Bible Stories on Sunday School Zone

This story, found in Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; and Luke 8:22-25, demonstrates Jesus' wonderful power even over creation and reveals that Jesus truly is like no other! In this story Jesus calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee. The lessons and activities listed below will help remind children that Jesus has the power to do whatever He knows is best. That's because He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. These are important lessons for kids of any age to learn!

This Old Testament Bible story we call "A Room for Elisha" reveals how God cared for the needs of His servant Elisha through a Shunammite couple and how Elisha showed his gratitude for the generosity they extended to him. This story and its Bible activities can help teach children important concepts such as generosity, service, and gratitude. These are qualities that demonstrate sacrificial love in our lives. This kind of love is the core characteristic of a person who loves Jesus and seeks to follow Him.

God promised Abraham that he would have a son. God kept His promise, of course, but the aging Abraham and Sarah had to wait many more years before Isaac was born and before they saw the fulfillment of God's promise. Still, God's timing is perfect. God wanted to demonstrate that His plan was truly miraculous and something only He could accomplish. These Abraham and Isaac Bible activities celebrate Isaac's long-awaited arrival and God's faithfulness to Abraham and Sarah.

The land to which God had called Abraham no longer could support the families and herds of both Abraham and Lot. Even though Abraham was older than Lot and could have claimed the land he wanted, Abraham graciously allowed Lot to choose where he wanted to settle. It was an act of selfless, sacrificial love and demonstrated that Abraham had great character. He knew that God is a selfless and gracious God. These activities will highlight the time when Abraham shared with Lot.

God had asked Abraham to move to a strange land and live a life of faith. Abraham was consistently obedient to God's direction and showed how trusting in God is always the best way, even when it is difficult. In this story, God promised that He would give Abraham many descendants and bless the whole world through them. These Abraham Trusted God activities will help remind children that, just like Abraham, they can also trust God to be faithful to His promises.

Abraham was a man of great faith, but Abraham's faith was tested and demonstrated when God called him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. But how would God fulfill His promise if Isaac were dead? Abraham had to believe that God would find a way as long as he was obedient. These Abraham Was Called to Sacrifice Isaac Bible activities for children are about the story of Abraham being tested by God and will help kids understand God's power and His provision when we trust and obey Him.

God made Adam and Eve. They were the first humans ever to live. They lived in a good world with everything they needed until they doubted God and disobeyed Him. They thought they could do better than God, but they quickly learned that God is the only true source of knowledge and protection. These Adam and Eve Bible activities highlight their creation, their sin and its consequences, as well as God's great redemptive and restorative love for them, even after they had disobeyed Him.

The first chapters of Genesis (and the Bible) tell us that Adam and Eve lived in a "good" world until they disobeyed God. In creation, God had provided everything they needed, but they doubted His goodness and chose to trust a tree (rather than God) to give them what they needed. Trusting something other than God is the heart of idolatry. These Adam and Eve Sinned Bible activities highlight their sin and its consequences, as well as God's restorative love for them, even after they'd done wrong.

According to Genesis 1:26-28, God created Adam and Eve and gave them the assignment to rule over all aspects of His creation. The Garden of Eden was just the starting point for what God wanted to accomplish. These Adam and Eve Were Called to Rule Bible activities will help children see that God has called His people to rule creation as His representatives. We are His image bearers, carrying His image, character, and love to the world. These activities will encourage kids to pursue this purpose for their lives.

Joseph (in the New Testament) was betrothed to Mary, but naturally assumed she had been unfaithful to him when she became pregnant before they came together. He didn't feel he could marry her, so he decided to divorce her quietly because he still cared for her. An angel then visited Joseph to tell him the child would be the Son of God and he (Joseph) should take Mary as his wife. These Angel Spoke to Joseph Bible activities below relate to this visit to Joseph from an angel.

The early church, as seen in the Book of Acts, was a special group of people who can set the example for all believers today. The growth of the early church demonstrated the power of God's Kingdom to overcome the forces of worldly kingdoms. The key to the power of God's Kingdom has always been sacrificial love. These Believers in the Early Church Bible activities for children will help kids see that Christians in the early church loved one another and ministered to one another in the name of Jesus.

