Use this Children’s Sermon message and Sunday School lesson to teach kids how “peace” is a Fruit of the Spirit. We have just shared some new Bible crafts on PEACE to accompany this lesson pan. You may also enjoy our comprehensive 9-Week Curriculum on the Fruit of the Spirit for Kids.
Peace Out! Calming the Storm
The Fruit of the Spirit Part 3: Peace
Main Objective: Peace is an important part of our mental health and our lives as Christians. God gives us peace beyond our understanding, a calm that withstands all of the storms we face. This message focuses on the meaning and blessing of peace. Through prayer and God’s presence, we can have peace in any situation. This message describes for children what peace is and how it helps us, comparing it to the stilling of a storm or waves. The account of Jesus calming the storm is a good connection example of how He has power to give peace to the weather and to our hearts.
Law/Gospel Theme: There are many ways that we might try to create peace for ourselves, or manufacture an inner sense of peace. But true peace, regardless of circumstances, comes from knowing Jesus. We can take comfort in His abiding presence and power in our lives. Being filled with His spirit results in peace that passes all understanding!
Note: This is the third in a series of lessons on the fruit of the spirit. The focus this week is on peace, with an emphasis on Philippians 4 and the calming of the storm.
Optional Materials: Jar or bottle filled with water (you might want to add food coloring); pictures of or items that represent peace or peaceful thoughts.
Bible Passage: Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7; Mark 4:35-41
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Greet children, and discuss turmoil and peace…
Hello, children of God!
Do you know what I have here? Hold up jar or bottle with colored water. Well, I know it might look like plain water, and basically it is. But today it’s going to be my “storm jar.” Now watch what happens to the water when I shake it up a little. Swirl or shake the jar/bottle. It’s going everywhere, isn’t it? Good thing I have this lid on tight. The water looks pretty crazy and chaotic. Now, watch what happens when I stop shaking it. Stop shaking the jar. It calms down, doesn’t it? It looks a lot more peaceful and still now.
You know, I think sometimes our minds and hearts can feel this way. We get worried, or scared, or anxious about things, and it makes us feel wild and “stormy” on the inside. God doesn’t want us to feel that way, though. He wants to give us peace, and feel calm. What kinds of things make you feel peaceful? Hold up items or pictures, if desired. Maybe you feel at peace when you’re listening to a certain kind of relaxing music. Or maybe you have a cat or dog you can pet, or even a favorite stuffed animal you like to cuddle up with. Being outside in nature can make you feel peace, too. There are a lot of ways we can try to calm ourselves…
But there’s also a much more reliable and powerful way to have peace. True lasting peace comes from knowing God and being close to Him. His spirit gives us peace that others can sense. The Bible tells us about this peace. In the book of Isaiah, it says that God keeps us in perfect peace when we keep our minds on Him and trust Him. Focusing on the Lord and His word provide calm. In Philippians, we are called to not worry about anything, but bring everything to God in prayer. When we do that, we are promised a “peace that passes all understanding,” which will guard our hearts and minds. We will have peace beyond what we can even understand through Christ Jesus.
This also makes me think of something that happened with Jesus and His disciples. They were out on a boat, and a big storm came up. There was wind, and waves, and the disciples got very scared. They went to find Jesus, who was actually asleep! They were pretty panicked, because they thought the storm might blow the boat right over. Jesus came and spoke to the storm. He just said “peace! Be still!” and it stopped. All of a sudden, the wind and the waves and the danger just stopped. The disciples were pretty amazed. Who can calm the weather with a command? Well, Jesus can. And if Jesus can calm wind and waves with just a few words, He can do that for us, too. He can calm the worries and thoughts that make storms in our minds and hearts. He can provide us with His lasting peace that passes all understanding.
How do we access this peace? We remember that God is with us at all times. He is always in control and knows what is going to happen. We can read His word to remember how He provides. And we can pray! We can ask God to give us His peace, and trust that He will. Then we can be calm, even when circumstances around us seem to be crazy or “stormy.” He speaks to our hearts and brings the peace that only He can.
Why don’t we say a prayer now, and ask God to give us His peace?
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for being able to calm storms.
Please calm the storms in our hearts and minds.
Give us the peace that comes from knowing you
And help us to trust in you always.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,because he trusts in you.
-Isaiah 26:3
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” -Mark 4:35-41
The Fruit of the Spirit is Peace!
Sunday School Lesson on Peace and the Calming of the Storm
Lesson focus: This lesson focuses on the definition and meaning of peace, and how we can find peace in God’s presence. The peace that comes as part of the fruit of the spirit is a calm that can pervade beyond all circumstances and frustrations. We can experience this when we trust in God and His control.
