JESUS HELPS THE DISCIPLES CATCHFISH

BIBLE BASISLuke 5:1-11

LESSON AIM

That the children will understand that Jesus had only to say, •'Throw out your nets," and the nets filledwith fish.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

In a world hungry for power, the power we see in Jesus Christ is quite a contrast. He did not use power forself-advancement or for selfish reasons, but rather to accomplish God's purposes in every situation He faced.At the end of His time with His disciples, he said, "All power is given to me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28: 18).In the miracle of the fish found in Luke 5, we observe Jesus exercising this great power over living creaturesas He enables the disciples to catch a great quantity of fish. Peter, James and John were so astonished at thismiracle that they left everything behind to follow Him. They knew that He had the power they needed in theirlives - the power to help, to love, to forgive, to heal and to serve God. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 1:19 aboutHis (God's) incomparably great power for those believe. Our world is desperate for a demonstration of true power- the power that comes from God and brings life and help to those in need. We must each ask ourselves if thepeople we know can see God's power in our lives. If they can't, we need to open ourselves anew to accept allthat God desires to give us.

GREETING

If you have a real fish in a bowl, place it near the door and draw attention to it as the children arrive. Beforeclass place small 3" fish around the room. Encourage each child to find a fish in the room and put it in the netthat you make for your mural. Tell each child that today he will be hearing a Bible story about Jesus and some fish.

CENTER TIME1. "Let Down Your Nets"

The supplies from this center will be used to tell the story. Tape some blue water made from butcher paperand a brown boat to the wall where you want this center to be:

Tape a haimet, which can be found at a drugstore, or a small net of any kind about 12" long, to the water.Cut out at least as many 3" fish as you have children and place them around the room. As the children are greeted,they will be encouraged to find a fish. The teacher will want to help each child find a fish and place the fish inthe net. As you do, explain the boat, water and the purpose of the net to each child. Remind him that we aregoing to hear a story today from the Bible about Jesus and some fish.

*A bag used to hold grapefruit, potatoes or onions may also be used.

2. Go FishingPlace butcher paper around a table in order to make it look like a boat.* Let the paper come up 4-5" from

the top of the table so that the children feel as if they are in a boat. Use a chair for a step ladder and encourage·3 or 4 children to get into the boat and "go fishing:' Give them a net (or a sheet). Put the sides of the net togetherand let your "disciples" in the boat hold the net. You need a bucket of about 35 6" fish. Tell the children in the"boat" that when you say, "Jesus said, 'Throw out your net,'" they should throw out the net or sheet. Then youwill pour the fish into the net. The children will want to do this again. Take the opportunity to show the Bibleand tell them the story is from the Bible. Older children may want to take turns being Jesus.

*This same idea may also be done in chairs by wrapping the butcher paper around the chairs.

FOR CHILDREN 24 MONTHS OLD AND UNDER

1. "Let Down Your Nets" (see this center under older children for details)

Younger children will enjoy placing the fish into the net. You will want to let them pick a fish froma basket. Remind the children that the Bible says that Jesus helped some men catch fish. Always haveyour Bible nearby. The children will enjoy taking the fish out of the net and putting them back in again.

2. Fisherman

Place a sheet of blue butcher paper or white butcher paper with blue waves drawn on onto yourtable. Give each child a small plastic bowl. Place 3 or 4 construction paper fish onto the center table.Bring any kind of hat from home. Let each child pretend to be a fisherman. As he takes his turn, lethim wear the hat and collect 3 or 4 fish from the center of the table to put into his bowl. Remind eachchild that the· Bible says that Jesus helped some friends catch fish.

3. Fishy WaterPlace a sheet of blue butcher paper onto the Wall. Cut out 8-10 construction paper fish. Let each

child pick a fish from a basket and tape it· onto the mural. Have your Bible in your lap and remindeach child that the Bible says Jesus helped some men catch fish.

STORY TIME

1. Supplies NeededBible; wall mural and the pieces from the center, Let Down Your Nets.

2. Preparation for StoryBegin your story sooner today so that you can playa game with the fishing net (sheet) that you used in the

Go Fishing Center. Place the children in a circle and let them hold onto the net. Older children may wantto walk in a circle while holding the net. Sing the following song to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb":

Jesus said, ''Throw out your net,Throw out your net, throw out your net."Jesus said, "Throw out your net,And you will catch some fish:'

Younger children may want to stand around the net and hold their own fish. When you sing the last line ofthe song, they can all throw fish onto the net. You will want to repeat this several times. This will prepare thechildren to understand the story better. End this time in prayer thanking God that Jesus could help the men catchmany fish.

*BIBLE LEADER - Have one child come up and read (repeat after you while he is holding the open Bible),"Jesus said, 'Throw out your net.'"