Jesus showed at an early age that He was becoming aware of His identity as the Messiah. Even at the age of 12 He was able to talk with the teachers in the temple. This event shows His early familiarity with the Scriptures and that He understood the temple to be His "father's house." These Boy Jesus in the Temple Bible activities are about this event and can help kids understand that Jesus also had to grow in His own understanding of who God is and who He (Jesus) was, just like children and adults do today.

According to Genesis 4, when God found Abel's sacrifice acceptable but rejected Cain's sacrifice (for reasons not given in the text), Cain became angry and killed Abel, his brother. Cain's sin revealed that the sin of his parents, Adam and Eve, was now growing in its reach and intensity. These Cain and Abel Bible activities for children will help kids learn about this story and see how sin was spreading within Adam and Eve's children. Sin and evil are powerful and in each of us. Sin always hurts us and other people.

We celebrate Christmas as one of the greatest events in history and rightly so. In this baby we celebrate rests the hopes of all people. Baby Jesus is our Savior, our King, and the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. His humble birth demonstrated the surprising nature of God's Kingdom. God's power is not found in the seats of worldly power, but in humble places. Here are some free, printable Christmas Bible activities to help you teach children about the importance of this amazing event.

Even young children can understand that God created the world and everything in it, including people. This is an important lesson for kids as it helps them understand that God made us with real purpose. We are not accidents but valuable creatures with an eternal purpose! These free Creation Bible activities, based on the creation account found in Genesis 1, will help children understand that God is the Source of all things. God made everything there is, including you!

The life of Daniel in the Old Testament teaches faith and courage. And, the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den is a popular story that kids always enjoy. While living in Babylon, evil people plotted against Daniel and had him thrown to the lions, believing they would kill him, because he prayed to the only true God. But God protected Daniel and saved him from the lions. These free, printable Daniel in the Lion's Den Bible activity pages will help your kids learn about Daniel and his courageous faith.

The story of David and Goliath is a story of God's triumph over His enemies through unlikely means. David was just a boy, but he had learned in the fields to trust God and to know that God would deliver him. And He did! David would become Israel's greatest king and this story demonstrates, in part, why God chose him. Kids love this story and can learn through these free David and Goliath Bible activities that God always conquers according to His plan and through the people He chooses, even if they're very young!

The story of David and Jonathan is a story of enduring friendship even when life challenges that friendship. David and Jonathan became deep friends even though Jonathan's father, Saul, perceived David as a threat and wanted to kill him. These David and Jonathan Bible activities are about this friendship and can help children learn to understand the importance of friendship and how to be a good friend to others, even when circumstances may make that difficult to do.

The story of King David and Mephibosheth (Jonathan's son) brings to life for kids the concepts of mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love. Years after Saul and Jonathan had died, David showed mercy to this descendant (and heir to the throne) when other kings would want to kill Mephibosheth in order to eliminate the possible threat. These free, printable David and Mephibosheth Bible activities will help children learn this story and the example of mercy that King David showed.

Before David slew Goliath with just a stone and, ultimately, became the King of Israel, he was an unknown shepherd boy tending the sheep of his father. But it was in these fields that David learned to trust God, worship God, and understand that God is a powerful God who cares for His people. These David Was a Shepherd Boy activities will encourage kids to think about the time when David was a young boy tending sheep in the fields, and encourage children to trust God just as David did.

David was called as King of Israel and anointed by Samuel long before the people of Israel even knew who he was. David was still a shepherd boy tending his father's sheep when he was anointed to be the king. God chose David out of all of his older brothers because of his love for God, even though he was the youngest. The story of David's calling helps young children understand how God has a plan for each person, even if we think we are too young or unimportant.

The resurrection of Jesus confirmed that He truly is the long-awaited Messiah of the Old Testament, the Son of God (Rom. 1:4). It also means that He is still alive today! Helping children understand the importance of Jesus' resurrection is essential to biblical faith. The resurrection means that Jesus really conquered death and will never die again. Because He is alive, we can have eternal life also! These Easter activities can help kids understand and remember the real meaning of Easter.

