Jesus Calls the Disciples

Passage

Familiarize yourself with the following passages:

Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9; 10:1-4; Mark 1:16; Luke 5

One day, after Jesus returned from his time in the desert, he was walking along the sea of Galilee. While walking he came across some brothers, Simon (who he would later call Peter) and his brother Andrew who were in their fishing boats mending their nests. He cried out to them “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men!” Simon and Andrew left everything in their boat and followed Jesus. Soon after Jesus saw another set of brothers, James and John. They were also in their fishing boats with their father. Jesus made them the same offer. The brothers left everything they were doing with their father and followed after Jesus. Jesus called a total of 12 men to be his disciples: Simon, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas. To these men Jesus gave power against unclean spirits and to heal illnesses and disease.

Object Lesson

Directions:
1. Select 2 or 3 children to be your special helpers for the day. Have these children help you pass out craft supplies, help clean up messes, or even be leaders for the games.
2. At the end of class ask the helpers how it made them feel to be selected as special helpers for the day. Tell them that the men Jesus chose to be his disciples must have felt just as special, because many of them left their jobs and homes to follow Jesus!

Memory Verse

Matthew 4:19
And he said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

Jesus Connection

Just as Jesus called these 12 men to be his disciples, he also calls each of us to follow him. He wants us to be like Christ and to teach others to be like him as well (Matthew 28:19-20)

Songs

Fishers of Men

I will make you fishers of men,
Fishers of men, fishers of men.
I will make you fishers of men,
If you follow Me.

If you follow Me,
If you follow Me,
I will make you fishers of men,
If you follow Me.

Hear Christ calling "Come unto Me
Come unto Me, Come unto Me."
Hear Christ calling "Come unto Me
I will give you rest."

"I will give you rest.
I will give you rest.
Hear Christ calling "Come unto Me
I will give you rest."

Games/Activities

Red Rover, Red Rover

Directions:
1. Create two teams of equal size. Line up the teams opposite each other, no more than 30 feet apart. Have each line of children form a chain by holding hands with the person next to them.
2. The first team agrees to call one player from the opposite team, and chants, “Red rover, red rover, sent (child’s name) right over!”
3. The person called runs to the other line and attempts to break the chain.
4. If the person called fails to break the chain, he/she joins that team.
5. If the person is successful in breaking the chain, he/she may bring back to his/her team one of the two children whose link was broken.
6. Teams take turns calling out red rover and challenging a child from the opposite team until one team has only one child left, or the teacher calls an end to the game.

Crafts

Fishing Poles

Supplies Needed:
• Sticks or thin dowel rod poles
• String
• Foam sheets
• Sharpies
• Scissors
• Hole punch
Directions:
1. Allow the children to choose one color foam. Using a sharpie, draw an outline of a fish on the foam. Cut out the fish with scissors.
2. Use a sharpie to write today’s bible verse on the fish.
3. Punch a hole in the mouth side of the fish and tie one end of a string in the hole.
4. Tie the other end of the string to one end of the stick/pole. You now have a fishing pole!

Coloring Page

Boy Jesus

Passage

Familiarize yourself with the following:

Luke 2:41-52

Every year Mary and Joseph made a trip to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. When Jesus was 12 years old, it was no exception. After the celebrations were over, Mary and Joseph left Jerusalem to return to their home in Nazareth. They were traveling with family and friends, and they assumed that Jesus was there with the family. The group traveled for an entire day before Mary and Joseph started to look for Jesus. When they realized that he was not with their group, they returned to Jerusalem and began searching for Jesus. After 3 days they found the young boy in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. When questioned about his behavior, Jesus told his parents that he had to be in the Father’s house. Jesus obediently returned to Nazareth with his parents where he grew in favor with both God and man.

Object Lesson

Supplies Needed:
• A ‘Where’s Waldo’ type collage of Bible times looking characters
• A legend with several of the collage characters (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Zechariah, Elizabeth…)
Directions:
1. Display the collage for all to see. Pass around the legend for everyone to take a close look at so they know who they will be looking for.
2. Explain to the children that Jesus and his family were traveling with many people. Mary and Joseph did not know that Jesus was not with them. Tell the children that they will help look for Jesus, as well as some of his family members who may have been traveling with them.
3. Ask the children how they think Mary and Joseph must have felt when they were not able to find Jesus right away. How would they feel if they got separated from their mom and dad? Where is a safe place they can go if they get separated from their mom and dad?

Memory Verse

Luke 2:52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man.

Jesus Connection

In this story we can clearly see that Jesus is aware that he is both fully God and fully man. He was able to discuss the scriptures with the teachers (who were amazed at his understanding), and yet He was still obedient to his earthly parents and submitted himself to their parental authority. We can learn from Jesus’ example by spending time in the Bible and learning from our pastors and teachers, while also being obedient to our parents. God looks favorably on this kind of behavior and so do the people around us. (Luke 2:52)

Songs

O-B-E-Y (from the Donut Man)

O-B-E-Y obey your mom and dad
O-B-E-Y makes them very glad
Listen to the words they say
Obey your parents every day
O-B-E-Y obey your mom and dad

Games/Activities

Hide and Seek

*Use this game if you have the space available, or if you can be in a contained, outside environment.
Directions:
1. Choose one person to be it.
2. The person who is it has to close their eyes and count to 20.
3. All other students must hide themselves while the it person is counting.
4. The person who is it must search out all the other students until they are all found.

