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In addition to the story recorded in Luke 5, the other three Gospels also record various aspects of Jesus calling and appointing his disciples. We encourage you to read these accounts as well:

• Matthew 4:18-22 (calling of the first disciples), 10:1-4 (Jesus sends the Twelve out)

• Mark 1:16-20 (calling of the first disciples), 3:13-19 (Jesus appoints the Twelve)

• John 1:35-51 (calling of Andrew, Peter, Phillip, Nathanael)

The Luke account is a good one to focus on with the kids because it contains a wonderful and memorable story.

Jesus is preaching by the Sea of Galilee (Luke calls it the Lake of Gennesaret) and he notices two boats that had been left there by some discouraged fishermen. Simon, James and John were fishing partners and they had a tough night of fishing. They worked hard and didn't catch a thing. So they had hung it up for the day and they were cleaning their nets.

Jesus asked them if he could use their boats to preach from since there were so many people. Simon Peter agreed and took him out just a little bit into the water. Jesus finished preaching and told them to put out into deep water again and let the nets down for a catch. Simon told him that they had just worked all night and didn't catch a thing, but "because you say so, I will let down the nets". They heard the words of Jesus and knew there was something special about him. So they had enough faith to do this thing he asked them to do, even though they didn't have any expectation that it was going to actually work.

But when they let down their nets, they caught such a huge catch of fish that their nets began to break. They had to go get help to bring in the amount of fish they had caught without sinking their boat. 

Simon Peter was terrified at the power this Jesus displayed and fell on his knees and said, "Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!". But Jesus told him not to be afraid and that from now on, they will catch men. So those 3 men left everything they had - their boats, nets, and fishing business - and followed Jesus. They became some of the first disciples of Jesus.

Through the other accounts in the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, we learn that these 12 men become Jesus' closest friends and disciples. Jesus was closest with Peter, James, and John. 

Here are the names of the 12 disciples (Mark 3:16-19 gives a listing):

1. Simon Peter (Simon was his given name, Jesus re-named him Cephas, or Peter, which means "rock")

2. Andrew (Peter's brother)

3. James (son of Zebedee)

4. John (James' brother, also a son of Zebedee - the two of them were known as the "Sons of Thunder" - cool nickname!)

5. Philip

6. Bartholomew

7. Matthew (also known as Levi, the tax collector)

8. Thomas

9. James (son of Alphaeus)

10. Thaddaeus

11. Simon the Zealot

12. Judas Iscariot (the one that betrayed Jesus)

First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. 

• Where was Jesus preaching when he called Simon Peter to be his disciple? The Sea of Galilee

• What were Simon Peter, James and John doing when Jesus came to them? Washing their nets, because they had just finished fishing throughout the night

• Why did Jesus want to get in their boat? To preach from the boat since there were so many people around him

• What did Jesus ask Peter to do after he was done preaching? Push out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch

• What was Peter's response? He told Jesus that they had just finished fishing all night and didn't catch anything, but because he asked them to, they would do it

• What happened next? They caught so many fish that their nets began to break and they had to bring more boats to haul in all of the fish

• Who was Simon Peter's brother? Andrew

• What was James and John's nickname? Sons of Thunder

• Peter, James and John left everything they had to follow Jesus. They became disciples of Jesus, which means they followed him, listened to what he had to say, and did everything Jesus asked them to do.

Everyone should be quick to listen. But they should be slow to speak. They should be slow to get angry. James 1:19 

Directions

1. Before class, print out the patterns and cut them out. Do not cut the disciples apart yet. Boat Pattern

2.  In class, have your children color the front and backside of the boats.

3.  Give your children white printer paper to cut out triangle shapes for sails. If you have very small children, cut them out for them before class.

4.  Give each child one straw and help them tape the sail to the top of the straw and tape the bottom of the straw to the inner part of the backside of the boat.

5.  Give one disciples pattern to each child. Instruct the children to draw a smiley face on the top of each disciple shape or use smiley face stickers instead. Encourage your children to use different colors to color each of the disciple’s clothes.

6.  When they are finished coloring, cut the group of disciples into individual strips.

7.  Help your children glue or tape the disciples into the boat, so they don’t fall out.

Directions

1.  Give each child a piece of construction paper and have them trace, cut out, and decorate their feet! They can draw shoes, sandals, toes, etc... on each footprint. 
2. On the back of each footprint, they need to put "follow" and "Jesus"

Directions

Scripture Here are the names of the 12 apostles. First are Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. Then come James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. Next are Philip and Bartholomew, and also Thomas and Matthew the tax collector. Two more are James, son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus. The last are Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. Matthew 10:2-4

Supplies large playing space

• Choose one person to be "it and one person to be Jesus.

• "It" tries to tag the other players.

• If a player gets tagged, Jesus must come and listen to you name at least 6 (or more or less depending on age of children) of the disciples to be unfrozen.

Directions