Seeing Is Believing

In the days following Jesus resurrection, He appeared to His beloved disciples! However, when He appeared, Thomas wasn't there. Thomas may have been hiding in fear or given up and gone home. In any way the word of the others wasn't enough for him, instead, he declared that he would believe only when he placed his hand on Jesus' side and nailprints. Nothing less would do!

As a result, Thomas spent a whole week of gut-wrenching uncertainty!

But...Jesus loved Thomas, even when he doubted, and appeared again, inviting him to touch, and to see!

Sometimes we are like Thomas. Find out this week what happens next!

Galilee: Storm Rocks Boat

This week in our tour of the places Jesus lived and traveled, we will visit the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful blue lake surrounded by mountains. The way the wind blows from the mountains to the lake often causes sudden and severe storms. Storms on the Sea make fishing a dangerous job...but many fishermen in Jesus' time bravely went out on the lake in small boats night after night to make a catch. One night Jesus and His friends were sailing across the lake in their boat. Jesus was very tired so he laid down in the back of the boat for a nap. Suddenly, the wind began to blow. Ooooooo! Ooooooo! As it blew harder the waves got bigger and began to fill the boat! Jesus' friends were very afraid!!
How did Jesus help his friends when they were afraid? How can Jesus help us when we are afraid? To find out, read Mark 4:33-41.

Jordan: Supernatural Sighting

Matt. 3:13 - 4:11
Why might people today want to go to a river? Maybe to boat, swim, fish, kayak or even stand up paddle! But in our story this week, people came to the Jordan for a very different reason. Out at the edge of the Judean desert on the banks of the Jordan River, large crowds of people came every day to hear a man called John The Baptist speak. He told his listeners to start obeying God because God was about to do something very special. He was going to send the promised Messiah! John told the people they needed to "repent, for the time is near" and be ready for the Messiah! Then John would baptize those who were sorry for their sins in the river.
John's words are for us today as well..."repent, for the time for the Messiah is near"!

The Wise Kid

As Jesus grew up He "increased in wisdom and stature". This means that Jesus actually grew up physically, mentally and spiritually just like you are! As we grow up, we learn how to do harder things. What kinds of things can babies do? What do they know? What kinds of things can pre-schoolers do? What do they know? What kinds of things can you do? I bet you know allot of things ... but we are all still learning new things every day. Think about how you have grown up so far and the things you know. In this week's Bible story we will see Jesus when He was 12 years old. Read Luke 2:40-52 and Matt. 13:55-56 and see how Jesus learned and grew just like you.