Lesson 8: Jesus Calls Disciples

Welcome

            Thank kids for coming.

            Just for fun, have kids give an "elbow-five" to five friends.

            Make announcements.

            Introduce new kids.

            Celebrate birthdays with everyone saying “Happy birthday” in a deep voice.

            Collect the offering.

Introduce the Lesson

            Say: Jesus can change our lives. Today we’ll learn about when Jesus called some men to follow him, and he changed their lives. We call these followers “disciples.”

Share

            Say: Before Jesus called the disciples, they had already grown up and had jobs. Some of them had become fishermen, just like their fathers were.

            Tell about something you wanted to be when you grew up.

            Have kids get in pairs and tell about what they want to be when they grow up.

Summarize

            Open a Bible, and say: A lot will change about you before you grow up! Today we’ll explore how Jesus can change our lives and what that means to us. We’ll dig into the Bible to find out. The Bible isn’t an ordinary book; it’s God’s special book. The Bible is one way God changes our lives. As we read his Word today, let’s see how he changes us.

            Pray, thanking Jesus that he can change our lives.

Tip 

Sing Songs to God

            Sing the three songs in any order.

Learn About Flip Books

            Say: Jesus can change our lives! We’re going to make a craft that shows the change in the fishermen’s lives.

            Ask if anyone has ever made a flip book or can explain what a flip book is.

            Say: That’s right. A flip book is a series of pictures that change gradually. When you flip through the book really fast, you can see the pictures change almost like a cartoon movie. Show kids your flip book as an example.

            Say: You’re going to make your own flip book that shows the disciples leaving their nets to follow Jesus. You’ll need a lot of pictures to show all that, so don’t spend a lot of time on one picture. Just use stick figures and basic shapes.

            Give everyone a stack of 15-20 sticky notes stuck together.

            Say: The easiest way is to start at the end of your flip book. That way you can see the picture that follows to trace most of it. You’ll want to have just one slight change in each picture to make it look natural. For example, you don’t want the disciples to have their net in one picture and no net in the next. Instead, the net should get just a little lower until it’s gone, so you'll just move the lines a little bit in each picture. If you want the disciples to move to follow Jesus, just have them move one little step at a time.

            One last tip: When you finish and flip through your book, you’ll hold the side that’s stuck together and flip the opposite edge. You won’t be able to see anything too close to the binding, so try to draw most of your picture pretty close to the edge you’ll flip. If you want more space to draw across the page, you could make the binding be the top of the book and flip through the bottom.

Make Flip Books

            Making flip books may be too difficult for your younger kids. Instead, give them just a few half-sheets of paper and encourage them to draw some pictures that tell the story, showing how the disciples’ lives changed. Their finished product will just be a regular book, rather than a flip book. Staple the binding.

            Have older kids draw their pictures using pencil so they can erase as needed. If some kids finish early, they can go over their pictures with markers. As kids work, they can discuss changes Jesus makes in people’s lives.

            Have kids show each other their flip books when they’re complete.

Talk About It

            Say: The disciples experienced a lot of changes when they met Jesus. They left their fishing business to follow Jesus. They left their families behind! Simon even got a new name, Peter! And that was just the beginning of how Jesus would change and grow them. Jesus can change our lives, too. Take your craft home to remind you of how Jesus changed the lives of the fishermen and how Jesus can change your life.

Talk About Fishing Trips

            Say: Today we’re going to learn about some fishermen.

            Have kids form groups of four. Have groups pass around the bowls or cups of tuna and take a whiff as they share about fishing trips they’ve been on or things they know about fishing. Set the example by sharing your own story first. After a few minutes, ask a few kids to share with the whole group.

            Say: For us, fishing might be a special trip we take for fun. But for the fishermen, it was what they did every day. It was pretty ordinary. Think about something that’s a part of your typical day.

            Give kids each a sticky note of the first color and a pen, and have them write their ordinary activity on the note. Older kids can help younger kids write. Have kids stick these notes to their clothing for now.

