We have been working on Miracles of Jesus. I am looking for ideas for Mark 7:31 - the story of Jesus healing the deaf mute. We have the story and sign language music(Gaia) and puppets.Need some game ideas could be related to charades? I think I will have each child learn their name in sign language.
Eileen

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: CreativeCarol,

It's such a short story to work with but here goes..

Younger Children
Do pin the tail on the donkey (except in this case it's ears & tongue on a person) maybe the kids could trace you on a large sheet of paper.

Older Children
I'd suggest doing something like password.
Pick out several words from the story and they have to get their team to figure out what the word is by giving single word hints, each team gives a hint and if they don't get it right, it passes to the next team, keep track of points, maybe limit it to five hints, points 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

Word suggestions:

deaf

mute

Jesus

Galilee

stutter

beg

crowd

ear

tongue

fingers

heaven

command

hear

speak

news

amazed

miracle

wonderful

Luanne Payne

We actually just did this lesson! As a fun group learning activity tell them "you know Jesus is a great Super hero. He has super vision, knowledge, what else? (someone will say super hearing) Today, we are going to talk about hearing. IN fact, we are going to play "NAME THAT TUNE". Pick out about 30 songs and have someone play the beginnings of the songs-(if no piano, then find someone who has good pitch to hum the songs!)when a child rasies their hands they must say "I CAN NAME THAT TUNE: it's Jesus loves me etc..continue, each right answer gets 1,000 points! The winner gets a box of rice krispies...because you can HEAR THE SNAP CRACKLE AND POP! move on to Bible study!
(Prior to class spit into a baby food jar and seal the jar.)
Grab their attention: "kids I have something very special I brought today, who can tell me what it is?" Pass the jar around, make sure no one opens the jar, if you are concerned someone will open the jar then simply super glue it!

If no one guesses spit, say something like "here's a clue" and act like your going to spit! YOU NOW HAVE their attention!
Say: Do you think everything about Jesus is special?
Do you think I'm just as special? why or why not?
What would you do if I wanted to put my spit on you?
Anyone remember a Bible story where Jesus used His spit?
Open your Bibles to Mark 7 etc... teach the lessson. Some key points: It's easy to shy away from Jesus so we don't have to listen to him and how much He loves us. What do you think would have happened if that deaf man 'slapped' Jesus' hand away when he saw the spit? What happens in our lives when we 'slap' Jesus away? ask for specific examples of situations as they answer. What happens in our lives when we don't slap Jesus away, and listen to and obey Him? after children answer say in a soft voice so they have to really listen: If you can hear me touch your nose (you touch your nose as you say this) then, If you can hear me touch your eyebrow (touch your eyebrow as you say eyebrow) then If you can hear me touch your ear (again when you say ear, you touch your ear) then say If you can hear me touch your chin(this time as you say chin, you touch your cheek!) I guarantee most everyone will be touching their 'cheek' instead of listing to what you said to do-touch your chin. Say to them "that's not your chin!" they will be giggling. Say, boys and girls, how is this like watching others instead of listening to Jesus. Allow time for a lot to answer!
God bless!