Splink
» Living Water
1
Storm in a Bottle
Items Needed: two empty plastic soda bottles with labels removed (1 or 2 liter)
Water
Duct tape
Make a storm in a bottle.
- Fill one bottle 3/4 full with water.
- Tape the other bottle on top of the one with water in it. Make sure the spouts are lined up.
- Turn the bottles over so the one with water is on top. See how the water has a hard time going down.
- To make the water go down into the other bottle, swirl the bottles in a circular motion really fast. Don't shake it up and down or it won't work. The water should swirl into the bottom bottle.
- This is why it works: When you swirl the bottle, the water starts to move in a circle. When the water moves fast enough, it pushes out against the bottle and leaves a hole in the middle. There's no water in the hole, only air. The hole allows the air from the bottom bottle to come up to the top bottle. When the air moves, the space in the bottom bottle makes room for the water from the top to flow into the bottom.
- This sort of water movement, with the special hole in the middle, is usually called a whirlpool. A tornado happens in air and a whirlpool happens in water. So, it is really a "Whirlpool in a Bottle."
Read Psalm 89:6-9.
What can God do to a raging storm? (Control it; stop it)
God has all power and is able to do what no one else can do. He created and controls the world. WOW!
Say a prayer of praise to our great God for His power.
2
Jesus Is My Super Hero!
Ask:
If you could be one of the super heroes, which one would you be? Why?
If you could be one of the super heroes, which one would you be? Why?
If you could have power to do anything, what would you do?
Super heroes are made-up beings. They live only in stories and movies. God is real and has all power. When Jesus lived on earth, He was able to do things people could not do; He was able to do miracles. Only God can do miracles.
Can you name a miracle Jesus did while He lived on earth? (He healed many people; He calmed a storm; He fed over 5000 people with a boy's lunch; He raised a man from the dead, etc.) Miracles were a way to show that Jesus was not just a man, but that He was God. Many people witnessed Jesus' miracles and believed in Him. Jesus has the power to help us. We can pray to Him any time we need help.
3
Asking for Help Really Helps
Read or tell the following story to your kids:
Jake's dad announced at breakfast, "The lot where we are going to build our house is filled with rocks. Jake, I want you to clear the yard of rocks."
Jake was excited about their new house, so he got the wheelbarrow out and began picking up the big rocks and carting them to the woods nearby. He worked hard because he wanted to help out and please his dad. But Jake soon realized that some of the rocks were just too big for him to move. He pushed and shoved, but they just wouldn't budge. Finally, Jake went back to his dad and said, "Dad, I tried to move the rocks, but I just can't do it."
"Have you done all you can?" his dad asked.
"I have. I've pushed, pulled, and just can't do it." Jake admitted.
"Jake, I appreciate what you've done. But you haven't done all you can to move the rocks," his dad said.
"I don't understand," Jake added.
"You haven't asked me to help you," Jake's dad explained. "I will help you move the rocks you can't move by yourself. All you needed to do was ask me."
Do you ever feel like you have to do things by yourself?
Do you ever feel like some things are too big for you to handle?
What can you do?
Jesus, His disciples, His mother, and many others were at a wedding. They ran out of something to drink. Mary (Jesus' mother) asked Jesus to do something and He did His first miracle. Jesus did a miracle and made delicious juice from water. Jesus had the power to do something that no one at the wedding could do. Just as Jesus' mother asked Jesus to make something to drink at the wedding, we can ask Him for whatever we need. We can ask Jesus to do things we cannot do ourselves—things that are too big for us to handle. Jesus can do miracles.
If you haven't started a prayer journal, this is a good time to make one. Each night after dinner or before bedtime, write your requests in the book. Then simply ask God to take care of the need. Remind kids that God loves us and wants to answer our prayers.
4
What Can You Give?
Students learned about Peter and John healing the crippled beggar on their way to the temple (Acts 3:1-26). They didn't have any money to give the beggar, but God gave them the power to help him, by healing him.
Write some of the following situations on slips of paper.
Situations: A friend's dad has lost his job; a sibling has lost something; a friend is afraid; a parent needs help making dinner; baby brother is crying, and missionary telling people about Jesus in another country.
Act these out while the rest of the family guesses the ways you can give or brainstorm together the ways you can give to others in these situations, even if you have no money.
Ask:
What do you have that you can give (besides money) to someone else?(Prayers, time, help, listening ear, hug, Bible verse, smile, etc.)
God will give us the power to give to others.
