and healed the boy.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank You that I can be honest with You. You already know my thoughts and my struggles. I’m glad to know I don’t need to force the should—and I can be honest with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: Bible, “I Believe Matching Game” handouts
Get Ready: Before class, print six copies of the “I Believe Matching Game” handout. (Two copies for each group.) Cut out the cards, and create a set for each group.
“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 to learn today’s Bible memory verse:
- Open your Bible to John 20:29.
- Read the Bible memory verse several times and invite kids to repeat after you.
- Form three groups, and give each group a set of “I Believe Matching Game” cards.
- Invite groups to place all of the cards facedown and spread out.
- When you say “Go,” group members will take turns flipping the cards over two at a time. As they match a set of phrases, kids will try to put the Bible memory verse in the correct order.
- The first team to put the Bible memory verse in the correct order wins.
- Play several rounds as time allows. Try adding in hurdles, such as removing matching sets or setting a time limit.
SAY: Great job matching phrases from today’s Bible memory verse! Thomas didn’t believe the other disciples when they told him Jesus had appeared to them. He needed to see Jesus with his own eyes. But Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Let’s learn more about that now.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bible, Construction paper, Colored pencils
- Open your Bible to John 20:19-31.
SAY: Thomas needed to see the holes in Jesus’ hands to believe Jesus was alive. Jesus told His disciples, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
- Give each child a piece of construction paper and set out colored pencils to share.
- Invite kids to trace both of their hands on the construction paper and then color and decorate them.
- Read aloud the Bible passage as kids work.
- As kids are finishing, have them draw a hole in the center of each hand where Jesus’ scars would have been.
ASK:
- Why do you believe in Jesus even though you can’t see Him with your eyes?
- What can you say to a friend who might have a hard time believing in Jesus because they can’t see Him?
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. Let’s learn more about that now.
Snack
Seeing Is Believing
You’ll Need: Napkins, Graham crackers, Large marshmallows, M&M’s candies, Mike & Ike candies
Get Ready: Before the snack, have kids clean their hands.
Follow these steps for the “Seeing Is Believing” snacks:
- Give each child a napkin, a graham cracker square, one large marsh- mallow, two M&M’s candies, and a Mike & Ike candy.
- Remind kids that in today’s Bible passage, Thomas had to see Jesus with his own eyes before he could believe Jesus was alive.
SAY: We have all the proof we need from the Bible and from other believers. We know that Jesus was alive back then and that He is alive now in our hearts. When we believe, we are blessed.
- Invite kids to tear the marshmallow in half.
- Have them place the marshmallows on the graham cracker and then top with two M&M’s candies to look like eyes.
- Have kids add the Mike & Ike candy below the eyes to look like a nose.
- Enjoy.
ASK:
- What is something that’s helped you believe in Jesus even though you’ve never seen Him?
- How would you feel if you were one of the disciples and Jesus appeared to you in the locked room?
Game
Do You Feel What I Feel?
You’ll Need:Brown paper bags, Cotton balls, Small rocks or glass pebbles, Grass, Sugar
Get Ready: Before class, fill each of the four bags with one of the mystery supplies (cotton balls, rocks, grass, and sugar).
To play the “Do You Feel What I Feel?” game, have kids follow these steps:
- Start with the cotton-ball bag and invite kids one by one to reach inside and feel the mystery items. Remember, no peeking! (Have kids keep their guesses to themselves.)
- Once everyone has had a chance to feel the mystery items, invite kids to guess what was in the bag.
- Rotate through all of the bags, inviting kids to take a turn feeling the items and guessing.
ASK:
- Which mystery item surprised you the most?
- How did you know what was in the bag without looking at it?
SAY: In today’s Bible passage, Jesus showed Thomas His wounds so that Thomas could believe. It’s okay to have questions when believing in Jesus feels too big or too hard. Just like Jesus gave Thomas the answer he was looking for, there will be answers for you, too, and they will help your faith grow!
Craft
I Believe Cross
You’ll Need: Jumbo craft sticks, Glue sticks, Decorative items such as adhesive gems and foam stickers, Markers
Have kids follow these steps to make the “I Believe Cross” craft:
- Give each child three jumbo craft sticks and set out glue sticks to share.
- Have kids glue the ends of two craft sticks together and then glue the third craft stick across the top-center to make a cross.
- Invite kids to write “I Believe” down the cross using markers. Invite kids to decorate their crosses using the assorted items.
SAY: Even though we were not there to see Jesus after He rose from the dead, we can believe it is true because many people saw Jesus alive after He died on the cross. And when we believe, our hearts are happy and we can show others how to believe, too.
Prayer
Believe in Him Prayers
You’ll Need: “I Believe Cross” crafts
Follow these steps to lead kids in prayer.
- Invite kids to spread out around the room with their “I Believe Cross” crafts.
SAY: Just because we can’t see Jesus doesn’t mean He’s not with us. Jesus is with us all the time, and He loves us. He wants us to know Him, and He wants us to share Him with others!
- Invite kids to hold up their “I Believe Cross” crafts and take turns sharing one thing they love about Jesus.
- Close in prayer.
PRAY: Dear God, help us believe in Jesus and see His love all around us. Help us share about Him with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