The story of Elijah praying for rain can be a wonderful and dramatic introduction to biblical miracles for children. It demonstrates that God is Lord over all things, including the false gods people were worshiping at the time and even the weather itself. After a season of drought, Elijah prayed for rain and God made it rain! This Elijah Prayed for Rain story and these activities can help kids remember that the God of the Bible is a powerful God of great miracles that point people to Him.

God's love has never been limited to just the Hebrew people. From the very beginning, God desired to use His people, Israel, to bring redemption and restoration to all people and even creation itself (Gen. 12:1-3). The story of Naaman being healed can illustrate this important truth for kids in a powerful way. God was willing to bless and heal even a Syrian (foreign) army captain. These Elisha Healed Naaman activities will help kids understand that God loves all people no matter who they are or where they live.

Queen Esther is a figure of courage and faith in the Old Testament. While her people, the Jews, were living in Babylon as deportees, wicked men plotted against them. Esther approached the king and was able to save her people in a miraculous way. Many Jews today still celebrate this victory (Purim). Esther was not a typical Jew or a typical Jewish woman of that day. These Esther and the King Bible Activities will help kids learn about this brave Jewish woman and the circumstances of this significant historical event.

Ezra was a prophet in Israel at a very important time following the Babylonian Exile. He reminded the people of the importance of God's Word and challenged them to hear it and follow it. The story of Ezra and the Law and these accompanying activities can illustrate to your kids how reading God's Word has always been important for God's people. This story gives children an opportunity to discuss how the way people read God's Word may have changed through history, but God's Word never changes.

The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she would soon have a special baby—Jesus, God's Son, the Messiah! What an exciting but frightening announcement this was for Mary. His birth would be a total miracle! These Gabriel Visited Mary Bible activities highlight for kids that special visit and Jesus' miraculous conception and birth. How happy Mary must have been and how wonderful that we and children can still celebrate that miraculous birth today!

Hannah prayed desperately for a son and God gave her a baby she named Samuel. Hannah honored the Lord by dedicating the boy to Him. Samuel became a great prophet and would lead the nation through the transition from a confederacy under judges to a kingdom under kings. God would use Hannah and her son to accomplish His purposes in Israel. These God Answered Hannah's Prayer Bible activities will help kids learn this story and see how God used Hannah's difficult circumstances to accomplish His will.

The Lord spoke to Abraham and told him to move from his homeland to a new land. God promised to make of him a great nation. Abraham trusted God, journeyed to Palestine, and God blessed him. God intended to use Abraham and his descendants to bless all the nations of the world. And God did, indeed, use the Hebrew people to accomplish His purposes. These God Guided Abraham Bible activities for kids highlight Abraham's moving out in faith, as well as the guidance that God provided.

After God delivered the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt, He brought them to Mt. Sinai where He gave them laws that would govern how they were to live. Core to this set of laws was a shorter list that we call the Ten Commandments. These 10 Commandments provide a wonderful framework for kids (and adults also) to understand the Lord's expectations for all people. These Ten Commandments Bible Activities highlight the encounter in which God gave Moses the tablets containing the Ten Commandments.

"Build an Ark," God told Noah. "I am going to destroy the earth with a flood, but you and your family will be safe in the ark." Noah obeyed God, and God guided him every step of the way. The story of Noah and the Ark reveals God's plan to fulfill His promise to defeat evil and restore His Kingdom. These God Guided Noah Bible activities for children highlight God's call to Noah as well as Noah's complete obedience. God would use Noah to stop the spread of evil and advance His Kingdom restoration plan.

God had called Joshua to take the Promised Land, but there was one small problem. The Jordan River stood between the Promised Land and the people of God. But no obstacle is too great for God. In an amazing demonstration of His power and in a way much like the parting of the Red Sea, God held back the Jordan River so the people could cross on dry land and thus begin the long-awaited conquest of the Promised Land. These God Held Back the Jordan River Bible Activities are about this important event.