Change Your Life

            Distribute the second color of sticky notes. Say: In the Bible, we’ll see how Jesus changed the lives of four fishermen. To help us learn about that, think of a life-changing thing that could happen to you that you’d be really excited about. Something that would make you drop everything for this new change! For example, maybe you’d discover that your mom is actually a queen or that you’d move into a giant mansion. Write your idea on your second sticky note, and then come hang it here on the wall. Allow time, and show kids where to hang the sticky notes. Again, have older kids help younger kids. Kids will still be wearing their first sticky notes.

            Say: Great! Let’s dig into the Bible and see what our sticky notes have to do with how Jesus changes our lives. The four fishermen in our Bible story were named Simon, Andrew, James, and John. You’ll each play one of those fishermen. I’ll tell you your name now, and you’ll need to remember it. Assign each child one of those names, repeating as needed.

            Say: While they were fishing, Jesus called these men to follow him. When I read from the Bible, if you hear the name I gave you, come follow me!

            Walk around the room as you read Mark 1:16-18, and encourage the Simons and Andrews to follow you.

            Say: Jesus, Simon, and Andrew kept walking up the shore. That’s where they found more fishermen!

            Read Mark 1:19-20 as you continue to walk and the Jameses and Johns start following you. After walking a little bit, lead everyone to the wall of sticky notes.

            Say: Choose a sticky note that you think sounds like a pretty awesome change to happen in your life! If you think that thing on the sticky note is cool enough, take it off the wall and stick the one you’re wearing on your clothes onto the wall instead. So you’ll be trading the thing that you normally do every day for something new. Read some of the sticky notes so non-readers can decide what to do. Have everyone choose a sticky note (it’s okay if they pick the one they wrote) and sit down to discuss this question in their groups of four.

            Ask: • In your group, tell about whether or not you traded the thing you do every day for the new change. If you did trade, tell why, and if you didn’t trade, tell why. Allow time.

            Say: The fishermen left their fishing nets to become Jesus’ followers, or disciples. They left their families behind. They left everything! What a change! It might seem scary to leave your family and your job, but following Jesus must’ve been even more exciting than what you have on your note. It was worth it to leave everything behind because they knew Jesus would change their lives in awesome ways.

            In their groups of four, have kids discuss these questions.

            Ask: • Tell about a time your life changed in an awesome way.

            • How do you feel when you think about Jesus changing your life like that?

            Say: Jesus changed the fishermen’s lives, but that’s not just something that happened in Bible times. Jesus can change our lives, too!

Fish for People

            Say: One change was to the job itself: Instead of fishing for fish, Jesus wanted them to fish for people.

            Ask: • What do you think that means?

            Say: One thing that means is that they could tell other people about how Jesus changed their lives! We can fish for people, too, by telling them how Jesus has changed our lives.

            The fishermen’s jobs weren’t the only things that changed. Listen to this. Read John 1:42. Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter—which means “rock”!

            Ask: • If Jesus could change your name to something different that had a new meaning, what would he change it to? Before you answer, let’s try this: Close your eyes and talk to Jesus in your mind. We’ll let it be quiet in the room for a minute while each of us talks to Jesus. Ask Jesus what he might change your name to.

            Allow a minute of silence for prayer.

            Say: Would anyone be willing to share about what, if anything, you heard from Jesus?

            Invite any children who are willing to tell what Jesus would change their names to and why. It’s okay if children don’t want to share. If you heard a new name from Jesus, be sure you share it with the kids!

            Ask: • How would changing your name to a new name from Jesus make a difference in your life?

            Say: Jesus changed the disciples’ lives in ways far beyond their jobs and their names. He changed their lives in amazing ways. Later on, Peter and John healed a man who’d never been able to walk! That’s not something they could do before they met Jesus! And Peter went on to preach bravely about Jesus, even when it was risky. Jesus gave him courage! Jesus can change our lives in amazing ways, too!

            The disciples believed in Jesus and followed him, and Jesus changed their lives. Peter, Andrew, James, John, and other people who followed Jesus fished for people so well that it began the church we’re part of today! As fishermen, no one would remember them today. But as Jesus’ disciples, they got to be part of the Bible, and they got to shape history!

            We don’t know what Jesus will do when we follow him, but we know he can change our lives in amazing ways, too!

