LEADERS HUB
Year 1, Term 1, Week 5: Ideas for Junior Group
Week 5: Jesus is here... He wants us to follow Him!
Lesson Objective:
Jesus came to Earth and invited ordinary people to be His followers. He wants us to follow Him too!
Bible Passage:
Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 4:18-22
Memory Verse:
Luke 5:10-11: Jesus told Simon, 'Don't be afraid! From now on you will bring in people instead of fish!' The men pulled their boats up on the shore. Then they left everything and went with Jesus.
Story Idea: Act it Out or Watch It!
Clear a space in the room and set the scene:
- Create a large boat shape on the floor (eg. outline using masking tape)
- Cut out and stick fish to the walls all around the room
- Bring a large net (fishing net, badminton net, bed sheet etc.)
- Have the kids all sit in the boat shape and pretend to row the boat and pretend to cast fishing lines and nets to go fishing
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While sitting in the boat, tell the kids the story and have the kids follow your actions:
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- Simon and Andrew, James and John were all fishermen, and they had spent a loooong night (stretch arms out wide) out on the boat without catching ANY (wave arms back and forth to show nothing) fish!
- Jesus came and got into Simon's boat, and asked him to row (row arms) it out into DEEEEP waters and put the nets down to catch some fish...
- Simon said to Jesus, 'We have been out fishing (cast line like fishing) ALLLL night and we haven't caught a single thing! But... If you tell me to go, I will!
- They rowed the boat out into the water, and threw down their nets (throw net out).... and they caught SOOOO many fish (push arms out wide to indicate many). SO many fish that the boats began to sink!
- The fishermen were amazed by Jesus, and they knew that He was from God!
- Jesus asked the men to follow Him, so they all immediately left their nets and followed Him!
- These fisherman became followers and friends of Jesus, and He had so much to show them and teach them!
- Jesus is amazing, and He asks us to follow Him and be His friend too!
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OR
Have the kids watch the following youtube video:
Quiz Questions:
1. Had the fisherman caught anything on their boat before Jesus came? No
2. Jesus asked them to row their boat out and put down their nets to catch some fish... what happened when they did? They caught fish
3. How many fish did they catch? Enough to sink the boat
4. Jesus invited the fishermen to be His followers, did they follow Him? Yes
5. Did they follow Jesus straight away or did they say maybe later? Straight away
6. Does Jesus want us to follow Him too? Yes
7. Why should we follow Jesus? He loves us, He made us, He knows what's best for us, He died for us, He is amazing
Game Idea: Magnet Fishing
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- Before the lesson, cut out a series of fish from cardboard and attach a paper clip to each one
- Prepare fishing rods by tying a magnet on the end of a string to a stick (or wooden spoon etc.)
- Create a fishing pond in your room (using a blue sheet or masking tape circle on the floor)
- Lay the fish out and have the kids fish for them using the rods
- You could split the group into teams and have the teams race to see how many fish each team can get
Remind the kids that Jesus invited the fishermen to follow Him, and He invites us to follow Him too!
Craft Idea: Egg Carton Boat
- Before the lesson, collect a series of egg cartons, cut them in half and poke small holes through the two peaks in the centre of the half
- Download and print the sails template on coloured paper, cut them out, and punch a hole at the top and bottom of each sail
- Gather straws (keep some full length and cut some in half), tape, and things to decorate with (paint or pens, glitter, glue, sequins, paper cut outs etc. from the cupboard
- Have the kids decorate their boat and sails
- Help them stick straws through the holes in the carton and tape in place - a full in the back and a half in the front, then thread the sails onto the poles (the curve of the paper should hold the sail in place)
Prayer Idea: Prayer Dice
- Use the prayer dice with the picture cards inserted
- Have the kids sit in a circle and take turns rolling the dice and thanking God for what shows up on top, as well as thanking God that we can follow Him!
