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LongagoJesuscalii people
to Dehisdisciples,
to learn
fron himandto texh
others.
.resus
callsustodayto witness
to thegoodnewsthathe
broughtanclto shareJesus,
.-, STATION OB'ECTIVES
poges3-6
By the end of thie unit children will
* discoverthe lirst disciplesthat Jesus called were ordinary fishermen:
* discoverJesus calls peopletoday to lollow and be disciples;
* experience ways we can follow Jesus:
* discover Jesus calls people who aie less thar perfect to be his disclples,
STATION SETUP
Remove tables. chairs, and other obstacles from the center of the room.
Photocopy the Main Idea, Objectives, Bible Background for lraders,
Shepherd Tips, and Check Your Facts for each leader and shepherd.
[Seepages3-6.)
wANr ro Do riloRE?
Cut footprints from construction paper. Write sections of the Bible
story, or other sayings ofJesus, on each footprint. Tape the footprints
caning
th. Disciel.s
P€rnl$iod
grured
b lbotocow
Resources
ror lo@i chrrch
cd
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Supplies
optionol:
pencil
scissors
iope
to the lloor around the classroom to create a labyrinth lor the
children to follow as they arrive.
SAFETY CHECK
tr The church should be a place of secudty a place where children
can count on things alld people being reliable.
tr Shepherds should know the whereabouts of every child in the
shephead s group. and they should know where to reach a parent
in case oI an emergency.
tr Make sule the children havc plentv of space to play games.
Remove any obstacles.
E Make sure the children use equiprnent in a sale nanner. lnvite extra
adult help. il needed, Ior the number of children in lhis station.
tr Monitor the dilference between high ener{y levels and rowdiness.
tr For the fishir-lg galnes, be certain that cl]ildren alre thr enough
aparl thir[ they will not hit another child with their pole.
J l,_orthe trusl walk. bc certain there are no dangerous obstacles in
the way.
BIBLE STORY
Resources
Bibles
(5-10 rrinules)
tlolcl your Bible open 10 Mark l: 16. 'fell the
(ihildren thal you will ncecl their help telling
the Bible story. As you read the slory,
sornewords will be nissing. When that
happens.ask Lhechildrcnto shoui
appointed
twelve...
out the word thzrt comcs |ext.
NOte: tlyo" are early in the unit, or
have many new children in
the group, you nlay want to
read through the story once
belbrc askhg children Lo fill in thc
missing words.
)dli
to be withhim,andto
be sentoutto
proclaim
the message.
(l'lark314)
One day Jesus was walking on the shore ofthe Sea oI
(Galileel. lvhen he saw Sinon and his brother
Ar1drew casting
hets) into the sea. Jesus said to
(Follow) n1e and I will make you lish for
them. "_
(people)." Immediately they left their nets and
lollowed him. Then. Jesus saw James son oI Zebedee and his
(brother) John, who were _
(n-lending)
(callecl)them, and they left
their nets. Jesus
(nets or boats] and followed him.
their _
AsK: What did Lhe disciples do to follow Jesus? (Obeyed God, l]elped
others, loved others.)
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Bibre E:p€ri.nc.
StanonE@
How have 1ou IollowedJesu. this \eek?
0ptiOn: witfr older children. tell the story again. leaving out names
or more words until ttre children are telling the story by
themselves.Youngerchildren nay enioy this as well, but
may need some prompting.
Note
ACTIVTTY OPTIONS
Fesoufces
andlxeby
slesarccofstanl
chang
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wwwpowerxpress.c0m
forupdates
tlratmay
helpyoulnplann
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(45-50 minutes]
Choose liom the following activities as your Lime :rnd the
children's interesl allow.
ForYounger
Children
Supplies
Jesus Soys...
newsprint/morkers
or cholkboord/cholk
Work with the children to create a list oI things that Jesus said to
clo. (For example: pray, be kind. love one anothet) Flelp tlte children
makc up pantomines lor each itellr on lhe list (knecling lor prayer.
hugging sonlcone lbr love one another).
