B30 – Peace Be Still (Activity) | Junior Activities

Kids Ministry · Activity

Peace Be Still

A hands-on “storm jar” activity for Lesson 30: Jesus Calms the Storm

20–25 minutes 2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 8:23–34; Mark 4:35–5:20; Luke 8:22–39 Junior kids Clear bottles, water & glitter

This week’s story carries us right into a small fishing boat rocked by a sudden, furious storm, then onto a lonely shore where a tormented man meets his Rescuer. In both scenes, fear seems to have the final word—until Jesus speaks. Before opening the Bible together, let kids build a miniature storm of their own and watch what happens when it finally grows still, a picture of the peace Jesus still offers today.

What You’ll Need

• Empty clear plastic bottles or jars with tight-fitting lids (one per child, or one per small group)
• Water
• Blue food coloring
• Fine glitter (silver or white works well for “waves”)
• A drop of clear glue or dish soap (optional—helps the glitter swirl slowly)
• Strong tape, to seal each lid shut

How to Make It

1. Fill each bottle about three-quarters full with water.
2. Add a drop or two of blue food coloring and a pinch of glitter.
3. Twist the lid on tightly, then tape it shut so it won’t come loose.
4. Give the bottle a hard shake to stir up a “storm”—swirling glitter for wind and waves.
5. Set the bottle down on a table and watch quietly together as it swirls, then slowly grows calm and still.

Leader Tip

Prepare a few bottles ahead of time so sealed, ready-to-shake jars are on hand if you’re short on time—kids can still take turns shaking one and watching it settle.

Talk About It

• What did your storm jar look like right after you shook it?
• What happened to it the longer you watched?
• How do you think the disciples felt when a real storm hit their boat in the middle of the night?
• What did Jesus do and say to make the wind and waves obey Him?
• 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us God did not give us a spirit of fear. What did He give us instead?
• What kinds of “storms”—worries, fears, or hard feelings—do you sometimes carry inside? How can remembering Jesus help calm them?

Big Idea

Jesus has power over every storm we face, whether it’s wind and waves on the sea or fear and worry inside our hearts. Because He is with us, we don’t have to live afraid. Instead, He gives us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.

Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:39

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This activity is free to use and adapt for non-commercial ministry purposes.

B29 – Kingdom Treasure Hunt (Activity) | Junior Activities

Kids Ministry · Activity

Kingdom Treasure Hunt

A hands-on treasure hunt for Lesson 29: Parables of God’s Kingdom

15–20 minutes Matthew 13:44; Matthew 13:24–52; Mark 4:26–34; Luke 13:18–21 Junior kids Small tokens to hide

This week’s lesson is full of short stories Jesus told about the kingdom of heaven — a mustard seed, a bit of leaven, a hidden treasure, a pearl of great price, and a net full of fish. Before digging into the stories together, let kids experience for themselves the joy of the man who stumbled onto hidden treasure and gave up everything to make it his own.

What You’ll Need

• 10–15 small “treasures” (buttons, wrapped candies, play coins, or plastic gems)
• An open area to hide them — a classroom, hall, or yard
• A small bag or basket for each child to collect their finds (optional)

How to Play

1. Before kids arrive, hide the treasures around the room or yard.
2. Gather the kids and tell them a treasure hunt is about to begin.
3. Give them a few minutes to search and collect as many treasures as they can find.
4. Bring everyone back together and let a few kids share how it felt to search and then to find something.
5. Read Matthew 13:44 together and talk about the big idea below.

Leader Tip

With a larger group, split kids into small teams so everyone gets a chance to find at least one treasure.

Talk About It

• How did it feel to search for something hidden, and then to finally find it?
• In the parable, what did the man do as soon as he found the treasure in the field?
• Why do you think he was willing to sell everything he owned just to buy that field?
• What do you think the “treasure” represents in this story?

Big Idea

The kingdom of heaven is worth more than anything else we could own. Like the man who found the treasure, once we discover how valuable knowing Jesus really is, we gladly hold on to Him above everything else.

A man found treasure hidden in a field. He was so overjoyed that he went and sold all he had so he could buy that field.

Matthew 13:44 (paraphrased)

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This activity is free to use and adapt for non-commercial ministry purposes.

B27 – Alive Again! (Icebreaker) | Junior Activities

Kids Ministry · Icebreaker

Alive Again!

