VBS Day 2 - Magnify God’s Care

Overview

The Big Truth 

God keeps the whole universe going, and yet He still cares about what’s happening to me. 

Zoom In 

I can trust God to take care of me. 

Bible Verse 

Proclaim the LORD’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3 

Today’s Point 

God cares about me. 

Bible Story 

Jesus Calmed the Storm (Mark 4:1,35-41) 

Introduction

Older Kids

Form two groups. Direct each group to stand single file on the imaginary “tree limb” (tape lines). Shorten limbs if there is extra space. The groups should face one another. 

2. Tell kids that the collective noun for a group of squirrels is a scurry. Set up this silly scenario: “You are two scurries of squirrels on a limb 40 feet high. Each scurry wants to travel to the opposite tree limb. Your job is to help your fellow squirrels cross to the new limb without crashing to the ground!” 

3. Cue the “squirrels” to assist one another as they maneuver in the correct direction despite the crowded situation on their branches. To avoid “falling,” each player must keep at least one foot on a limb (on a tape line) at all times. If kids succeed, each group will reassemble in a single file line facing away from the other group. 

4. Say: “In today’s Bible story, some of Jesus’ disciples were afraid of falling, too—not out of a tree, but out of a boat!” 

FOR OLDER KIDS 

Set a timer for 60 seconds and challenge kids to beat the clock. If they do, repeat the activity once or twice, reducing the time by 15 seconds each time. 

Younger Kids

JUMP LEAF TO LEAF 

Supplies: “Bible Verse Poster” (pack item 8), “Bible Verse Words” (pack item 19), large paper or plastic flat leaves, tape 

Tape large paper or plastic leaves to the floor. As an option (or in addition) to leaves, use tape to create leaf shapes on the floor, one after another. 

Post the “Bible Verse Poster” (pack item 8) nearby. 

Guide preschoolers to take turns jumping from leaf to leaf. 

Say the verse paraphrase as preschoolers jump, one word per jump. Point to the words on the poster (as a guide for older preschoolers). 

Say: “We can praise God! God is great.” 

Tell preschoolers that today they will learn more about God and the things He does. 

Option: Add the “Bible Verse Words” (pack item 19). Preschoolers can jump from word to word. 

Recall the story of Jesus and the children. Tell preschoolers they will hear another story about something Jesus did. 

Use a magnifier to find Jesus’ name in the Bible. (Use Mark 10 or Mark 4.) 

Bible Study

Older Kids

Tell kids they can help add a dramatic touch to today’s story. Recruit a volunteer (older kids only) to operate the fan or hair dryer (if you use a leaf blower, ask a leader to operate it). Ask two other kids to hold the prepared cue cards. Assign someone to read the part of Jesus and everyone else to take the part of the disciples. 

Explain that you will point to the “leaf blower” and cue card holders at the appropriate time, then the rest of the group can respond accordingly. Mention that kids should be absolutely silent after the kid playing Jesus speaks. 

Open your Bible to Mark 4 and tell the story, cueing kids as noted in italics below. 

Jesus Calmed the Storm 

Jesus was teaching a crowd of people by the lake one day. When the crowd gathered around Him, He got into a boat and sat down while the whole crowd was on the shore. That evening Jesus told His disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” They left the crowd and started to cross over since they were already in the boat. Other boats followed them too. 

A huge windstorm started. (cue leaf blower or fan) The waves crashed over the boat so much that it started to fill up with water. Jesus was in the back of the boat asleep with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up and said (cue disciples), “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” 

Jesus got up and spoke to the wind and the waves (cue Jesus), “Silence! Be still!” (cue leaf blower or fan to stop) The wind stopped blowing, and the water became incredibly calm! Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Why are you afraid? Do you still not have faith?” The disciples were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!” 

Mark 4:1,35-41 

Bring additional props (a pillow for Jesus, a spray bottle to create faux rain, and a sheet of poster board which can be waved to simulate thunder). Read through the story in its entirety, then let kids take the lead in creating their own dramatic version from scratch. One volunteer can serve as the narrator, reading the story from the back of the Bible story picture. Capture the performance on your phone and let kids watch the playback. 

Commend kids for their enthusiastic participation. Point to each figure in the Bible story picture (item 2) and ask: “What was that person likely thinking at that moment? Why do you think the disciples panicked when Jesus was right there in the boat?” Mention that some of the disciples were experienced fishermen and were aware of the damage a sudden storm could do. 

Continue discussion. Explain that the phrase the disciples were terrified refers to their awe and amazement at what Jesus had just done. Ask: “Did the disciples magnify or exalt Jesus? In what way?” (They spoke about Jesus’ power to make the wind and waves obey.) 

Say: “Jesus not only has power over nature. He has power over sin and death! He was put to death in order to pay the penalty for sin, but on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. He is alive today, He sees you right now, and He cares about you!” 

