Follow The Leader
WELCOME TO WEEK 1
Welcome to week 4! Jesus called Andrew and Peter to follow him. He had a special plan for their lives. They had a choice to make just like we have a choice to make every day. We can choose to follow Jesus or we can put it off and continue doing the task we started. Jesus wants each of us to follow him.
BIBLE STORY
Let’s play a game of Simon Says! When you hear me say “Simon Says” and then an action, then you can do the action. When I just say an action, without saying Simon Says, then you just keep doing the previous action or stand still.
Did I trick you a few times? Following a leader can sometimes be tricky if we are not listening well or if we are not following the right leader. Sometimes our friend want us to follow them, but they are leading us the wrong way and making poor choices. Sometimes we want to follow the people on TV and do what they say, but they are not always right. When we follow Jesus, we don’t have to worry if we will be led the wrong way. We can be sure that Jesus will always lead us in the right direction that is good for us. He knows what is best for us and only wants what is good for us. When Jesus called the disciples to follow him, they did right away. They could tell that Jesus was the right person to follow and that He had a plan for them that was far better than what they were doing right then. This week we will see how Jesus called His disciples to follow him and how He is calling us to follow him too!
Materials: paper and pencil
Read or listen to the scripture story in Mark 1:14-20
Where did Jesus go to preach? (Galilee)
What was the message that Jesus was preaching? (The good news, the Kingdom of God was near)
What were Peter and Andrew doing at the Sea of Galilee? (Casting a fishing net into the lake)
What did Jesus say He would make Peter and Andrew? (Fishers of men)
When did Peter and Andrew decide to follow Jesus? (At once they left their nets to follow Jesus)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Andrew and Peter chose to follow Jesus right away. They dropped everything they were doing to follow Him. Jesus calls each of us in different ways, but He calls all of us to follow Him. We can choose to obey by meeting the needs of others, praying for those in need, or being a good friend to someone who is hurting. We should listen to God’s voice calling us to action and then obey right away.
Activity
Peter thought the boat would sink after all of the fish he caught with Jesus. He knew Jesus did a miracle when he caught so many fish after not catching anything. There were so many fish he needed another boat to help them. Build a simple boat make of Legos and place it into a small tub of water for it to float on. Try to see how much weight your boat can hold before it sinks. Make a prediction of how many pennies they think their Lego boat can hold. Place pennies one at a time on the boat and determine how many pennies it can hold.
Materials: Legos or other linking brinks, small tub of water, pennies
Alternate
Jesus called the disciples to become fishers of man instead of fishermen. Jesus knew that they could share the good news of the gospel to the people around them. Jesus also calls us to share the gospel with people around us. Use the following fish outlines to write names of family or friends you would like to pray for and share the gospel with. Place the fish on a large construction sheet and place in an area your child can see and remember to pray for those people they listed each day.
Materials: printed fish outlines, pencil or writing utensil
independent activity:
Complete the following activity sheet. (Color the place you can show Jesus love-Red; the people you can show Jesus love-blue; the things you use to share Jesus- green (bible, music, words,)
Materials: printed activity sheet, crayon, pencil or pen
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
make these accordion paper fish. Cut a rectangle from construction paper and alternate fold it like an accordion or a fan. Leave the top quarter unfolded for the face of the fish. Cut off the corners of the face to make them rounded edges. Cut a small slit in the side of the face for the fish’s mouth. On a separate colored construction paper, cut out its fin and tail. Use a white sheet of paper to cut out its eye and color a black dot on the inside. Glue the fish parts on and then decorate the fish body using a black crayon or marker and adding geometric designs such as lines, circles or dots. Outline the fish if desired, with a black marker or crayon. See the following website for an example and step by step picture instructions.
Materials: white, yellow and other optional colors construction paper, gold glitter, glue, writing utensil
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Who did Jesus call to follow him?
How long did Peter and Andrew wait before they followed Jesus?
Did they stop fishing because they were bad fishermen?
Have you ever followed after someone else and gotten into trouble?
Who can you trust to always follow who will never lead you the wrong way?
How can we live each day to show we follow Jesus?
What is something you have or do that is the most important to you?
Would you give up what you say is most important, to follow Jesus?
Practical Application at Home
Having a meaningful life is more than getting all the things you think you want or need to be happy. Think of the times you have been most content and had a sense of fullness that lasted longer than a few moments or hours. Were they times you received a long awaited gift? A time when you worked hard to give a gift to someone else? Bringing others joy can have a big impact on our own mood. When we have shared something wonderful with someone else, we often feel as if we received a gift as well. We share the joy they have received.
This week look for ways you can share joy with the people around you. Print the following grid and see how many boxes you can complete this week. Some are simple task that do not take any preparation to complete and some task you may need to plan ahead. At the end of the week, take notice of how you feel as well as how you made others feel. Decide if the saying is true, ‘it is better to give than to receive’.
Materials: Printed Week of Giving sheet, pencil, other materials needed to complete suggested activities.
Jesus wants us to be fishers of man and we can do that in the way we treat others around us. Jesus wants them to know His love for them and He wants you to have a meaningful life. A life filled with the love of Jesus, not filled with things that are slowing passing away.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.