LESSON: FISHERS OF MEN

SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:1-11

MEMORY VERSE: Then He said to them, Follow Me,
and I will make you fishers of men. Matt. 4:19
(NKJV)
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What did Jesus mean when he told them that, He will
make them fishers of men?
WHAT CHILDREN WILL LEARN:
1. That Jesus often used illustrations to teach ordinary people biblical principles.
2. In todays lesson they will learn that if they listen to Jesus and do what he
tells them to do miraculous things can happen.
3. About one of the miracles Jesus performed.
4. That He uses ordinary people to spread the Gospel (Good News of Jesus
Christ).
5. That in everything they do they need to learn to depend on God to make it
happen.
Display
LESSON ACTIVITIES:
1. Start off by asking a few questions about fishing:
a. How many of you have been fishing before?
b. Did you catch any fish?
c. How did you catch them, fishing pole, net, trap?
2. Tell them, today they are going to learn about some men who went fishing
with Jesus.
3. Begin by watching video Jesus call his disciples on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUNd5yTn0&t=17s
4. Have children take turns reading Luke 5:1-11 (NLT) & Matt. 4:19 (NKJV) memory verse in their bibles or display The First Disciples, Fishers of Men
display PowerPoint (download) on the screen.
The First Disciples
1
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great
crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God.
2
He noticed two empty boats at the waters edge, for the fishermen had left
them and were washing their nets.
3
Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it
out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
4
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Now go out where it is
deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.
5
Master, Simon replied, we worked hard all last night and didnt catch a
thing. But if you say so, Ill let the nets down again.
6
And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!
7
A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both
boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
FISHERS OF MEN

When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before
Jesus and said, Oh, Lord, please leave meIm such a sinful man.
9
For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the
others with him.
10
His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
Jesus replied to Simon, Dont be afraid! From now on youll be fishing for
people!
11
And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
Luke 5:1-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING:
After watching video and reading scripture passage ask children:
1. What is a Messiah?
God promised the Jewish nation that He would send someone to
deliver/save them from their enemies.
2. What was Jesus doing at the beginning of the passage of scripture?
He was teaching a large group of people on the shore
3. What did Jesus ask Simon to do and why?
The crowd on the shore kept growing and became too large for Jesus to
teach, so he walked out to Simon Peters boat and asked him to row out
away from the shore so he could see the entire crowd and continue to teach
them about God.
4. After Jesus finished teaching, what did he ask Simon to do?
To row out to deeper water to fish for fish
5. What did Simon Peter say to Jesus?
Master weve been fishing all night and caught nothing, there is no way
were going to catch something now.
6. What was Simon Peter expecting to happen when he cast out his net again?
That they would not catch any fish.
7. What happened when he listened to Jesus and do what he told him to do?
They caught more fish than they have ever caught. So many so that they
threatened to sink the boat.
8. Why do you think they caught so many fish this time?
Because they listened to Jesus and did (obeyed) what he told them to do.
9. After the miracle, what did Simon Peter say to Jesus?
He told Jesus to leave him, because he was a sinner and not worthy to be
around him.
10. What did Jesus say to Him? Read Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
11. What did Jesus Mean when He said, I will make you fishers of men?
That they would disciple or teach other people about God and Jesus Christ.
12. Why do you think Jesus needed them to be fishers of men?
Because he knew that, he would only be here for a short period.

FISHERS OF MEN

IN CLOSING:
1. Ask the children if they think that they could be fishers of men for Jesus?
2. Tell them that God is always with them and as they grow up, they learn
more and more things about Jesus that they can share with other people.
3. Close in prayer either you can pray or have one of the children pray.
CRAFT: FISH SPINNERS
Download and print patterns on bright colored cardstock. Click on image of fish
spinners for assembly instructions. Give each child several colored fish spinners
and instruct them on how to cut and assemble. Once each child has completed
assembling, their Fish Spinners have them either drop them from slight height or
throw them up in the air. The Fish will rotate in a spinning pattern as they fall back
down to the ground.
SNACK: Serve goldfish crackers and juice

FISHERS OF MEN