Play "Jcsus Says using thc s:rnre nrkrs irs Simon Says." Give each
chilcl a turn leading the gamc'. Encouragc tlte chilclren to add new
things thnt they can do eveF/dav 1()be a lbllower of Jesus.
tlOtg:
f" tr.rclitional Sirron Says cllilclrcn arc 'out iriler Drissing a
command, but Jesus Says docs not have outs." Renlind
the children that anyone can lbllow Jesus. even Lhough we
all n)essup sonetimes.
ForYoungerChildren
Follow Jesus
Ask a volunLeer to be Jesus. The other children line up in singlc
file behind 'Jcsus.'They will do whatever "Jesus does and say
whatever "Jesus" says ([or example wa]k. hop, skip. shout hoolay).
Stop alter or-reor two minutes and ask another volunteer to be
"Jesus." Continue until all the cltildren who want to lead ltave been
the leader.
ASk: How dicl it feel to lead? to lbllow/
This was simply a game. but what does it mean to follow
Jesus todaJt
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ForOlderchildren
Supplies
blindfolds
lrusl Werlk
Divide the children into pairs.
Talklips
Shorethestoryof
Jesus
colming
the
storm{Mork/:35'y'1).
Remind
thechildren
thoteventhedisciples
sometimes
hodo hord
timekustingJesus.
Assure
thechildren
thotevenwhenbod
thingshoppen,
we
conlruslJesus
lo
wolchoverusond
corelor us.
ASk: On o
of one to ten, how much do you trust your par.tner?
On a ""rt"
scale of one to ten. how much do you trust Jesus?
Explain that the disciples had to trust Jesus in otder to follow him.
Divide the children into pairs. Blindlold one child in each pair. The
other child must lead the blindlolded partner around tl-reroon {or
another room if space allowsl. It is the leader's job to make certain
thc blindfolded child does not bump into anj.thing or get into harm's
way. After a few minutes the childlen switch roles.
NOte: ou"r-r with older children, you may tincl a child who cioes not
fecl comfbrtable being blindlolded. Invite any cttildren who
are rrncornfortable wilh the activity to be lead with their eyes
closed, but without a blindfbld, so that lhey nlay open their
eyes iI Lhey necd to.
Encourage the children to talk about how it lclt to lead and to trust
and lbllow.
ASk: wf1nt clocs i1 nrcarl 1o l)-usl Jesus enough to lbllow him loclay?
Arc you ever nervous aboLlt lbllowing Jesus? What can you do
to r-emenrberto trust him?
)dli
Over-r
the disciples clidn't always trust Jesus. Someljmesthey
were afraid. and Jesus had to rcmincl them to trust him. Evetl
when we arc aliaid. we can alwzrystrust Jcsus to care for us.
It carr be scary io tmst solneone to leaclyou. wlral if your partncr
stopped paying attention and you ran into something? But when
we decide to Lrust Jesus, wc should remenber thaL he will neve:'
sLoppaying attention to our lives. Even when we are scar€d ar]d
leel like rve are stumbling in the dar.k, Jesus is watchir-rg over us
and caring lbr us.
ForOlderchildren
Follow Me
Invite the children to sit in a circle. Ask a volunteer be the lollower
and stand in the center of the circle with eyes closed. Sitently, select
one child to be "Jesus." Jesus" begins with a]l activity such as
clapping hands. At random "Jesus" changes the activity to snapping
fingers, stamping feet, and so forth. All the children fotlow Uesus '
lead. The follower has three li-resses to identitT "Jesus."
If the guess is cor_rect.the two trade places. If the guess is incorect,
tl-refollower chooses someone else to be in the middle.
Pemjssjon
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StartonE@
Play until all who want to be "Jesus" have had a turn or the children
dc+
+ir4,-1
^f
nlal;nd
ASk: wtrot nt. some things that we do as followers ofJesus?
(Praying.helping others, loving one another.)