A 5-minute reaction game to kick off Lesson 27: Jesus the Life Giver

5 minutes John 5:28–29 · Matthew 8:5–13; 12:1–32 · Luke 7:1–17 Junior kids No materials needed

In this week's lesson, Jesus shows His power over sickness and even death itself — healing a centurion's servant from a distance, defending life and mercy on the Sabbath, and raising a widow's son back to life in the town of Nain. Before diving into the stories, get kids moving with this quick reaction game about the difference between being full of life and “not yet.”

What you'll need

• Nothing — just open floor space
• One leader to call out the phrases

How to Play

1. Have kids stand where they can move safely.
2. Teach the two signals below.
3. Call out phrases one at a time. Kids react instantly with the matching signal.
4. Speed up each round to build energy.
5. After the last phrase, ask the wrap-up question and share the big idea.

Alive

Jump up, arms overhead, shout “Alive!”

Not Yet

Freeze completely still, arms at your sides.

Leader tip

Read the list in any order and mix up your pace — a couple of quick ones in a row keeps kids on their toes.

Call It Out

• A puppy running around the yard

  Alive

• A wilted flower with no water

  Not Yet

• A soccer team scoring a goal

  Alive

• A phone with a dead battery

  Not Yet

• A campfire crackling and glowing

  Alive

• A radio with no signal, just static

  Not Yet

• A crowd cheering at a game

  Alive

• A candle that just burned out

  Not Yet

• A seed just starting to sprout

  Alive

• A balloon that lost all its air

  Not Yet

Wrap It Up

Ask the group: “What's the difference between something that's ALIVE and full of energy, and something that's NOT YET — still, waiting, or without power?” Let a few kids answer, then share this:

Big idea

A soldier's servant was sick and about to die, and Jesus healed him with just a word — from far away. Jesus even brought a widow's son back to life after he had died. Jesus doesn't just fix things a little bit. He gives full life to people who have none left. Today we'll find out how.

“A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out.”

John 5:28–29 (paraphrased)

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This activity is free to use and adapt for non-commercial ministry purposes.

B28 – Which Soil Am I? (Icebreaker) | Junior Activities

Kids Ministry · Icebreaker

Which Soil Am I?

A 5–8 minute action game to kick off Lesson 28: Four Kinds of Soil

5–8 minutes Matthew 13:23 · Matthew 12:22–13:23 · Mark 3:20–4:20 · Luke 8:1–15 Junior kids No materials needed

This week Jesus tells a story about a farmer who scatters seed on four kinds of ground — a hard path, rocky soil, thorny ground, and good soil. Before we hear the parable, warm up with this quick action game that gets kids thinking about what helps something grow, and what stops it.

What you'll need

• Nothing — just open floor space
• One leader to call out the scenarios

How to Play

1. Have kids stand where they can move safely.
2. Teach the four poses below.
3. Call out a scenario. Kids act out the matching pose as fast as they can.
4. Speed up each round to build energy.
5. After the last scenario, ask the wrap-up question and share the big idea.

Path

Stomp both feet twice, arms crossed — “Nothing gets in!”

Rocky

Jump up, then flop down like wilting.

Thorny

Squeeze both arms in tight, like being crowded out.

Good Soil

Reach arms up slowly, like a tree growing tall.

Leader tip

Run through the four poses once as practice before you start calling out scenarios, so everyone's ready.

Call It Out

• A seed lands where feet walk every day and birds swoop in to eat it

  Path

• A plant sprouts fast in shallow dirt but the sun scorches it — no roots

  Rocky

• A seedling grows up right next to weeds that crowd out all its sunlight

  Thorny

• A seed lands in soft, deep dirt and grows into a tall, healthy plant

  Good Soil

• Someone hears God's Word, but worries and busyness choke it out

  Thorny

• Someone hears God's Word, gets excited for a week, then quits when it gets hard

  Rocky

• Someone hears God's Word and doesn't understand or care at all

  Path

• Someone hears God's Word, understands it, and it produces real change

  Good Soil

Wrap It Up

Ask the group: “Which one of these would you want to be — and why?” Let a few kids answer, then share this:

Big idea

Jesus told a story about a farmer scattering seed on four different kinds of ground. He wasn't just talking about farming — He was talking about how people respond to God's Word. Today we'll find out what makes the difference between soil that produces nothing and soil that produces a harvest.

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This activity is free to use and adapt for non-commercial ministry purposes.