3. Outline for Story• All ages enjoy watching you tell this story from your wall mural

(used in the Let Down YourNets Center). Recreate the muralas you tell the story. Tape the pieces back onto the wall as youcover each point.

• "Jesus' friends had not caught any fish all day."• "Jesus came and got into their boat."

• "Jesus said, 'Throw out your net.'''• "Jesus' friends threw out the net."

• "Many fish swam into the net." (Add fish.)• "Jesus made the fish swim into the net."

• "Jesus' friends were so happy!"*Do the monthly rhyme. Then close in prayer.

*Have Pepperidge Farm Goldfish for snack today.**Children 24 months and under may not be able to walk in a circle holding the net (see Preparation for Story).You will only do Outline for Story.

MUSIC TIME

• Sing "Jesus Loves Me" as the children arrive.• Use the net filled with fish that you used at Story Time. Have the children guess what's in the "net". Ask

them, "What did Jesus tell his friends to do?" Throw out the net.

• Sing "Jesus said, Throw Out Your Net" (see Story Time for words and tune).• Also sing "Zacchaeus", "Praise Him, Praise Him" and "Pitter Patter."

CRAFf TIME

1. Before Sunday cut out water, nets and fish. Staple sides of water to background sheet and attach net witha brad (net should move in and out of the water).

2. Have child glue fish onto net. Say, "Jesus said, 'Throw out your net, and you will catch many fish.'" Demonstratemoving the net in and out of the water.

NOfE TO PARENTS

The following points might be included in your note to parents:1. Advise them of the story and activities taught that day.2. Suggest that the parent and child make a Bible bookmarker with a fish on it. She can help her child find the

story'in Luke 5:1-11.3. Younger children may simply want to repeat the activity with the sheet for the net. The parent would need

to cut out some fish with her child. They could take turns throwing the fish into the net. The parent will wantto remind the child that Jesus said, "Throw out the net!" and the fish swam into the net.

EXPANDED SESSION'JESUS HELPS THE DISCIPLES CATCH FISH ·

Supplement

BffiLE BASISLuke 5:1-11

LESSON AIMThat the children willunderstand that] esus had only to say, "Throw out your nets;' and the nets filled with fish.

CENTER TIME

1. It's Hard to Catch a Fish

The purpose of the center is to show the children that it is hard for us to catch a fish. But all Jesus had to do wassay, "Throw out your nets," and the nets were full of fish. )/

Have a drinking straw, a 2 foot piece of yam and a twist tie for each child. Tie one tr-: :::-,::'::--=-=-:-::::::'0· 'C' ::C<~-:'=

end of the yam to the straw and twist the other end of the yam onto the twist tie andshape it into a hook - thus making a fishing pole.

Then have each child cut out a fish which has been traced or mimeographed ontoconstruction paper (see pattern). Have the child tape a small strip of construction paperonto the side of the fish providing a loop on which to hook the fish. Then the child cantry to hook his fish with his "pole."

As you open your Bible to Luke 5:1-11, you can have the following conversation with the children:"It may be very hard for you to catch the fish you just made. It is very hard to catch a real fish. The Bible

tells us that Jesus' friends fished all night and did not catch any fish in their nets. But Jesus is God's Son, andall he had to do was say, "Throw out your nets;' and immediately the nets were full of fish." .

STORY TIME'

1. Supplies NeededBible; wall mural and the pieces from the center, Let Down Your Nets.

2. Preparation for StoryEase the children to your story circle by singing your transition song. Once the children are seated sing' 'Where

is ," act out monthly rhyme, monthly Bible verse and begin story with prayer. "Dear Jesus,thank you for helping the men catch fish. Amen."

*BIBLE LEADER - Have one child come up and read (repeat after you while he is holding the open Bible),"Jesus said, 'Throw out your net.'''

3. Outline for Story• "One day Jesus was standing by a lake teaching some people about God."• "It became so crowded, he soon found himself at the water's edge."• "Jesus saw some fishermen and fishing boats nearby. One boat belonged to a man named Simon."• "Jesus asked Simon to row him out from the shore a little so he could continue to teach the people."• "When he was through teaching, Jesus told Simon to row out to deeper water and "throw out your nets" and

catch some fish."• "Peter told Jesus that he had already fished all night and had caught nothing. But since Jesus had told him

to throw out his nets, he would do what Jesus said."• "When he threw out the nets, so many fish swam into the nets that they almost broke. Simon had to call some

friends to help."• "Jesus had made the fish swim into the nets."

• "Jesus friends were so happy. From that day on theI followed Jesus and went with him wherever he went."Do monthly rhyme. Close in prayer. Have Peppe~ge Farm goldfish for snack today.