Younger Kids

MAKE WAVES 

Welcome the preschoolers back to Magnified! Comment that when there are rocks or other objects in or near the water along a beach, the waves will hit against them. When the waves are big, they crash against the rocks and make large sprays of water. 

Distribute ribbons to the children. Tell the kids to stand with space between them. Lead them to make gentle waves with the ribbons. Say: “The water is calm.” 

Lead kids to move the waves more quickly. Say: “The water is getting rough and choppy. Maybe there’s a storm.” 

Say: “I see a rock ahead. I think our waves are going to hit the rock.” Tell kids to lightly toss their ribbons in the air. 

As time permits, alternate moving waves slowly and quickly. Occasionally hit the rock and toss the ribbons. 

INTRODUCE THE BIBLE STORY 

Guide preschoolers to drop their ribbons in the bag as they sit. 

Ask preschoolers to tell about their experiences in a boat. Ask if they have seen a storm on a lake or the ocean. 

Show the storm picture from “Peekaboo: Nature” (pack item 21). Talk about the clouds and lead preschoolers to talk about what other things they see in the picture. 

TELL THE BIBLE STORY 

Show the peekaboo envelope. Say: “I have a new picture inside our envelope. Look closely at the window. Can you tell what the picture is?” Show the window to preschoolers or pass around the envelope. Set the envelope aside. 

Tell the children to listen to the story about Jesus and His disciples. Kids can think about how the disciples may have felt during the storm. 

Open the Bible to Mark 4 and tell the Bible story. 

JESUS CALMED THE STORM 

Mark 4:1,35-41 

One time, Jesus and His disciples (helpers) were in a boat. Jesus said, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” 

Pause and say: “Just think and don’t tell me. How do you think the disciples were feeling now?” 

A huge windstorm started. The waves were crashing over the boat so much that it started to fill up with water. Jesus was in the back of the boat asleep with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up and said, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” 

Pause and say: “Think again. How do you think the disciples were feeling?” 

Jesus got up, and He ordered the wind and the waves, “Silence! Be still!” The wind quit, and the water became very calm! 

Pause and say: “Let’s think. How do you think the disciples were feeling?” 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Why are you afraid? Do you trust Me?” They were very scared and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him!” 

Pause and say: “Think one more time. How do you think the disciples were feeling?” 

REVIEW THE BIBLE STORY 

Show the peekaboo envelope again. Ask: “Now what do you think the picture is?” Remove the picture from the envelope. 

Say: “It’s a boat! Can you move as if you were sitting in a boat?” Show preschoolers how to rock gently from side to side as if in a boat in calm water. 

Tell kids that you will tell the story again and they can play out the story. 

Start the story and pretend to rock gently as the boat moves. During the storm, rock up and down in lots of directions and pretend water is coming in the boat. When you say, “Silence,” stop moving and sit still. 

Display “Teaching Picture 2” (pack item 2). Ask: “How do you think the disciples felt during the storm? How did they feel after the storm?” 

Activities

Older Kids

Know It

Use the “Theme Verse Poster” (item 8) to review Psalm 34:3. Invite kids to sing the phrases from the VBS theme song “Magnified!” that quote the verse. 

Put the stack of “Leaf Blower Words” (item 17 or 18, depending on the translation you choose) on the floor or a low table. Aim the leaf blower or hair dryer at the stack, scattering the words all over your room. On your cue (ready, set, search!) each kid should attempt to gather and assemble a set of all the words of Psalm 34:3. The first person to assemble the verse and shout the words aloud may use the hair dryer or fan to scatter the words for another round. (The leaf blower should be leader use only.) 

live It (10 MINUTES) 

Call attention to the two sets of sticky notes you posted on the wall. Say: “Here are some more scrambled words. Can you figure out the important point they make?” (I can trust God to take care of me.) 

Form two teams for a “woodpecker race” and show the kids on each team which set of sticky notes is theirs. Mention that God designed woodpeckers perfectly for high-speed excavation. These birds hit trees with their beaks up to 20 times per second. 

Drop the snow cone cups into one bucket and set it on the floor between the two sets of sticky notes. Place one empty bucket next to each set of sticky notes. 

When the race begins, the first player will run to the bucket to grab a snow cone “beak,” hold it over his nose and mouth, and use it to peck the sticky notes in order. Once he does, he will drop the used cup in the empty bucket, then run back to tag the next player. 

The first team to finish the entire cycle should shout: “I can trust God to take care of me!” 

Distribute Kids Activity Books. Guide kids to use the “What’s Hop-pening” (page 5) activity to select a Bible verse, then help them find that verse in their Bibles. Invite volunteers to read the verses aloud. Debrief: “What does this Bible verse say about God’s care?” 

Younger Kids

SING TOGETHER 

Play and sing “I Know God Is Here.” 

Tape today’s Zoom In and Point from the “Sunflower Add-ons” (pack item 7) to the focal wall as you read them. Say: “I can trust God to take care of me. God cares about me. God cares about you.” 

