Lesson 1: Emotion Discerning Meatball

The Story of Jesus calming the Storm

Bible Scripture Reference: Mark 4:35-41

Message

Do not lose faith in God because of fear.

In this story, Jesus told His disciples to go with Him to the other side of the lake. As they set out, a storm arose, and the disciples panicked, crying out and even blaming Jesus for not caring if they lived or died. When Jesus was awakened by the disciples, He rebuked the wind and the sea, and the storm calmed down significantly. He turned to the disciples and asked, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40).

We may wonder why fear is equated with a lack of faith. Isn't it normal to feel afraid in challenging situations? Here, Jesus wasn't reprimanding the disciples for experiencing fear but cautioning them not to lose faith in God because of fear. The disciples had been following Jesus for some time, and it was only after seeing Him calm the storm that they were struck with awe, realizing they were following someone extraordinary, even though they had not fully realized it themselves.

Let Jesus Walk with Us

Many times, we, like those disciples, react strongly to situations, with some people easily getting excited or angry, unable to calm down. Others may find themselves prone to sadness, depression, or low moods. Having emotions is entirely normal, and we can learn to recognize and understand our emotional tendencies to help us navigate through the storms of emotions.

However, what's even better for Christians is that we can invite Jesus to help us because He is the one who governs all things, even the wind and the waves obey Him. So, as we learn to understand our emotional processes, we can also invite Jesus to walk with us, believing that He will keep us. This way, even when emotional storms come our way, we can trust that God is in control, and our emotions will soon find peace and calmness.

Approach

• Read the Bible with students or refer to adapted Bible story content.
• Use worksheets to guide students in identifying the emotions of the events and characters in the story.
• Share insights and engage in discussions with students about the issues faced by the characters in the story and how they can bring about change.
• Conclude with a prayer.

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Worksheet

Bible Story - Jesus calms the Storm

Story Adaptation from Mark 4:35-41

Have you ever felt fear and anxiety? Emotions themselves are neither good nor bad, but there are certain emotions we may not particularly like. When we encounter unexpected events, it's easy to become flustered. Our emotional reactions reflect our inner state. However, when faced with challenging situations, Jesus often remained calm. Let's take a look at this story.

While Jesus was on a journey with His disciples, one evening He said to them, "Let's take a boat to the other side of the lake." So, Jesus left the crowd and boarded the boat with His disciples. Not long after they set sail, a strong wind suddenly blew, and the waves grew larger. The boat was soon filled with water, making the situation very dangerous. At that moment, Jesus was at the stern of the boat, asleep on a cushion.

The disciples, feeling nervous and afraid, woke Jesus up, saying, "Teacher, Teacher, save us! We're about to die! Don't you care about us at all?"

Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind, saying, "Calm down!"

Then, He commanded the waves, "Be still!" Suddenly, the wind stopped, and the lake became calm. Jesus turned to His disciples and said, "Why are you so fearful? Do you still have no faith?" The disciples, witnessing the sudden calm of the wind and sea, were amazed and filled with awe. They whispered to each other, "Who is this man that even the wind and waves obey Him?"

Questions and Discussion

(You can refer to the Emotion Traits Chart or Emotion Vocabulary Cards)

1. Please circle the parts in the story where you think the disciples had emotions and list them in order.
2. From the story, what emotions do you think Jesus had? How were His emotional responses different from those of the disciples?
3. From the emotions the disciples displayed in the first question, choose three emotions, and think about what opposite emotions might be. Write them down.
4. Can you describe a situation when you might experience the emotion of fear? Why do you think that is?
5. When you're in a bad mood (or when you're afraid), does it affect your faith in God? Why or why not?

Let's pray together

Heavenly Father,

We come before you seeking your help in gaining a better understanding of our emotions and learning to discern them. Even when we are afraid, timid, or lacking in confidence, when emotional storms arise, help us to actively turn to Jesus in prayer, seeking assistance, just like the disciples facing the storm. We believe that you can save us and grant us peaceful and steadfast hearts, enabling us to rely on you at all times.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.