The story of Deborah as a Judge is one of the few stories in the Bible which features female leadership and is a wonderful example of how God can use any one who wants to be His servant. During the period of the confederacy, before the monarchy was established, God used Deborah to deliver His people from their enemies. It's a dramatic story that reveals God's ongoing love and power. These free, printable Deborah the Judge Bible activities will help you introduce children to this special leader.

God used Gideon to free Israel from their enemies. Gideon didn’t think God could use him because he was ill-equipped and frightened. But God did use him and demonstrated that God is able to use unlikely people who don't feel usable! These God Helped Gideon Bible Activities for kids will help children understand that God can use weak people and give them courage to accomplish great things. The activities can be used in a church, school, or home school setting.

God had given Samson great strength which Samson used to defeat Israel's enemies. But when Samson acted foolishly he lost God's strength and suffered for it. In a final and dramatic act of defiance of God's enemies, God restored Samson's strength and used him in a powerful way. These God Helped Samson Bible Activities for children will help kids learn about Samson, his failures, and how God ultimately restored his strength in that final dramatic event.

Facing the Red Sea on one side and the Egyptian army on the other, the Israelites had no possible way of escape. But God specializes in doing the impossible. Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and God parted its waters. His people walked right through on dry ground. This Exodus event became the defining moment in Israel's history and is still so today. The following God Led His People Through Moses Bible Activities highlight this important event in Bible history.

These God Made People Bible activities celebrate God's creation of the first man and the first woman, Adam and Eve. These activities also underscore the fact that people were created in the image of God. We are, therefore, His image-bearers and are designed to carry His image and represent Him in the world in which He has placed us. It also means we are unique and more valuable to God than all other aspects of creation. These activities can be used at home, in church, or in a Christian or home school setting.

God created all the animals, including fish, birds, and land animals. The animals were put here for humankind to enjoy and care for. God made the animals for OUR benefit! The animal kingdom shows just how imaginative and creative God is—and how awesome! These God Made the Animals Bible Activities feature God's creation of the animal kingdom and further reveal the wonderfully balanced ecosystem He created for us to live in. He is truly a powerful, gracious, and wonderful God!

God made all the plants, including flowers, vegetable plants, fruit plants, and all the trees. He was busy creating a "good world," the perfect world for the jewel of His creation... people! These God Made the Plants Bible Activities feature the vast number of plants that came into being as a result of God's creative work. These activities underscore the fact that creation is a further expression of God's love for us as He prepared a wonderful home in which people could live.

God delivered the Hebrew people from Egyptian slavery in powerful and dramatic ways. Although they were pursued by the Egyptian army with the Red Sea in front of them, when God parted the sea the Hebrew people crossed on dry land. From this point forward the Egyptians would not be a threat. It was, and continues to be, a defining moment in the life the Israelite nation. These God Parted the Red Sea Bible activities are about this defining event and can be used in a church, school, or home setting.

When Moses was born, his life was at risk. The Egyptian Pharaoh had ordered that all Hebrew baby boys be killed! But God made sure Moses not only survived, but also grew up in Egypt's palace, right under the nose of the Pharaoh! These God Protected Baby Moses Bible activities underscore God's ability to accomplish His purposes in all circumstances and in spite of all opposition. No earthly king can thwart His plans. These Bible lesson activities highlight God's protection of Moses as an infant.

Having regretted that He had created humanity because of all the sin and violence in the world, God sent a flood to destroy life on the earth. He saw how evil was destroying people so He acted to keep evil in check. Noah, his family, and the animals, however, remained safe in the ark that God told Noah to build. These God Sent a Great Flood Bible Activities highlight both the flood and the ark's safety. They demonstrate that God is a righteous, but gracious God who will act to limit evil in the world.

God sent Moses to Pharaoh (the King of Egypt) to demand that the king let God's people (the Hebrews) go, but Pharaoh was stubborn and refused. God, therefore, demonstrated His power over the Egyptian king and his powerless gods on the Israelites' behalf. God gradually brought the Pharaoh to his knees. There were a number of plagues that God sent upon the Egyptians, but these God Showed His Power to Pharaoh Bible activities highlight the plague in which frogs infested Egypt.