Lead preschoolers to repeat: “God cares about me!” 

MAKE A MEMORY 

Turn to pages 4–5 in the Activity Book. Ask children to circle the things that show people caring. 

Give each child a Day 2 Memory Tag. Talk about the picture of the boat on the tag. 

Say that Jesus helped the disciples know that God cared about them. We can remember that God cares about us. 

Pray and thank God for His care. 

FILL THE CLOUDS 

Supplies: Bible, “Peekaboo: Nature” (pack item 21), “Cloud Game” (pack item 22), “Water Droplets” (pack item 23), “Game Cube” (pack item 24) 

Prepare the “Water Droplets” (pack item 23) and the “Game Cube” (pack item 24). Place the storm picture (pack item 21) in the Bible at Mark 4. Slide the other nature pictures into the peekaboo envelopes. 

Tell children they can fill up the clouds with water drops. 

Lead a child to roll the cube and move that many drops onto the cloud. Continue taking turns rolling and adding drops. 

Talk about the Bible story. 

Help a preschooler open the Bible to the story. Find Jesus’ name in the Bible. Point to the words “Be still.” 

For older preschoolers, two children can each play on one end of the board to see who can fill the cloud first. 

EXTEND THE ACTIVITY 

Place the other nature pictures from pack item 21 in peekaboo envelopes. 

Lead preschoolers to guess what the pictures are. Flip the pictures over to change the game. 

Allow older preschoolers to challenge one another to guess which picture is in the envelope. 

Say the Bible verse with preschoolers. 

D KID CONNECTION: 

I can think about how Jesus cared for His disciples. 

STICK WORDS AND PICTURES ON A WEB 

Supplies: “Web Words and Pictures” (pack item 25), masking tape, plastic hoops Extend: paper, pencils, markers 

Stretch lengths of tape across the plastic hoops, creating webs. Stand the hoops against a wall or table, sticky sides facing out. Make copies and cut apart the words and pictures (pack item 25). Lay words and pictures near each web. 

Tell children they can stick the words and pictures onto the webs. 

Read a set of words and help a child stick them onto the web in order. Say: “God cares for me. God cares for you. God cares for each person.” 

Tell the preschoolers that the pictures show things that God gives people because He cares for them. Ask preschoolers to tell what the pictures show. (Suggested answers: Jesus, the Bible, family, place to live, church, sun, rain, fruit, vegetables, food, water, friends.) 

EXTEND THE ACTIVITY 

Offer paper and markers (pencils for older preschoolers and kindergartners). They can draw or write things that God gives them. 

Say: “God cares about us. God helps us have what we need. That is one way He cares.” 

D KID CONNECTION 

I can think about ways God shows that He cares about me. 

Conclusion

Older Kids

end it (2 MINUTES) 

Distribute Memory Makers and Day 2 tags. Encourage kids to explain how the boat icon relates to today’s story. 

Read Today’s Point aloud from the tag (God cares about me). Prompt kids to invent motions that represent the phrase. Repeat the phrase and motions a few times. 

Younger Kids

PLAY A MATCHING GAME 

Lay the cards from the “Magnified Match” (pack item 26) game on the floor faceup. 

Say: “Some of these cards show something magnified, up close, and large. Let’s work together to match the close up picture to its object.” 

Point to one of the closeup pictures. Ask: “What color do you see here? What might this be? Do you see another picture with the same color or design?” 

When the children make a match, say: “It’s a yellow flower. The closeup picture is a petal.” Point to the portion on the whole picture that is the same as the closeup picture. Repeat until all pairs are matched. 

SING AND FIND THE BIBLE VERSE 

Say: “God made many wonderful things in the world. We can praise God.” 

Point to the poster and read the verse. 

Play “Praise God With Me.” Sing the song with preschoolers. 

Open the Bible to Psalm 34:3. Say: “The verse is here in the Bible.” 

Place a marker (pack item 17) in the Bible and close it. Pass the Bible to a child and ask him to open the Bible to the verse. He can close the Bible and pass it to the next child to open. Continue until all children open the Bible to the verse. 

Say the verse together. 

TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE STORY 

Display “Bible Story Picture 2” (pack item 2). Allow the boys and girls to comment on the picture and tell what they remember about the Bible story. 

Use the “Questions” (pack item 20) to lead the discussion about the Bible story. 

Show the word card God (pack item 27) as you read it. 

Point to today’s Zoom In and Point on the focal wall. Say the sentences. 

Ask preschoolers: “What have we learned about God today?” 

Pray, thanking God that He gives us many things because He cares for people. 

MOVE TOGETHER 

Say: “Be a tall, tall tree.” Guide preschoolers to stretch arms and hands up high. 

Say: “Be a small, small caterpillar.” Guide preschoolers to lie on the floor and make themselves small. 

Continue calling other things: wide raincloud, straight blade of grass, round rock, buzzing bee. 

Continue playing as time permits. 

Dismiss the children according to your dismissal plan.