Tip 

Discuss and Watch “Reflections on Change”

            Say: Today we’ve been talking about Jesus changing our lives. As you think about change, what are changes that seem scary to you? For me…Share a change that might seem scary to you, such as moving to another state or something else that kids might relate to. Then have kids each talk to someone next to them about a change that seems scary to them. After a couple of minutes, invite a few kids to share their thoughts with the larger group.

            Ask: • What about a good change? What kind of change would seem good or even exciting to you? Again, share your own idea first, and then have kids each share with a person next to them. After two minutes, let a few kids share their thoughts with the larger group.

            Say: What seems like a scary change to some people might seem fun or exciting to others. Whether or not we like change, it’s all around us! Let’s watch a video to help us see what change might look like.

            Watch “Reflections on Change.”

            Say: We could see changes in nature through this video—and it was fun to see how fast things changed! But what about that last question on the video? It said, “Jesus can change our lives. What does that look like?”

            Ask: • What do you think it looks like when Jesus changes your life? Is it something you can see or not? Share your thoughts with the person next to you.

            Allow about two minutes for sharing, and then have a few of the kids share their ideas with the larger group. Thank kids for being willing to share.

            Say: I’m going to play this same video again, and this time as you watch things changing in nature, talk to God about what he might be changing in your life. Ask him about what he’s changing, and thank him that he has the power to make changes in our lives.

            Play “Reflections on Change” again while kids reflect and talk to God.

Make Small Changes

            Say: Jesus can change our lives!

            Ask: • What are some small changes Jesus has made in your life? To start the conversation, share some small changes Jesus has made in your life.

            As kids share answers, use the medicine dropper to add a drop of iodine to the plain water. Stop when you have 5-10 drops, and stir the solution. (Don’t let kids handle the iodine; it’s toxic if ingested!)

            Ask: • Describe the change to the water.

            Say: Our water changed color a little bit. But it’s still pretty clear. From far away, you might not be able to tell much of a difference.

Make Big Changes

            Say: Jesus can change our lives in some pretty big ways.

            Ask: • What are some big changes Jesus can make in someone’s life? Think about things he changed in the fishermen’s lives or things he’s done in your life. Start the conversation with your own example.

            As kids share answers, use the medicine dropper to add a drop of iodine to the cornstarch water. Stop when you have 5-10 drops, and stir the solution.

            Ask: • Describe the change to this liquid.

            Say: This liquid looks totally different now. It’s very dark. It’s really obvious we did something to change it, even from far away.

Talk About It

            Ask: • How obvious do you think it is to others that Jesus has changed your life?

            • Which experiment do you think better showed the way Jesus changed the disciples’ lives? Explain.

            Say: Jesus can change our lives in big and small ways. When we follow Jesus like the disciples did, it will be obvious that he’s changing us!

Change Your Appearance

            Tell kids that they’re going to see how Jesus changed the people who went with him. Tell them Jesus can change our lives, too.

            Have partners stand back-to-back. Tell them that you want them each to change one thing about their appearance in a subtle way. Maybe they’ll take off their glasses or zip their hoodie a little higher. Allow time.

            On the count of three, have partners turn around and try to guess what the other person changed. Encourage partners to tell what they changed after three guesses. Play one more time.

            Say: You made some pretty minor changes to yourselves. Let’s see what Jesus changed in the fishermen’s lives.

            Read John 1:42.

            Say: Jesus changed Peter’s name. It’s a pretty big deal to change someone’s name.

            Read Mark 1:18-20.

            Say: The disciples also left their jobs and families to follow Jesus. That’s a lot of change! It shows that Jesus can change our lives. And that makes me wonder: Does Jesus want us to give up everything we like to follow him? Is that the kind of change Jesus wants to make? Let’s dig into that.

Dig Into the Bible

            Tell kids that as someone reads the Scripture they’ll listen for what Jesus wants us to give up. Have a strong reader read aloud Mark 8:34-35.

            Ask: • Why do you think we need to give up our selfish ways to follow Jesus?

            Tell kids that as someone reads the next Scripture they’ll listen for what Jesus wants to give them. Have a strong reader read aloud John 10:10.

