There Is Power in a Touch

You’ll Need: Large craft sticks - one per child, Paper, Scissors, Pens or pencils - one per child, Glue, Bibles - one per child

“He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’” Mark 5:34

Lead kids in these steps:

• Have kids trace their hands and cut them out.
• Have kids open their Bibles to Mark 5:34.
• Have them write the following parts of the verse on each finger or thumb:
  • Thumb: He said to her,
  • Pointer: “Daughter, your faith has healed you.
  • Middle finger: Go in peace
  • Ring finger: and be freed from your suffering.”
  • Pinky: Mark 5:34
• Have kids fold over the fingers and thumbs to make a fist.
• Have them glue the hands to a craft stick to make a “power in the touch” puppet.
• Have kids practice saying the verse by unfolding each finger one by one to reveal each part of the verse.

ASK:

• What do you notice about the hand as you say the entire verse?
• What might it mean to keep open hands to Jesus’ power in our lives?

SAY: Jesus is so powerful! He healed two people in the Bible verses we read today, and one was healed just by touching His robe! We can see Jesus’ power in our lives, too, especially when we have open hands and open hearts to listen, believe, and follow Him.

You’ll Need: “Weakness Made Strong” handout - one per child, Pens or pencils, Bibles - one per group

SAY: Today we’re learning how Jesus healed two different people. There is power in His touch. And Jesus’ power and glory was revealed because He helped those weak ones. That’s the thing about our weaknesses and Jesus’ power. The Bible says Jesus’ power works best in our weaknesses. Let’s do something to help us think about that.

• Divide the class into trios.
• Have one child in each trio stand between the other two with his or her arms down to the side.
• Have the other two children hold that child’s wrists and be ready to push down as the child in the center tries to raise his or her arms out to the sides. They’ll do this, counting slowly to 60.
• After about 60 seconds the children on the sides will let go and the child in the center will let his or her arms relax, not holding them down, but just letting them do what they do. They should slowly float up on their own.
• Have trios switch roles two times so every child gets a turn.

ASK:

• How was the part of this experience where your arms were being held down kind of like what you feel like when you’re feeling weak, afraid, or unable?
• How was the second part of the experience like when Jesus helps you?

SAY: It was surprising to see how our arms floated up in this experience. It’s almost like there was power. This reminds me of how Jesus’ power left His body and healed that woman. Jesus’ power is made perfect in our weakness. Let’s look at some areas we might feel weak where Jesus’ power could be made great.

• Have kids remain in their trios.
• Give each child a Bible, a “Weakness Made Strong” handout, and a pen or pencil.
• Read aloud 2 Corinthians 12:9 at the top of the handout.
• Together, read through the three examples of times we might feel weak. Have kids share in their groups which one they most identify with.
• Have kids look up the verse connected with the example they most identify with and write down the verse.
• Have trios stand near a table where they can set their handouts and read while they are in a standing position.
• Have trios repeat the arm floating experience. As the center child is pushing outward and upward and his or her arms are being held down, he or she will read the verse that he or she wrote on the handout. Then when his or her arms are floating up, all three in the trio will read 2 Corinthians 12:9 at the top of the page.
• Have trios repeat the experience for each child.
• If time allows, kids can look up and copy down the other two verses on their handouts.

SAY: We may have weaknesses, but our weaknesses are made strong in Jesus’ power. As we learned today, there’s power in Jesus’ touch. We can see that power when we reach out to Him in our weaknesses, too.

Jesus' Hands

You’ll Need: Latex-free disposable gloves - one per child, Napkins - one per child, Goldfish crackers, Chex, M&Ms, Small pretzels, Permanent markers, Rubber bands - one per child, Ribbon

Follow these steps to make the “Jesus’ Hands” snacks:

• Give each child a disposable glove.
• Remind children that Jesus helped people with His power in the Bible lesson.
• Explain that one way they can show Jesus’ love and power is to help people, too. And giving someone a fun and special surprise when they’re discouraged is a way to do that.
• Have kids write “Jesus’ hands are powerful” on their gloves using the permanent markers. Carefully monitor kids as they do this.
• Have kids think of someone who is discouraged right now, and have them custom-fill the hands with whichever available snacks they think the person would like.
• Help them secure the gloves using a rubber band and a ribbon.
• Allow kids to take some of the leftover snacks and enjoy!

ASK:

• How does sharing these treats with people show Jesus’ love?
• What are ways you can show Jesus’ power to others?

SAY: Showing Jesus’ love through generosity is a great way to allow Him to show His power to people in need. As you share these special treats, remember that. And look for other ways to share Jesus’ love, too.

Who Touched Me? 

You’ll Need: A blindfold

Follow these steps to play “Who Touched Me”:

• Have kids make a circle.
• Choose one child to sit in the middle. Blindfold this child.
• You’ll point to one child in the circle
• That child will quietly get up and touch the blindfolded child on the shoulder.
• That child will then quietly sit down.
• Have the child in the middle remove his or her blindfold and guess who touched them.
• If the guess is correct, the child who did the touching will go in the center. If not, the child in the middle will try again.
• After a couple wrong guesses, have the child who is doing the touching make a silly noise when touching the blindfolded child’s shoulder to give that child a clue.
• Repeat until every child has had a turn in the center.

ASK:

• Explain what was easy or hard about this game.
• Why do you think the woman tried to keep it a secret when she touched Jesus?
• Why do you think Jesus was able to heal the woman with just one touch?

SAY: It was hard to tell who was touching us when we couldn’t see. In the Bible it seems that Jesus maybe didn’t even know who touched Him, although if He really wanted to He had the power to know without asking. But even the fact that His power healed the woman is pretty amazing in itself.

Hand Wreaths

You’ll Need: Construction paper in various colors, Scissors - one per child, Pencils - one per child, Glue Paper plates - one per child, Markers

To make the “Hand Wreaths” have kids follow these steps:

• Give each child some scissors and a plate and pencil.
• Have kids cut out the center of their plates to make a hoop from the outside circle.
• Have kids trace their hands on the construction paper, in what- ever colors they want. Have them make at least 10.
• Have them cut out the hands and glue them on the paper plate loops to make wreaths.
• Have them write “Reach out to Jesus for power” on their wreaths.

SAY: Your wreaths can remind you that there’s power in Jesus’ touch. Jesus loves you and wants to care for you; so reach out to Him.

Touched Prayers

• Explain to kids that one way to pray for someone is to put a hand on his or her shoulder, hand, back, or head.
• Invite children to share prayer requests.
• Have children gather around each child who shares and place a hand on that person. Lead kids in a brief prayer for the request.
• You know your kids; if you anticipate a lot of children making re- quests, form adult-led small groups if possible. If your kids tend to be shy and not many will volunteer, you may remain in one large group. You may even ask an adult to share a request to get things started with a more timid group of children.

PRAY: Dear God, thank You for Jesus. He is so powerful because He is Your Son. We ask that You would send Your power through Jesus to help us. In Jesus’ name, amen.