Jesus Heals A Deaf Man Group
Group Activities

Sermon Title: "Jesus Heals a Deaf Man"

Scripture Reading: Mark 7:31-37

DEAF PLAY: Divide the children into two teams and each team will have a team leader out in front against the far wall who will "mouth" what they want their team to do such as jump, hop, run in place, fly like a bird. The children will be told they cannot speak but they have to read their lips as a deaf person would have to do. You might also vary this by having the group leaders do simple signs to indicate what they want their group to do.

MOUTH AND EARS: Children can be given supplies to cut out a large ear and a mouth / lips and will glue them to a piece of construction paper and write today's Bible verse with colorful markers.

CHALKBOARD MEMORY: Let the children see and read a Bible verse on the chalkboard and then the teacher/leader will begin to erase one word at a time to see if the children can recite the Bible verse without the missing word and then many words can be erased until children can recite the verse completely. (Mark 7:35)

MATCHING EARS: The teacher will make pairs of matching large ears to hide around a designated area. The children will begin the EAR HUNT when the teacher says to go to find matching ears. They will hunt for the ears that match. An easier way for younger children would be for the teacher to give one ear to each child and then they will hunt for the one that matches theirs.

PAPER PLATE EARS: Give the children colorful markers and a paper plate to cut in half with zigzag scissors if available. Have the children decorate each half of the plate to look like large ears. Attach a colorful ribbon or string to the top of each half the paper plate and hang the ribbon over their head like a headband so that the cutout ears will cover their own ears.

JESUS HEALS A DEAF MAN POSTER: Give each child a sheet of colored construction paper and a marker. At the top of the poster, have the children write, "Jesus Heals a Deaf Man." Below that, have the children cut out, color and glue two ears which the teacher has provided. (Click Here) Below the ears, the children will write "Mark 7:31-37".

THE EARS HAVE IT: Each child will be given a line drawing of a large head and the children will fill in the missing ears with cut-out ears and draw a mouth, eyes, and nose. The ears could be the cut out part that they tape or glue on so that they stand out to show today's story theme. Words from today's lesson or the ending prayer can be written on the neck area of this large head. (Click Here)

READING LIPS: Give the children an opportunity to mouth a word for the rest of the class to figure out what they said. Have the children choose a word from a list of words used in today's Bible story such as heal, deaf, fingers, spit, be opened, tongue, speak, man. If this is too difficult, allow the children to make signs to help the children to understand the words they are trying to get them to say.

SHARE A SNACK: The teacher could have a small table of several snacks and children will be told to come to the table and to say please and thank you without speaking but to use the Sign Language sign for each of those before they can choose their snack treat.

Song:  "My God Is So Great"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Accompaniment Track

Song:  "Tell What He's Done for You"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Accompaniment Track

Song:  "Stop and Let Me Tell You"