Calling of the Fishermen
CALLING OF THE FISHERMEN
Objectives:
- Students should be able to name all 12 disciples.
- Students should be able to tell the story of the miracle of the full nets.
- Students should know that Jesus’s closest followers were called “disciples”.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Scripture references: Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, and Luke 5:1-11. When did Jesus first meet Andrew? (He was a follower of John the Baptist.) Why is Andrew called the “First-called”? Who was Andrew’s brother? (Simon, later named Peter by Jesus) Who were the sons of Zebedee, also brothers? (James and John) Why were they called the “Sons of Thunder”? What do you think Peter said when he saw all those fish in his net? Why did the fishermen give up fishing to follow Jesus?
- Talk a bit about being a disciple. What is a disciple? (a person who follows the teachings of a teacher) Jesus had 12 close disciples, but many followers. What did the fishermen have to do to become Jesus’s disciples? Did they enjoy fishing? How do you think they felt leaving their homes and families? Was it easy being a disciple? We are also Jesus’s disciples. What does Jesus ask us to do? Is it always easy? Look at the story of the rich, young ruler in Luke 18:18-23; what did Jesus ask of him? He was a “nice guy”, not a horrible sinner, but was he a disciple? Why or why not?
Sometimes we are confused by the reference to disciples and apostles. Many of these men were the same. Disciples are students and followers. Apostles are people sent forth to do something – in this case to teach the world about Jesus. Which disciple never became an apostle? (Judas Iscariot)
- Begin to list and memorize the 12 disciples: Peter and Andrew, James and John, Matthew, Philip and Nathaniel Bartholomew, Simon the Zealot, James (the Less), (Doubting) Thomas, Judas, and Judas Iscariot.
- Play a learning game: Concentration. Write the name of each of the 12 disciples twice in random order in rows on the large tablet. Cover each name with a Post-It Note with a number from 1-24. Players take turns guessing two numbers; if the names match, the player continues. If not, the Post-It notes are replaced and the next student tries.
- Add to your time line as usual..
- Close with prayer.