            Ask: • Jesus wants to give you a rich and satisfying life. What does that really mean?

            On the large paper or dry-erase board, make two columns. Label them “Selfish Ways” and “Rich and Satisfying Life.” Have kids help you think of things that fit into each category, and write down their responses. If kids name something “rich and satisfying” that seems more selfish, lead kids in discussing which category it fits in and why. Guide the discussion so that the item ends up in the right category.

            Afterward, ask: • So what do you think: Does Jesus want us to change everything about our lives to follow him—the things on both sides of our chart?

            Read aloud Mark 8:34 again.

            Say: Jesus is telling us to give up our selfish ways. He doesn’t want us to give up things like [name what kids mentioned in the Rich and Satisfying Life list], because those things help give us the full life Jesus wants to give us. So, when Jesus changes our lives, he changes them for the better! We don’t have to give up everything we like. But we might have to give up some things that are hard to give up.

Play Tag

            Choose one child to be the “Tagger.” Assign him or her to do jumping jacks throughout the game.

            Have the rest of the kids spread around the room and hop on one leg.

            The Tagger must try to get as many kids as possible to do jumping jacks by tagging them. The Tagger can only move while doing jumping jacks.

            When a child is tagged, have him or her change from hopping on one leg to doing jumping jacks while continuing to move around the room.

            Play for about two minutes or until all the children have been tagged.

            Choose a new Tagger and play the game again using different actions, such as crawling and crab-walking.

Talk About It

            Ask: • Explain whether you thought the action was easier or harder after you were tagged.

            • What makes it hard to change?

            • What can make change easier?

            Say: It isn’t always easy to experience change. Jesus changed the lives of the disciples by calling them to do something they’d never done before. Just as you followed the Tagger, they followed Jesus and learned to live his way. It meant they had to leave the things they knew—like their jobs and their families—to do something different, but something that was also very good. When we follow Jesus, he can change our lives, too. It doesn’t mean those changes will be easy, but we can trust that they’ll always be good.

Memorize

            Have kids form pairs, pairing older kids with younger kids.

            Say: Jesus can change our lives. Let’s see how well we can notice changes. Take one minute to memorize this pile. We’re going to change things in a minute and you and your partner will need to figure out what changes, so pay attention to exactly how everything is arranged.

            After a minute, have kids turn around. Choose one pair to come up and change one thing about the pile. It could be moving an item, turning an item around, or any other ideas.

Observe

            Have kids turn back to face the table and see who can be the first pair to correctly identify what changed.

            Then add a couple more items to the pile, moving everything around. Have kids take another minute to memorize the new pile, and then have them turn around while one pair makes a change.

            Continue playing, adding a couple more items each round.

Talk About It

            Ask: • What helped you notice changes in our game?

            • What changes have you noticed Jesus has made in your life?

            Say: When you believe in Jesus, he’ll change your life. That doesn’t mean just rearranging a teddy bear and a pencil like in our game. You can follow him just as the fishermen did, and he’ll make amazing changes in your life! He’ll teach you new things, he’ll bring peace to your heart, and he’ll give you a new life!

Make a Net

            Have kids each weave the fingers of both hands loosely together so their hands look like a fishing net.

            Say: When Jesus met some of the disciples, they were fishermen. They left their fishing nets behind to follow Jesus. Think about something you want Jesus to change in your life. Keep your fingers in a net as you talk to Jesus about that. Allow time for silent prayer.

Drop Your Nets

            Say: Jesus can change our lives, just as he changed the disciples’ lives. Are you ready to drop your nets and see what Jesus can do?

            I’m going to go around and say, “Jesus can change your life.” When I do, pull your hands apart to drop your net.

            Say each child’s name as you tap his or her head and say, “[Name of child], Jesus can change your life.” If you have a large group, get other leaders to help you, or have kids you’ve already tapped pass it on to others.

            Pray: God, thank you that Jesus can change our lives. We want to drop our nets and see what amazing things you’ll change in our lives! In Jesus’ name, amen.

            Thank the children for coming to church, and tell them you look forward to seeing them next week.

           Distribute a copy of the “Dig In @ Home” handout to kids as they leave, or email it to parents during the week.