This lesson is the third in a nine-week series on the Fruit of the Spirit. To examine an example of peace, this lesson focuses on the account of Jesus calming the storm, and how He can calm our hearts, as well. Other peace passages are explored to remind children that God gives us peace.
Passage: Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7; Mark 4:35-41
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade
Optional Materials Needed: Water, jar or bottle, paper plates, pipe cleaners, markers or crayons, decorative supplies, pictures, ping-pong balls.
Lesson Opening: This lesson focuses on peace, and how we can have and share peace. One story focused on to exemplify peace is that of Jesus calming the storm. Kick off the time with some exercises focused on peace, or even on storms. Here are some activities to get kids thinking…(select the best ones for your audience and age group):
- Demonstrate how God’s peace guards our hearts and minds with an illustration exercise: invite students to write out worries on pieces of paper or ping-pong balls. Have one student stand in front of several others, and try to fight off the balls/papers as students throw them. It’s not easy! Then have an adult stand between the student and the “attackers.” Explain that, just as the adult protected the student, the peace of Christ protects us.
- Storm simulation: make a “storm bottle” by taping together two 2-liter bottles partially filled with liquid, and swirling around for a “tornado” effect. For a more simple version, simply shake a jar or bottle full of colored water.
- “Storm and Stop” Exercise: Have students make as much noise and chaos as possible for a timed period, and then have a signal for them to cease the noise and “calm the storm.” Challenge children to see how quickly they can settle down when asked (as Jesus calmed the weather).
- Listen to soothing sounds or calming music. Invite students to share other things that they might associate with feeling at peace.
- “Pass peace along”: Help students practice the art of a good handshake (not as common now as you might think!). Encourage them to look each other in the eye and give a firm (but not death grip) handshake and cheerful greeting, with words like “peace be with you!”
Bible Lesson: Begin the lesson with some general verses and discussion on peace and how it is one part of the Holy Spirit fruit you have been learning about. Then look at the account of Jesus stilling the storm. It might be fun to have students act that part out while the passage is read.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,because he trusts in you. -Isaiah 26:3
This is a comforting passage from the prophet Isaiah. It reminds us that God promises to give us not only peace, but “perfect peace.” How do we gain that? By trusting in the Lord and keeping our minds fixed on Him. It might seem easier said than done, but focusing on God, rather than our worries and sorrows, brings a sense of calm.
Ask: When do you feel anxious, or the most “un-peaceful”? What might bring you peace in those times?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
These verses are a wonderful reminder to us that God’s peace is even greater than we can imagine or try to come up with on our own. This passage urges us not to be anxious, but instead to offer prayers, with thanksgiving, to God. In return, we are assured that God’s peace, beyond understanding, will guard our hearts and minds. That peace will be a shield that protects us from worries or thoughts that might threaten us. What a comfort!
Dive into the story (this is found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but here we’ll highlight the Mark version. All of them are pretty similar). Explain that Jesus had been teaching and preaching, and then decided to go across the Sea of Galilee with the disciples.
On that day, when evening had come, he (Jesus) said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. -Mark 4:35-37
A storm came up while they were crossing the sea, so intense that water was coming into the boat. Despite the fact that several of the disciples were experienced fishermen, this was a scary storm. They thought the worst might happen. And where was Jesus? Asleep! He must have been pretty tired to sleep in the middle of a huge storm.
Ask: What makes you feel scared or “stormy” inside? Have you ever been in a big storm and been worried?
And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” -Mark 4:38-41
The disciples cried out to Jesus, not begging to be saved, but asking if He cared that they were drowning. Jesus was not afraid, though. He scolded the weather and told the wind and the waves to be still. And just like that, the storm stopped! It didn’t gradually die down, but ended completely. This probably should have brought the disciples peace, but they were even more scared! This fear, though, was from respect of who Jesus was and what He was capable of doing. Even nature had to obey Him! This was yet another amazing miracle that they were able to witness Jesus doing, and probably remained especially significant in their minds, since it saved their lives!
Ask: Have you ever felt calm, even in a hard situation?
If Jesus is capable of calming stormy weather, He can calm our hearts and minds, too. Nothing is impossible with God. We can bring Him our anxieties, and we can even cry out to Him like the disciples did, knowing that He does care and He wants us to look to Him for strength. Encourage students to keep their minds and hearts fixed on Him.
Review questions about the story:
- What did Jesus say to the storm?
- What happened when Jesus talked to the storm?
- How did the disciples react when the storm calmed?
- Where was Jesus during the storm?
Close with prayer, thanking God for giving us His peace, and asking Him to continue wrapping us in His loving arms.
