First Thoughts: Here we see the story of Thomas, who is absent when the resurrected Christ appears, and so has difficulty believing the story. We want to help the children examine what it means to take someone at his/her word. How do we know when testimony is trustworthy and when it is false?
Teaching On Your Own: Hey, do you guys trust me? So if I told you I saw something, would you believe me? Yesterday I saw three cardinals outside my bedroom window. Believe that? Okay, what if I told you that I also saw a pig flying through the air. Would you believe that? (wait for "no" response) Why not? Do you think it sounds too wacky? But wait a minute -- you said you trusted me. So which is it -- do you believe me because you think I'm trustworthy, or do you not believe me because my story's too crazy? You know, that's the same problem Thomas had. Thomas was one of Jesus' friends. After Jesus rose from the dead, he came back to show his friends. But guess who wasn't there... Thomas! So when Thomas got back, his friends tried to tell him that Jesus had been there. Thomas didn't believe it. He just couldn't imagine that Jesus, who he saw die on the cross, was really alive. That would be hard to believe, wouldn't it? So Thomas had to decide whether he trusted his friends or not. Did he trust God? Jesus knew that Thomas was having difficulty believing, so Jesus finally came to Thomas himself, to help him and show Thomas the truth for himself. Sometimes we get to see something ourselves and that helps our faith grow. But sometimes we have to listen to other people and trust what they tell us and our faith grows in that way. Faith means deciding what we're going to believe and sticking with it even when it doesn't make sense. Hey, but don't worry -- I wasn't serious about the flying pig thing!
Teaching As A Team:
Leader 1: Hey, (name), do you trust me?
Leader 2: Sure I do.
Leader 1: So if I told you I saw something, would you believe me?
Leader 2: Probably.
Leader 1: Yesterday I saw three cardinals outside my bedroom window. Believe that?
Leader 2: Sure.
Leader 1: What if I told you that I also saw a pig flying through the air. Would you believe that?
Leader 2: A flying pig? Hmmm. No, I don't think so.
Leader 1: Why not?
Leader 2: Well, I've seen cardinals before, and I know they're around this time of year. But I've never seen a pig fly. They don't even have wings!
Leader 1: So you're saying because what I say sounds wacky, you don't believe it?
Leader 2: Yeah, I guess so.
Leader 1: But you said you trusted me. So which is it -- do you believe me because you think I'm trustworthy, or do you not believe me because my story's too crazy?
Leader 2: That's a hard one. I don't know.
Leader 1: Then you have the same problem Thomas had. Thomas was one of Jesus' friends. After Jesus rose from the tomb, Jesus came back to show his friends. But guess who wasn't there...
Leader 2: Thomas!
Leader 1: Right. So when Thomas got back, his friends tried to tell him that Jesus had been there. Thomas didn't believe it. He just couldn't imagine that Jesus, who he saw die on the cross, was really alive.
Leader 2: Well, that would be hard to believe.
Leader 1: It is hard to believe. But Thomas had to decide whether he trusted his friends or not. Did he trust God?
Leader 2: So what happened? Did Thomas end up believing?
Leader 1: Actually Jesus came to Thomas himself, to show Thomas the truth for himself. Sometimes we get to see something ourselves and that helps our faith grow. But sometimes we have to listen to other people and trust what they tell us and our faith grows in that way. Faith means deciding what we're going to believe and sticking with it even when it doesn't make sense.
Leader 2: But hey (looks up nervously) -- you were kidding about the "flying pig" thing, right?
Leader 1: Yeah.
Closing Prayer: Thank you, God, for helping us grow in our faith, for those times in our lives when we feel your love and for the stories of others that teach us. We thank you for the story of Thomas, who needed help in believing, because we know that, as you helped him, you will help us too. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, continue the conversation about faith. Faith means believing in something because you've experienced it yourself or because someone you trust in has told you about it. Come up with a list of belief statements, such as: "I believe the sun will come up tomorrow," "I believe the moon is made of cheese," "I believe the world is round," "I believe my parents love me," "I believe the world will make food for me to eat." Give the students a chance to come up with their own belief statements. First, ask them if they agree or not with the statement. Then ask them how they came to that belief -- because they have firsthand experience or because they've heard the testimony of someone else they trust? For example, the sun coming up is a firsthand experience, but the earth is round is something we believe because others have told us. Revisit the story. How does Jesus respond when Thomas doesn't believe that he's alive? Does he get upset or angry? No, Jesus is kind and gives Thomas what he needs to believe. That tells us that God doesn't mind if we ask questions, or if it's hard for us to have faith sometimes. God is patient and loving and helps us in the way that we most need.
For a craft idea, print out a template of the download for each child and provide glue and craft sticks. As an alternative you can provide construction paper and allow the children to create their own matching shapes. Allow the children to cut out the signs from the template, outline the words with color or glitter glue, and then glue them back to back with the craft stick in the middle. In this way they will create a paddle with "I Believe" on one side and "Help My Unbelief" on the other. Remind the students that either of these statements is a good prayer. Close with a group prayer in which you make some belief statements and allow the students to "vote" with their paddles. For example, "God loves me even when I'm being mean," "God will take care of me no matter what," "God can do miracles in my life right now," and so forth. Give the children enough time between each statement to show their response with the paddle. Close by again allowing each child to come up with their own belief statements.
