Childrens Sermon Service

First Thoughts: Too often, I think, we have held up the story of Thomas as an example of the problem of doubt in faith. We have scorned this character, calling him "Doubting Thomas," and read the story as though Jesus is reprimanding him for his need to touch the resurrected Christ. But I think this is a great opportunity for us to consider how the role of doubt helps us grow our faith. Children are hands-on learners -- things need to be concrete for them to really understand and appreciate them. Many adults have the same need. This story shows us that when we have a need for confirmation, for reassurance, God's response is not condemnation for our lack of faith, but supporting evidence that our faith might grow stronger. Can you remember a time in your faith life when doubt became prominent? Perhaps you had experienced a loss, passed through a transition, or faced a time of great confusion and fear. Did you feel you could bring your doubts to God? Did you share them with a trusted friend? Did God offer you any special consolation to help grow your faith even in such difficulty? Take your reflection and prayer with you in your time with the children.

Props You Will Need: glass of water with a solid layer of baby powder sprinkled on top

Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 1 has the cup of water)
Leader 2: Hey (name), what do you have there?
Leader 1: A glass of water. But this is a special glass of water.
Leader 2: How is it special?
Leader 1: When you put your finger in it, you don't get wet.
Leader 2: Really?
Leader 1: Yep, I just tried it myself.
Leader 2: (looking skeptical) Hmmm, I don't know about that. I've never put my finger in water and not gotten it wet.
Leader 1: Do you not believe me?
Leader 2: Well, I don't think you're lying exactly. It's just hard for me to believe it. It would be easier for me to believe if I tried it myself.
Leader 1: Okay, go ahead. (puts finger in water and it comes out dry) So what do you think?
Leader 2: Wow! My finger is totally dry. It really works.
Leader 1: Just like I said.
Leader 2: (looking a bit shamefaced) I hope you're not mad at me because I didn't completely believe you.
Leader 1: Of course not. Sometimes it's easier for us to believe something when we try it ourselves. That was true for Thomas as well.
Leader 2: Who's Thomas?
Leader 1: One of Jesus' friends from our story today. When Jesus came back from the dead, he visited his disciples and they were able to talk with him. But one disciple wasn't there for that first meeting. Can you guess who?
Leader 2: Thomas?
Leader 1: Right. When he returned to the room, Jesus was gone. The other disciples told him they had seen Jesus, but Thomas just couldn't believe it.
Leader 2: Like me with the water.
Leader 1: Right. Thomas said he couldn't believe it unless he was able to touch Jesus himself and really know that he was back.
Leader 2: I don't blame him. It would be really hard to believe that someone who had died was back walking around in the world.
Leader 1: Yes, it would be hard to believe. Jesus knew that Thomas was having a hard time believing that Jesus was back, so you know what Jesus did? He came to visit Thomas too. Thomas got a chance to see Jesus and talk with him and even touch Jesus if he wanted to.
Leader 2: I bet Thomas believed after that.
Leader 1: He did, and his faith grew so much that he went out and told others his story! It's a really nice story showing us that when we have a hard time believing, God helps us out. God gives us what we need for our faith to grow stronger and stronger.
Leader 2: I'm glad God is patient with us, even when we doubt.
Leader 1: Me too.

Teaching On Your Own: (holding glass) See what I have here? A glass of water. But this isn't just any water -- it's special. You know why? Because when you put your finger in it, it doesn't get wet. Can you believe that? It's true. I tried it myself. Is that hard to believe? Why? It's hard to believe probably because we know that water is wet, and when you put something in water, it gets wet, right? What would make it easier for you to believe me? You want to try it for yourself? (Allow children to try this one by one. Make sure you have a lot of baby powder on top and instruct them only to dip their fingers in.) So what do you think? Did it work? Do you believe me now? You know, sometimes it's easier for all of us to believe something when we try it out for ourselves. That was true for Thomas as well. He's one of Jesus' friends from our story today. When Jesus came back from the dead, he visited his disciples and they were able to talk with him. But one disciple wasn't there for that first meeting. Can you guess who? Thomas! When he returned to the room, Jesus was gone. The other disciples told him they had seen Jesus, but Thomas just couldn't believe it. He said he would only be able to believe it if he could touch Jesus himself. You know what? I don't blame Thomas. That would be a really hard thing to believe, wouldn't it? That someone who had died was back walking around in the world? Jesus knew that Thomas was having a hard time believing that Jesus was back, so you know what Jesus did? He came to visit Thomas too. Thomas got a chance to see Jesus and talk with him and even touch Jesus if he wanted to. After that Thomas believed too! And his faith grew so much that he went out and told others his story! It's a really nice story which shows us that when we have a hard time believing, God helps us out. God gives us what we need for our faith to grow stronger and stronger. I'm glad God is patient with us, even when we doubt. Aren't you?

Closing Prayer: Thank you, God, for your patience with us and for helping our faith to grow stronger. Help us always to turn to you, when we're feeling confident and happy, when we're feeling scared and confused, and when our faith is strong and when we doubt. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

Follow-Up Lesson: To follow-up with this lesson in a classroom or home environment, ask the children to think about things that are hard to believe. Some examples you might offer are exotic animals (like a platypus or an anteater), natural phenomena (like a volcano erupting or a star exploding), or faraway places (like China or Norway). Ask the children if it's difficult to believe in these things. Would it be easier if they could see and experience these things for themselves? Revisit the story of Thomas. Invite the children to think of how they would react if they were in Thomas' position. Would they want to see and touch Jesus themselves? What would it be like when Jesus really showed up for Thomas? Give them a chance to express their emotions and thoughts around this marvelous moment of revelation. Invite them to reflect on what they might like to receive from God to strengthen their own faith. For a craft, help the children to make paper fortune-tellers. (You can find instructions on how to make these by using a search engine on the internet.) On the outside of the craft write the words, "When I doubt," and the inside (revealed when you open the fortune-teller) "God turns it inside out!"