A Sad Father Becomes Happy - Father's Day Bible Story

Craft to Be Used with Story: Provide two 6” circles, 1 craft stick, glue, tape and crayons for each child. On one side the children draw happy faces and on the other side sad ones. Tape the craft stick to one circle and then glue the two circles together.  

Instructions: Tell the children when they heard the word “happy” in the story, they are to hold up their happy faces and then lay then back in their laps. When they hear the word “sad” they are to hold up their sad faces.  

Story: Do you see that boat out there on the sea?" someone asked.
"Yes, and it's coming this way" another person said.
 By then, many of the people had seen the boat and word spread, "It's Jesus! It's Jesus!"
 Everyone was so happy and excited to see Jesus!
The mothers in the crowd were happy!
The fathers in the crowd were happy!
All the children in the crowd were happy!
All the people walked and walked until they were right at the seaside.
The large happy crowd met Jesus at the seaside.
One person in the crowd was Jairus.
He was sad.
When Jairus saw Jesus, he fell to his knees and begged: "My daughter is very sick and about to die. I am very sad. Please come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live."
 Jesus started to go with Jarius but He got stopped by a lady in the crowd of people.
While Jesus was still talking to this woman, some people came from Jarius' house.
They were very sad.
They announced that the little girl was dead.
Jesus said to Jarius, "Don't pay any attention to what they are telling you. Trust Me."
 Jesus, Jarius and others walked and walked until they arrived at Jarius' house.
The child's father was sad.
 The child's mother was sad.
Jesus took the child's father and mother, along with his companions, and went into the girl's room. Jesus clasped her hand and said, "Little girl, get up."
The girl got up and walked around!
 Everyone was so happy and thankful for what Jesus had done!
This father who had been so sad was now very happy!

 SONG: "Called on Jesus" (click on title to hear a clip) from "Miracle Mud

Parting of the Red Sea Craft

 Needed for Each Child: Three sheets white construction paper; blue and brown crayons stripped of the paper; Scotch tape; scissors; one-half toilet paper roll; 2 wiggly eyes (optional); washable colored markers; Elmer’s glue.  

Activity: The boys and girls rub one side of a sheet of white construction paper brown for dirt. Children crayon rub both sides of another piece of white construction paper blue to represent water and then cut in half to form two 4 ¼” x 11” pieces. These two pieces are taped to the brown sheet. Children color the toilet paper roll with markers, design a face, and attach to the roll to make an Israelite person. The craft project can be used for re-telling the Bible story by parting the sea (opening the flaps) and the person walking across on the dirt path. 

(More interactive lessons on the life of Moses are available in the new DANCING IN THE DESERT digital curriculum and accompanying CD by Mary Rice Hopkins.)

Bible Verse Stand-Up Art Project

Needed for Each Child: One white sheet construction paper folded into thirds and then flattened out, crayons, Scotch tape, Elmer’s glue, and Bible verse word strip: “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Activity: Children use crayons to decorate one side of the construction paper, then fold to make a stand-up using tape for attaching. The Bible verse strip is glued to the front side of the stand-up. Encourage the boys and girls to place this on their kitchen table and say the verse together as a family on a regular basis.

Choosing to Care

Make simple faces like the ones shown in the photo. Ask the children to think about how they feel (happy, sad, sleepy, or so-so) and point to the picture of how they are feeling. Say: “Would you mind sharing why you feel that way today?” Often this will lead to opportunities to pray for a child. ("I'm sleepy because Mom and Dad were fighting last night and it kept me awake." "I'm happy because I have a new baby brother.")

Songs by Mary Rice Hopkins which can be used during this sharing time are: Call Upon the Lord (In My Garden), Give ‘em to Jesus (In My Garden), Hold On (Lighthouse), Hole in the Sky (Get On Board), and Talk To You (Come Meet Jesus).