Doubting Thomas episode description
Have you ever had a hard time believing in something you couldn’t see? Thomas certainly did. Jesus appeared to some of his followers after his death on the cross. When those followers started telling Thomas they saw Jesus alive again, Thomas didn’t believe them. He said, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” — John 20:25b (CSB) In this episode, the very first of the Craft Stick Bible Stories for kids, Thomas gets exactly what he asked for. Jesus appears to Thomas and Thomas proclaims the powerful words, “My Lord and my God!”
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Retell the story at home with these free crafts
Printable puppets
You can retell the story of Doubting Thomas at home or at Sunday school with these free printable puppets! Each character comes with instructions and can be printed, colored, cut, and glued to create your very own cast of characters. Great for story retention and craft time!
Coloring page
Introduce this coloring page to you favorite box of crayons! The doubting Thomas coloring page is a free craft to support in story engagement and Scripture retention. This color page includes the verse, “Thomas responded to him, ‘My Lord and my God!'”
Doubting Thomas Sunday school lesson guide
The following content is designed to assist with lesson planning and discussion.
What is doubt?
Doubt is a feeling of uncertainty about whether something is true or not. People doubt things all the time. In fact, it’s a normal part of life to experience doubt. But God wants us to know we have no reason to doubt him, his words are true, and he he always keeps his promises.
Can you think of anything you’ve doubted before?
Have you ever felt scared of the dark, even though someone you trust told you that there was nothing to be afraid of? Where does this fear come from? It often stems from doubt. Even though you have been told that there is nothing to be scared of, you still begin to question the truth of it.
We sometimes doubt what others say or do, and at times, we even doubt ourselves. For instance, have you ever wanted to play a sport but suddenly thought that you might not be any good at it? Or have you ever wanted to make a new friend but been afraid that they might not like you? These are both examples of what’s called self-doubt.
So, what did Thomas doubt in this story?
Thomas had doubts that Jesus was alive again. It’s easy to understand why Thomas had his doubts. The idea that some came back to life after dying and was visiting people in their homes is unbelievable, and it’s certainly not something Thomas had ever seen before. However, Jesus had told his followers that he would one day die and rise again in three days (Mark 9:31).
Jesus wanted Thomas, and all of us, to believe that he had come back to life just as he said he would. So, Jesus appeared to Thomas and showed him the wounds in his hands and side. Jesus did this so that Thomas would believe, and so that we would believe through Thomas’ experience.
Why did Thomas want to see the marks of the nails?
Thomas wanted to see more than Jesus standing in front of him. Thomas wanted to see the marks in Jesus’ hands from when he was nailed to the cross. Thomas wanted to see the wound in Jesus’ side from when he was stabbed. Why? Because Thomas wanted facts.
Takeaway
Everyone experiences doubt. Sometime we doubt what we see and hear from other people, and sometimes we doubt ourselves, but someone we never need to doubt, and can always trust, is God. What God tells us through the Bible and through his son, Jesus Christ, we can trust wholeheartedly.
Jesus told his followers he would rise back to life three days after he died, and he did exactly what he said he would. But when Thomas doubted Jesus had risen back to life, Jesus appeared to him and even showed Thomas his wounds so that Thomas, and all of us, would know that Jesus truly did come back. And we, along with Thomas, can say to Jesus, “My Lord and My God.”
“Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God.'”
John 20:28
About the Craft Stick Bible Stories for Kids
The Craft Stick Bible Stories for Kids series tells the stories of the Bible in the craftiest way possible! Each episode is set in a craft world made of cardboard, paper, and glue, and the characters are craft stick puppets. The stories remain faithful to the Scriptures and combine playful humor and scene-setting music throughout, ensuring that children are engaged and entertained from beginning to end.
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