Find Jesus

Supplies Needed:
• A small toy that can represent Jesus (LEGO, Little People, Action Figure…)
Directions:
1. Before the children arrive, hide the small toy someplace in the room (so that the kids who arrive early cannot find it!)
2. Explain to the children that Jesus is someplace in the room and they must find him. (Also tell them what kind of toy it is that is representing Jesus.)
3. Allow the children to work together, or to race against each other in order to find Jesus.

Crafts

Scrolls

Supplies Needed:
• White paper, cut in half the long way
• Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• Colors
• Rubber bands
• The memory verse
Directions:
1. Explain to the children that people in Jesus time read their bible from scrolls. Today you will be making scrolls.
2. Give each child a half sheet of white paper that has been cut in half the long way.
3. Using colors, allow each child to write the memory verse on the paper, and draw any addition decorations they choose.
4. If the children are older, you can give them the suggestion to tear the edges of the paper and crumble it up to give it a more old look.
5. Give each child two popsicle sticks to glue to the short sides of their paper.
6. Roll up the scroll from both ends at the same time, until the popsicle sticks meet in the center.
7. Hold the scroll together using a rubber band.

Coloring Page

Sermon on the Mount: Salt and Light

Passage

Familiarize yourself with the following:

Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus continues his teaching of the Sermon on the Mount by making two comparisons. First he says that we are like salt. Salt is used to flavor and preserve food. If salt loses its taste, then it is no longer good for anything. As Christians, we are to function the same way in the world, but if we do not continue to function in this manner, we are good for nothing. In the second comparison, Jesus says we are like light. When we light a candle, we do not put a bowl on top of it. This hides, or even puts out the light. Instead, we put it on a table or a shelf where everybody can see it. Just as you cannot hide a city on a hill, you want to place the light where it is seen by all. As Christians, we are to function the same way in the world as light does in a house. When we are light salt and light in the world, it brings glory to God.

Object Lessons:

Object lesson #1: Salt

Supplies Needed:
• Salt
Directions:
1. Invite the children to taste some salt. Ask them what salt is used for.
2. Explain that salt is very useful for flavoring and preserving food. If salt does not taste salty any more, then we can no longer use it in food. All we can do with it is throw it away.

Object Lesson #2: Light

Supplies Needed:
• A small candle (tea light)
• A cup or a bowl (big enough to put the candle under)
• A lighter/matches
Directions:
1. Light the candle and set it in front of the children. Explain to the children that we light candles to people can see. It would be pointless to light a candle and then hide it. (Take the bowl/cup and cover the candle.) We can no longer see the light. In fact, if the bowl is left on the candle long enough, the fire will go out. (Pick up the bowl and reveal no more flame.) God wants to use us like the candle. He wants to put us in places around the world where we can let our lights shine brightly for Him. This kind of living makes Him happy.

Memory Verse:

Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jesus Connection:

In this passage, Jesus tells us that we are all lights in the world. What does our light reveal? Our light reveals the purest, brightest light of them all, Jesus himself. In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus declares that he is lighting the way to God. If we walk in his light, then we have his light in us. With his light in us, we can show the world the glory of God so that it is clear and easy to see.

Songs

This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shin, let it shine.

All around the neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.
All around the neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.
All around the neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shin, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shin, let it shine.

Don’t let Satan [blow] it out! I’m going to let it shine.
Don’t let Satan [blow] it out! I’m going to let it shine.
Don’t let Satan [blow] it out! I’m going to let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shin, let it shine.

Games/Activities

Cup Stacking

Supplies Needed:
• Plastic cups (10 per child)
• Blind folds
Directions:
1. Give each child 10 plastic cups. Keep them stacked together. When you say ‘go’, all the children race to stack their cups in the shape of a pyramid (4 on bottom, the three, and then two, then one on top). Restack cups together and repeat the race as many times as you wish.
2. Have the children stack their cups in front of them. Blindfold each child and repeat the cup stacking race. Repeat the blindfolded race as many times as you wish.
3. Ask the children which race was more difficult. Explain that when we have the light of Jesus in our lives, he helps us see the path in front of us that God wants us to walk in.

Crafts

Lantern

Supplies Needed:
• Small glass jars (pint sized)
• Crepe paper in various colors
• Glue sticks
• Tea light candles
• A lighter
Directions:
1. Give each child a glass jar and a glue stick.
2. Cut out and glue colored crepe paper to the outside of the glass jar. (I had small 1 inch squares already cut from various colors.)
3. Place a tea light candle in the bottom of the jar and light it. Enjoy the colorful glow.

Coloring Page