Use this free children’s sermon and Sunday School Bible lesson for kids when teaching about Paul’s Shipwreck and Snake Bite from Acts 27:9-28:6. Don’t miss the related Bible craft ideas on this Bible story.
Children’s Sermon Lesson – From Shipwreck to Snake Bite… The Battle is the Lord’s!
Main Objective: There are a lot of things in our lives that we cannot control, which can be frightening and frustrating. The good news is that we serve a God who is absolutely in control of all things, and we can trust Him to care for us! The apostle Paul knew this very well, as he faced many challenges in his life, but ultimately took hope in the Lord’s power. This message considers Paul’s journey to Rome, when a storm and shipwreck threatened the lives of everyone on board, but no one was lost! Paul knew God was in control.
Law/Gospel Theme: Paul was a man of incredible faith, but he knew very well that whatever he did was only through God’s strength working in him. In the shipwreck, he could confidently reassure the others that God was in control, because he knew it to be true. He knew God would rescue them and that he would go to Rome. We know that our confidence is not in our own strength or power, but in the salvation we have through Christ.
Note: This lesson is the sixth and final in a series on “impossible heroes,” Biblical figures who were able to do amazing and unlikely things only through the power of God.
Optional Materials: Several items to hold, some that can easily be held, and others that are impossible to grasp without a container (water, sand, etc.); materials to cover the floor area.
Bible Passage: Acts 27:9-28:6
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 invite them to hold various items. Note: It’s a good idea to have some sort of tarp, trash bag, or cloth on the floor to catch the items that are harder to hold.
Hello, children of God!
I have a job for you today. I need a volunteer helper. Invite one student forward. Now, I’m going to hand you some items, and I would like you to hold them one at a time, okay? Here you go…Begin with items that are pretty easy to hold, like a book, ball, or toy. Okay, now keep your hand out there for the next things. Provide one or two things that are difficult or impossible to hold, like a liquid or very grainy item. Can you hold this? It’s a little harder, isn’t it? In fact, it’s pretty impossible to keep a hold on that. It slips through your fingers too easily. Why don’t you put it in something else? If we pour the water into a container, it makes it much easier to hold.
You know, sometimes life is like this. We try to have control over things, and there are some elements of our lives that we can control. We might be able to control things like what we wear, what we eat, or what we do in our spare time. But there are a lot of other things that we don’t have control over, and we just can’t hold onto. We can’t control the weather, or someone else’s treatment of us, or if someone gets sick. It can be frustrating not to have control. But we know someone who does have control, and who holds everything in His hands. You might know who I’m thinking of…God, of course! He has everything under control, and we can always trust in His power.
Naturally, one of my favorite people from the Bible knew this very well. His name was Paul. Paul faced a lot of challenges in his life, but he trusted in God’s power through all things. Towards the end of his life, Paul was on a ship, traveling to go on trial (for something he didn’t really do, by the way). It wasn’t a great time for sea travel and he tried to warn the ship people not to go, but they went anyway, and got caught in a huge storm. There was wind, waves, thunder, and lightning, and the boat was getting tossed around everywhere. Everyone was terrified, convinced they were going to die. Paul, however, trusted that the Lord would take care of them. He reassured everyone that they’d be safe, and encouraged them to have something to eat and be prepared for landing. When they finally made it to an island (after two weeks of storm and uncertainty!), the ship was broken apart and lost, but everyone on board survived and made it safely to land! The people on the island treated them nicely and welcome them. While they were seated around a fire, though, a snake bit Paul. The people thought that he would die from the snake bite, and was being punished even though he survived the shipwreck. But Paul did not die. He was fine!
Paul knew that the storm, the shipwreck, and the snake were out of his control. But he trusted that God would guide them through safely. We can trust God’s control, too. Things might not always go our way. We won’t always understand how and why God does things, but we can rest assured that He has our best interests in mind. And when we feel frustrated about not having control over things in our lives, we know He holds all things. We can trust His power and might!
Let’s pray now and ask God to help us trust in His power and control.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers.
Help us to trust that you are near.
Help us to hope in you even when it’s hard.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda,we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat. After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”
When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go. As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,[f] for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. -Acts 27:9-28:6
The Battle is the Lord’s! – Sunday School Lesson on Paul’s Shipwreck and Snake Bite
This lesson focuses on the apostle Paul, who experienced some amazing and challenging things throughout his life and service to Christ. In this account, Paul experienced a storm at sea and shipwreck, but trusted in God’s power to save him, and no one on the boat was lost. On the island, Paul was bitten by a viper, but survived again! This lesson emphasizes how we can trust that God is in control of any and every situation.
This lesson is the sixth and final in a series on “Impossible Heroes” who experienced victory against the odds with God’s help.