How do we know thal Jesus wants us to do these things?
)dli
tn the game wejust played, the leader decided which activity to
do. Everyone else followed the exarnple oI the leader.
Jesus also taught by showing his followers how Lo live. His
example of love and kindness shows us wl-rat we need to do if
we want to be followers ofJesus ioday.
ForAllAges
xes0urces
Gone Fishin'
Two opiions are available for this activity. Choose one or n.lke
aranger-Dents 1()(rse both. The setup is Lhe salne.
Prepare
CULlish shapcs (scc pagc 51)oul ol lhe posterboirrd.nltirch a lwo
inch sl p of lD:rgrnii( lapc to tllc back oI each lish.
Tie nagoels onl() slrin{ irnd atiaclr lhc strjr-rgtrolishing poles or-long
dowcls. M?rkcsrlrc any lrooks irc rclllovcd li-onrfishing poles.
Optron
0ne
Ask older children to wr_iteone word oI lhe ScripLure on e:rch fish:
"Follow me and I will makc you lish 1br people." (Prepare this ahead
of timc lbr youngcr childrer-r. For nortreaders draw pictures oI Jesus
and his followers on the 6'ont of the fish.)
I'lace the lish magnet side up iD the wading pool.
Divide into groups of thr-ee or lbur childreD depending on class size.
The children will take turns with the tishing pole as they toss the
line into the pool and try to catch a fish. When they catch a fish they
\e.ill lay it word side up on the floor.
As more fish are caught. challenge the children to place the words oI
the Scripture in lhe correct order.
This game can be played by one group while other groups are
playing other ganres. 01 you can set up other pools and use the
gane as a race arnong teanns.
With0lderChildren
When the fish have been 'caught" and the Scripture sp.ead out in
the co(ect order, invite the children to read the Scdpture verse.
Remove one lish (word) and have them repeat the entire verse.
cg]rinc the Discilles
Permission gl.3nied io phoi.c.pv f.. r..,l.hurc]r
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Supplies
wodingpool{s)
pole(s)
fishing
or long
oowets
stnng
weighted
mognels
posbrboord
morkers
mognetic
sirips
scissors
Talk
Tips
Askthechildren
whot
theythinkit meons
io
be "cough(by Jesus.
Continue removingfish (words)until the childr€n can repeat the
Scripture without any words.
Option
Two
ASk: Oo yo., know anyone who is in er.tra neecl oI our prayers?
Write the names suggested on separate fish. Glue a two-inch strip of
magnetic tape on the back of each fish.
Once the game has been set up, divide the children into teams of
four. ($/hile one group is "fishing" the other children can be involved
in olher activities.)
The children take turns fishing. Once they have caught a fish. they
are to pray fbl the person whose narre is on the fish.
NOte: vo,t
recycle the fish for each team or have enough fish ibr
each"ur-t
child Lo kecp what the.y catch aDd pray lor that person
all week.
ForAllAges
Four Disciples
Play a version of lbur corr,ers by designating the comers ol your
roo l wiLh llre nanles ol lbe tilsl disciplesJesus callecltpeter,
Ancl'_cw.
.lamcs, and John, One person volunlccr.sto be Jesus. Jesus
( loses her or his eyes and counts to 10. 'fhe othcl children move to
one oi the corners ol the room. Jesus calls out llle name of one of
the disciples. The children in that corner are caught by Jesus.
Play Llntii all cl-rildren zrre caught. Or. give each Jesus" three turns
and ohoose soDleone clse 10 play the palt.
GtoslNO
in a cfcle
caiher the children
-
r ^.,rre\rer. Everyone who
s", i';.'i1i't;ii"l,l'l[:";;J;:'1"1ii'l' ";'
;;i ;J"""
chooses
r
IrkeIIIrn'r'rrinA
Je'..t'
follow
Helr
. ^ ' , " ways
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us- your
teach
to
Jesus
you lol serrLling
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God'
Dear
by
rls follow him
close $.ith everyone
to contribute,
lrnity
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