God spoke to Moses from a burning bush (that wasn't consumed by the fire) and told him he was to go to the Egyptian Pharaoh and tell him to release God's people, the Hebrew slaves. Moses was reluctant, but God's call was clear. This began the dramatic chain of events that culminated in the great Exodus from Egypt. These God Spoke to Moses in the Burning Bush Bible Activities are about that important event in the Old Testament, in Moses' life, and in Israel's history.

Samuel was a prophet at a very important time in Israel's history. When Samuel was a boy, he was serving in the place of worship for God's people. One night God spoke to Samuel. At first Samuel thought it was someone else. But after three times, Samuel listened to God and received the message. These God Spoke to Samuel Bible Activities will help children understand that God still speaks to people today through the Bible and through His Spirit. Even kids can understand the importance of listening to God's voice.

God had called Joshua to take the Promised Land, but there was one small problem. The Jordan River stood between the Promised Land and the people of God. But no obstacle is too great for God. In an amazing demonstration of His power and in a way much like the parting of the Red Sea, God held back the Jordan River so the people could cross on dry land and thus begin the long-awaited conquest of the Promised Land. These God Stopped the Jordan River Bible Activities are about this important event.

Even though Joseph (from the Old Testament) had been cruelly sold into slavery by his brothers, God blessed him in everything he did. Even while he was unfairly imprisoned in Egypt, God allowed Joseph to become a trusted leader. It would lead to his becoming a significant leader in Egypt and the world. These God Was with Joseph in Egypt Bible activities are about Joseph's faithfulness to the Lord in a foreign land and how God remained with him in every circumstance.

Although the Bible tells a major part of God's story, the biblical story actually continues to unfold even today. God is still God and He is still working in our world and in people's lives today. The God's Unfolding Story (The Biblical Story) Bible activities and resources below (including God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers curriculum) can be used to help children learn the six elements of the biblical story and gain a grasp of the broader biblical narrative. In Deuteronomy 4:9, God commands us to teach His story to successive generations. These activities and resources can help you do just that!

It was not uncommon for bad storms to come up quickly on the Sea of Galilee. Encountering one such violent storm while crossing the sea, the disciples called on Jesus to help them even though they were experienced fishermen. He had been sleeping, but He calmed the storm instantly and asked, "Where is your faith?" These Jesus Calmed the Storm Bible activities will help children learn about the event and see that they can trust Jesus no matter what their circumstances.

When Joseph, who was engaged to Mary, learned that Mary was pregnant, he was bewildered and hurt, but he didn't want to hurt her. He determined to divorce her quietly, but then an angel appeared to him and explained that Mary's baby was special because God Himself was the baby's father. These Joseph Married Mary Bible activities are about Joseph's learning the truth about Mary's baby and how he, in turn, told Mary about Jesus and then married her in spite of his fears.

Matthew's record of when the angel visited Joseph reveals that Jesus would be the promised Messiah of the Old Testament who would save His people from their sin. The activities and resources listed below are related to these realities found in the New Testament story of Joseph as recorded in Matthew 1:18-25.

God had been orchestrating the events leading up to the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, since Genesis 3:15. John the Baptist was part of God's great plan of redemption and restoration. When Mary visited Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, God confirmed for these important women that He was in control. These Bible activities are about this event.

Luke 1:26-56 tells us the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary before she and Joseph were married and announced that she would have a special baby—Jesus, God's Son! These Mary's Story activity pages highlight that special visit and Jesus' miraculous birth. Jesus was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament who was both physical (of Mary) and spiritual (of the Holy Spirit). How happy Mary must have been!

When Paul wrote to the church at Galatia, he told them that the Spirit will bear certain fruit in our lives such as love, joy, and patience. These "fruit" are important because they impact our relationships and are the best demonstration of God's love in our lives. These Paul Wrote About the Fruit of the Spirit activities can help kids learn that a life lived according to God's Spirit is a life characterized by sacrificial love. These activities can be used at home, in church, or in a school setting.