Peace, Be Still

Jesus and His friends were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat when a strong storm came. Jesus was asleep. His friends were afraid and woke Him. Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves and said, "Peace, be still." The storm stopped and the sea became calm.

This game lets everyone act out a storm and then feel the sudden calm.

Verse to remember (Mark 4:39): Jesus got up, spoke to the wind and the waves, and there was a great calm.

1. Everyone stands in the "boat" (the open space). The leader is Jesus and stands at the front.
2. The leader calls out a storm action, and everyone does it in place: "Wind!" (sway and whoosh), "Waves!" (roll arms up and down), "Rain!" (wiggle fingers down), "Thunder!" (softly stomp or clap).
3. Call the actions faster and mix them up. The group should keep moving with every new call.
4. When the leader says "Peace, be still!" everyone freezes at once and stays quiet for 5 seconds.
5. Anyone who moves or makes a noise becomes a "helper" for the leader and calls out the next storm actions.
6. Play 4 or 5 rounds. Speed up the storm each time and make the calm at the end a little longer.

How it ends: After the last freeze, tell the group to take one slow breath together. Say that Jesus is with us in every storm, and that He is stronger than every storm.

Leader can say: “Jesus is stronger than every storm. When you feel afraid, you can ask Him for help.”

For little ones: Use bigger movements and keep the rounds short. Let young children help call the actions.

For teens and adults: Teens and adults can add more storm words, such as lightning or fear, or lead a round in silence, using only hand signals. A volunteer can read Mark 4:35-41 aloud at the end.

Safety: Keep arms and feet to yourself, with arm's length around each person. This game is for standing in place, so there is no running. If someone feels worried by loud noises, use soft sounds only.

After the game, sit together and ask:

• What do you think the disciples felt when the storm came?
• What did they learn about Jesus after the storm stopped?
• What can we do when we feel afraid?

• Jericho March: March quietly for seven days, then shout as the walls fall.
• Noah's Ark Animal Pairs: Find your animal partner by sound and board the ark two by two.
• All Bible games for church