Jesus Calls His Disciples
Volume 7, Unit 20, Session 4
Hi there parents! Welcome back! Or if you're new here, welcome! The following blog is here to be used as a tool by you to help your kids grow in their faith while we can't be meeting weekly during this pandemic. Please feel free to use as much of it as you choose. You know your kids and are the best possible teacher for them. God has given you the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to do more than you think possible (Eph 3:20).
May I encourage you with a verse from Deuteronomy about teaching your children the scriptures? Chapter 6 verse 9 says, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Maybe you don't have time to sit and have an hour of Bible time all at once, or maybe your children are to young to sit for that long. Take the key points and ask God to give you opportunities to speak them into the hearts of your children throughout the week. Let the Bible become a part of your day to day. Be blessed this week my friends!
Each week we will include songs, activity pages, the bible lesson video, memory verses and possibly a craft or 2. We pray this will help you find ways to engage your kids spiritually. It is written in script form from the K-2nd grade lesson so you can read directly from it or change it up to suit your children. Take a few moments to print the activity pages as well as the additional activities and review the lesson so you can make adjustments as needed. I have included the Bible and Discussion questions along with a breakdown of the Gospel in the Older Kids Activities pages and loads of activities and crafts on the Preschool Extra Activity Pages. Once you are ready, go ahead and start with these songs if you'd like or pick some of your favorite worship songs and then jump right in! Have fun! And remember, this does not need to be done in one sitting! Feel free to break it up over the course of the week. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!
So let's get started. I like to begin each week with Blessings and Bummers. Tell me, what have you seen the Lord doing in your lives during this time at home? What have your greatest blessings been? How about your biggest bummers?
Parents share your blessings and bummers, and encourage the kids to do the same. Here is mine. This week a good friend reached out to me for the first time in a while. Having friends is a special blessing. I'm bummed that we can't get together, I'm sure you miss your friends too.
Let's pray. Father God, you are so good to us! Thank you for continuing to bless us Lord. Thank you for our toys as well as our families. Help us to appreciate all you do for us and to look to you in all that we do. Be with our friends and families while we can not be with them in person. In Jesus name, Amen. (please add to or customize prayer time to fit your family)
Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers! Having friends is a great blessing from the Lord. It can be difficult to maintain close friendships with many people, so we often have a smaller group of very close friends. Today we will hear about when Jesus chose some people to be His closest friends and followers.
As we get to the story, let’s review the big picture question.
Why did Jesus become human? Jesus became human to obey His Father’s plan and rescue sinners. Jesus is God the Son, and He loves God the Father. As a result, Jesus wanted to obey the Father’s perfect plan. Jesus also loves people and wants to see us saved from sin. God’s plan for Jesus to die on the cross required Jesus to become human. Jesus wanted to obey God and save people, so He perfectly obeyed God’s plan.
Over the last few weeks we've seen how Jesus obeyed all aspects of God’s plan. Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. Then Jesus obeyed the Holy Spirit and prayed in the wilderness for 40 days without food. Jesus was tempted and never sinned. This week, we will see that Jesus called disciples to follow Him. And that’s exactly what the disciples did!
Let's watch this weeks video to learn more...
Jesus called disciples to follow Him. You know what I find so amazing about this story? The men Jesus called left basically everything they had to follow and obey Jesus. The fishermen walked away from their boats, and the tax collector left his tax booth. When Jesus called, they answered. They were far from perfect, but they obeyed right away. They seemed to know that what they were giving up was nothing compared to what they would gain by following Jesus.
And again, the men Jesus called were not people without sin. Many of the people who followed Jesus sinned in ways that were very obvious. That’s one of the big reasons the religious leaders hated Jesus. They thought that the Messiah would only spend time with and love people who were good (or at least looked and acted like they were good).
Jesus knew that if people were righteous—their hearts and actions lined up with God’s Word—then He wouldn’t have needed to come to earth. But people are not righteous, and God’s plan required that Jesus come to earth as a human. Why did Jesus become human? Jesus became human to obey His Father’s plan and rescue sinners. Just as sick people need a doctor, sinners need Jesus. The religious leaders at the time were like sick people who did not believe they were sick.
Jesus came to earth to show what God is like and to save people from their sins. This is great news! Jesus told His disciples to tell others about Him, and we are Jesus’ disciples when we trust in Him. Everyone in the world needs to hear the good news about Jesus.
Bible Time!
Help kids find Matthew 4. You may use the New Testament Israel Map to show the kids where the Sea of Galilee is. Discuss the slightly different accounts found in the gospels. Remind the kids that each gospel is written by a different man, but all their accounts are inspired by God and trustworthy. This is why some of the events in one book may not be in others or are recorded from slightly different perspectives.
Ask the following questions. Lead the group to discuss:
What did Jesus say He would teach His disciples to do? (fish for people, Matt. 4:19)
What were some things Jesus’ disciples left behind to follow Him? (nets, boats, family, jobs, and so forth; Matt. 4:20-22; 9:9)
With whom did Jesus eat and spend His time? (sinners and tax collectors, Matt. 9:10)
Why does Jesus love sinners? Help kids understand that everyone is a sinner, and Jesus loves all people because we are created in God’s image. Jesus wants to see people repent of sin, turning to God to be saved. He loves sinners and rescues them. He helps us turn away from sin and glorify God instead.
What might we lose by following Jesus? Guide kids to talk about the cost of loving and obeying Jesus. Help them think about the ways others might react to them, the influence they may lose, or the persecution they may face. Remind the kids that, in some places, following Jesus may even cost a person her life.
What can we gain by following Jesus? Discuss the unending joy and eternal life we have with God when we have faith in Jesus. Point kids to the hope they have in life: that we gain new purpose, can resist sin, and are filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Point kids also to the hope we have for the future: that Jesus will return and fix all that sin has broken. On that day, we will reign with Christ as children of God.
Say • Jesus called disciples to follow Him. If we have faith in Jesus, we are His disciples as well. God forgives us and gives us power to live for Him. That means we can call people to follow Jesus, too!
Let's look at our key memory verse together:
Here's a fun activity to try:
Write each word or phrase of the key passage on a separate index card. Place a paper clip onto the edge of each card. Attach a magnet to the end of a length of string. You may attach the other end of the string to a stick or dowel. Allow the kids to take turns using the magnet and string to try and “catch” the key passage cards. After kids catch all the cards, challenge them to put the cards in order.
Say • John told people that Jesus is the One they should follow. Today we heard how Jesus called disciples to follow Him. All of us should seek to follow Jesus in a way that glorifies Him and not ourselves.
Let's sing to praise God and learn our verse together.
That's it for today. Thanks for joining us. Let's pray:
Father, thank You for sending Jesus to rescue us. Help us follow Him each day. Give us love for Jesus and for the people we meet each day. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can obey You more. Amen.
