Thomas Believes

Video

Even if you don’t have a Memorial password, you can watch the videos with an Amazon Prime account (of for $1.99 if you don’t have Prime). Just follow this link: Whirl Videos. The video for this week is “Scary Queries”, season 2, episode 13, beginning at 16:50 into the video.

• Which disciple did Leo pick as his favorite?
• Who did the others pick?
• Why did Leo say that he liked Thomas?
• When have you had doubts or questions like Leo (and Thomas) did?
• What helps you to believe in something you can’t see?

Family Prayer

Dear God, thank you for making us curious kids who ask questions. Help us explore those questions and grow in our faith in you. Amen.

Engage the Story

John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ²² When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” ²⁴ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” ²⁶ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” ³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. ³¹ But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Questions

• What was happening when Jesus first appeared?
• Where do you think Thomas was?
• How did Jesus convince them it was him?
• What can make you believe something that seems unreal?
• How does it feel to miss out on something all your friends got to see or do?

Activity

Jesus Sign Language

Do you know how to say Jesus in sign language (ASL)? If so, great! If not, look it up online. Why could this story help you remember the sign language for Jesus? For a challenge, see if you can learn either the phrase “Jesus loves me”, or even the whole first verse!

Here’s a video for kids to sing along and use sign language with (it’s a little more complex than the teaching video below uses):

Here’s a video to help teach parents, so you can teach your kids:

Hum a Tune, Who Are You?

Takes turns closing your eyes and have a random family member hum a tune. Try to guess who is humming. Not enough people in your house? Get on a call with other family members and friends and really make the game interesting. Was there anything that was difficult? Did any family members get fooled?