Passage: Acts 27:9-28:6
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (See notes for specific age modifications)
Materials Needed: Water bottles, pillows, maps, boxes, Bibles
Lesson Opening: This lesson provides some great opportunities to bring the story to life with interactive storytelling and games. Here are some openers to get kids thinking (select the best ones for your audience and age group):
- Cargo overboard challenge: Designate a table, kiddie pool, or floor area to be the “ship.” Provide boxes and divide students into two teams. One team will try to toss boxes overboard off of the ship, while the other piles them back onto the ship. After a timed period, see if more boxes are on or off the ship to determine the winning team.
- Storm in a bottle: Fill (partially) empty water or soda bottles with water and a little oil. Add food coloring, glitter, and other materials, if you like. Shake the bottles to watch the “storm.” You can also create a larger version of this by taping (very securely!) two larger soda bottles together, with water and materials on one side. Swirl to create a whirlpool look.
- Musical Islands: Play a shipwrecked variation of musical chairs. Place pillows or hula hoops on the floor, and have students walk or pretend to swim around the room while music plays. When the music stops, each child must find a pillow or hula hoop “island” to sit or stand on. Remove one pillow with each round of play.
- Trace Paul’s journey: look at maps of Paul’s missionary journeys, and visit to Rome, to see where he traveled throughout his ministry. Talk about the dangers and challenges of first-century travel.
- Snake Bite Challenge: Set up sticks (or straws or toothpicks) in an area on one side of the room, and designate a few “snakes” to guard them. Have other students try to get as many sticks as possible, without being “bitten” or tagged by a snake.
Explain to students that today’s lesson reminds us of God’s presence and control, even in hard situations. We can always rely on His faithfulness.
Bible Lesson:
Explain that this story tells a journey experienced by Paul, who was instrumental in the early church. Paul encountered a lot of difficulty throughout his ministry, but trusted in God’s power and strength.
This is a great story to act out, or have students engage with parts as the story is read or told. There is a lot of text, so you may wish to paraphrase or highlight certain parts of the passage.
Ask: What is something that makes you feel afraid?
Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda,we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat. After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. -Acts 27:9-20
If kids are less familiar, provide some context for this passage. The book of Acts is written by Luke, who spent some time traveling with Paul and helping him. Paul had been accused (wrongfully) by the Jewish church, and was being sent to Rome to go on trial before the highest authorities. In order to get there, he had to travel by ship. Paul had tried to warn the ship captains that travel at that time of year was risky, but they insisted on going. A huge storm picked up, and the ship was tossed around. They couldn’t even control the boat, and they had to start throwing things overboard to keep it from overturning or sinking. The people on board started losing hope that they would survive.
(Have students rock back and forth like they’re in a storm at sea. Consider playing some sound effects of waves or storms.)
Ask: Have you ever traveled by ship before? What was it like?
Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.” -Acts 27:21-26
Invite students to imagine what it must have been like to be stuck in a wild storm at sea. Remind them that this was long before things like GPS and rescue helicopters could save them. The men on the boat were so worried that they couldn’t even eat. Paul tried to encourage them, though. He told everyone that an angel of God had promised him he would make it safely to Rome, and that no one on the ship would come to harm. He also encouraged them to have some food and take heart (but couldn’t resist saying “I told you so,” too).
Ask: What gives you hope when you’re feeling worried or afraid?
When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go. As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. -Acts 27:27-38
The ship was nearing land, but the sailors were worried about running into rocks, and wanted to sneak off the ship for safety. Paul warned the soldiers to keep everyone on the boat until he gave other instructions. The people were all still scared, but Paul convinced them to have something to eat for strength, knowing that more difficulties still lay ahead. They finally did have food, and started preparing for what to do next.
Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
-Acts 27:39-44
Land ho! Land was in sight, but some of the soldiers thought that they should kill the prisoners who were on board (Paul being one of them!) so that they couldn’t try to escape. Fortunately, though, the guard overseeing the soldiers liked Paul, and didn’t want to see him killed. So everyone swam for safety, and they all made it to land! The island was called Malta, and the people were kind and welcoming to those who had washed ashore. But Paul’s adventure wasn’t quite over yet…
After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. -Acts 28:1-6
Ask: How do we see God’s protection at work here? How does He protect us every day?
Paul was casually gathering firewood when a viper bit him! The people of the island thought that God was punishing him, and expected him to die. But Paul was perfectly fine. God saved him (and the rest of the ship) from the storm, shipwreck, and the snake. God had plans for Paul. And He has plans for us! We can trust in His power and control, no matter what is happening.
Review questions about the lesson:
- What dangers did Paul face in this account?
- What assurance did Paul have that he would be safe?
- How do we see God’s work and protection in our lives?
Close with prayer, asking God to help us trust in His control and rely on Him for strength. Thank God for taking care of us and keeping us safe.
