JESUS INVITES YOU TO BE LIKE HIM

ELEMENTARY (Y1)

WELCOME TO WEEK 4

It’s our final week of this series, week 4! This week we will learn that Jesus welcomes us to follow him! Jesus calls each one of us to be his disciples, to live for him! We will learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

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BIBLE STORY

Find a parent or a partner to play this game. Practice following the leader. Play your favorite Christian song and be the leader as you move to the song. Have your partner see if they can follow your different moves as you change throughout the song. If you don’t have a partner at home to play this game with watch this video. Follow the moves as they change.

Was it easy or hard to keep up with their moves and to follow them. Have you ever played follow the leader? Is it hard for people to follow your directions? Is it hard to follow the directions of your teacher, parents or leaders? Do we usually follow directions right away or wait to follow directions? We’ve learned that Jesus is not like us, he is unusual because he is God! Let’s continue in our story as we read to find out what happens next. Read or listen to Matthew 4:18-23

Who did Jesus see first as he walked beside the Sea of Galilee? (Simon and his brother Andrew)
What were the brothers doing when Jesus came to them? (They were fishing because they were fishermen)
Jesus called them to follow him to become what? (FIshers of men)
Who did Jesus see next? (James and his brother John)
What were they doing? (in a boat preparing their nets)
When Jesus called them, what did they do? (Immediately left their boat and father to follow Jesus)
If you were James and his brother John, do you think it would be easy to leave your father and immediately follow Jesus.
Would you be able to drop everything you were doing to follow or do you think you would have to think about it first?
Why do you think the brothers were so sure about their answer to follow Jesus?

Watch an alternative video link here.

Materials: Music, Computer to play video, Bible or online bible

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

Jesus called the disciples as they were working and earning their living. They were willing to leave everything behind to follow Jesus. The life he offered wasn’t one of ease and comfort but he did offer them life with Him and eternal life. In the eyes of those around them, the disciples were doing things a little backwards. The first activity is doing something that seems a little backwards as well.

ACTIVITY

Using a small stick, yard stick or dowel, attach a string to the end (you can use tape as an adhesive). On the end of the string attach a small magnet using tape. Print out these fish and attach a metal paperclip to each fish. Place the fish in a bowl or on a large blue cloth to represent blue water. Starting on the other side of the room, walk toward the pond then about halfway, stop and turn around and go fishing backwards. If you are playing with a partner the first person to catch 3 fish wins. If playing by yourself, use a timer to see how many fish you can catch in 4 minutes.

Materials: Small stick or dowel, String, Tape, Magnet (small), Printed fish, Paper clip, Bowl (medium sized)

ALTERNATIVE:

Download and print this Fish Puzzle activity.

Materials: Fish puzzle link

CREATE:

(STEAM) Using skittles and water create a picture. On a plate, arrange your skittles to look like a picture of Jesus on the water. After you have the skittles on the plate the way you want, add a little water over the plate and watch the dye run across the plate to create a picture. Explore using different pictures as well. Watch this video to see how it was done.

Materials: Skittles, Large plate, Water

DOWNLOADABLE ACTIVITY:

ACTIVITY SHEET

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Halves boat Shapes:

Materials: 2 pieces of paper, Scissors, Glue, Crayons or coloring utensil

CRAFT 1

CRAFT 2

Hanging fish. Write the names of people you can witness to.

Materials: Crayons or coloring utensil, Printer, Scissors, Glue a piece of paper

CRAFT 2

CRAFT 3

Coloring page.

Materials: Crayons or coloring utensils, Printout

CRAFT 3

FOLLOW-UP

Read or listen to Mark 8:34-36.

What did Jesus say one must do to follow Him? (Deny himself and take us his cross)
If being a follower of Christ is hard why would anyone want to follow Jesus?
What else did Jesus promise in this verse? (To gain life in Jesus)
What does it mean to deny yourself?
What are some things we might need to deny ourselves?
Think of some things you have denied yourself in order to follow Jesus.

Sometimes we get to experience the benefits gained in denying ourselves in order to follow Jesus, right away. Sometimes we may not see the benefit from our choices right away or on this side of heaven, but God’s plan for us has a lasting reward that far outweighs any temporary reward.

Watch video of Jesus calling his followers to take up their cross and follow Him.

Materials: Bible or Computer, Video Link

Practical Application at Home

Jesus called his disciples to follow him. He also calls each one of us to follow him as well. We are each called to share God’s word and his love with the people around us. We are to share God’s love with people at school, our family and other people we meet. Think of ways you can follow Jesus this week and complete the following activity.

Think of some things you can do this week such as:

1. Share a favorite bible story with a sibling or a friend. Tell them why it’s your favorite story and how you see God in the story.
2. Show love and care for someone who is hurt. Being kind to another kid who is hurt on the playground can show them that someone loves them, like Jesus! Ask them if they are ok or if they need help.
3. Be helpful to your parents, teachers, and friends. Volunteer to help them before they ask for help. In this way we are putting others’ needs before our own.
4. Obey your parents and teachers the first time they ask something of you. Obedience to our parents helps us prepare for obedience to God. If we practice answering the call of our parents, when God calls us we will be better prepared to answer His call for our lives.
5. Work and accomplish your daily tasks with a smile! Smiling goes a long way not only for your own mood but its also contagious to the people around you. You may find the more you smile, the more people around you will smile. It will help create a pleasant environment around you.

Complete the following paper and post it in your room or kitchen to help you remember and keep track of how you follow Jesus this week. You can print and complete a new task each week and then come up with a few tasks of your own.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0RweH-3RyI0RFhJRElZekNXX3M/edit

Materials: Following Jesus printout.