Sunday, Sept 14, 2014 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group TEACHER BIBLE STUDY Jesus Called Disciples Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9-13; Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19; Luke 5:27-32; 6:12-16 In the first century, rabbi was a title given to a respected expert in the law of Moses. A rabbi studied the Scriptures and taught through speaking and writing. Jews wanted to honor God in how they lived, and they looked to the rabbis to instruct them in their behavior. The word rabbi translates my master. Jewish students would seek out a rabbi and ask to follow him. A rabbi would choose only a few highly promising students to be his disciples. If a student was not accepted by the rabbi, he likely returned home to learn a trade. Those chosen to be a rabbi s disciples followed him everywhere. They learned from the rabbi how to think and how to act. They trusted the rabbi, and the goal was to become just like him. When Jesus chose His disciples, His strategy was unusual. Rather than waiting for students to come to Him, Jesus sought out His disciples among the people who followed Him. He found them working fishing and repairing nets. Some of Jesus disciples were introduced to Him by their friends. He approached these ordinary men and said, Follow Me. Their response? Immediately they left... and followed Him (Matt. 4:20,22). The Twelve Peter; James, son of Zebedee; John; Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon; and Judas spent time with Jesus during His ministry. Jesus taught them how to think and live in light of God s coming kingdom. He commissioned them to teach others about Him. The good news about Jesus is too great to not share with the entire world. The call to follow Jesus is not an easy one. Jesus said, If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me (Matt. 16:24). Jesus calls us to do the same to surrender our lives for His purposes and perhaps even to die. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it (Matt. 16:25). YOUNGER KIDS BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Session Title: Jesus Called Disciples Bible Passage: Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9-13; Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19; Luke 5:27-32; 6:12-16 Big Picture Question: What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus means trusting Him, obeying Him, and telling others about Him. Key Passage: John 1:14 Unit Christ Connection: Old Testament prophecies looked forward to the birth of Christ. Jesus roles as Son of God and Messiah are established. Unit 24 Session 6 Younger Elementary
Sunday, Sept 14, 2014 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group Welcome time Activity page (5 minutes) Session starter (10 minutes) Key passage activity (5 minutes) Small Group Time Bible story review (10 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Journal (5 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY Jesus Called Disciples Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9-13; Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19; Luke 5:27-32; 6:12-16 Jesus ministry had begun. Jesus traveled around, preaching about God and telling people to turn away from their sins. People were interested in what Jesus had to say. Large crowds of people followed Jesus around and listened to Him teach. One day, Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers: Simon who was called Peter and Andrew. Peter and Andrew were fishermen, and they were casting their nets into the sea. Jesus called out to them. Follow Me, He said, and I will teach you to fish for people! Right away, Peter and Andrew dropped their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus kept walking, and He saw two more brothers. Their names were James and John. They were in a boat fixing nets with their father, Zebedee. Jesus called out to them, and right away they got up, left their father and the boat, and followed Jesus. Jesus went on, and He saw a man named Matthew (who was also called Levi). Matthew was sitting at the tax office. Jesus called out to him, Follow Me! So Matthew got up, left everything behind, and followed Jesus. Matthew hosted a big feast for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and His disciples. The Pharisees saw this, and they didn t think Jesus should be friends with people who did wrong things. They complained to the disciples and said, Why does your Teacher eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? Jesus heard the Pharisees talking, and He said to them, People who are healthy don t need a doctor, but people who are sick do. Go and learn what this means: I want mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to invite good people; I came to invite sinners to turn back to God. Some time later, Jesus went up to the mountain to pray. He stayed on the mountain all night and prayed to God. In the morning, Jesus called for His disciples. He chose 12 of them to be His apostles. Jesus apostles would work closely with Jesus. Unit 24 Session 6 Younger Elementary
Sunday, Sept 14, 2014 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group These are the men Jesus chose: Simon (who was called Peter), Simon s brother Andrew, James and John (who were called the Sons of Thunder ), Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus (al FEE uhs), Thaddaeus (THAD ih uhs), Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (iss KAR ih aht). Christ Connection: Jesus taught His disciples to teach others about Him. The good news about Jesus is too great to not share with the entire world! Jesus came to save people from their sin. SMALL GROUP OPENING Session Title: Jesus Called Disciples Bible Passage: Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9-13; Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19; Luke 5:27-32; 6:12-16 Big Picture Question: What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus means trusting Him, obeying Him, and telling others about Him. Key Passage: John 1:14 Unit Christ Connection: Old Testament prophecies looked forward to the birth of Christ. Jesus roles as Son of God and Messiah are established. Welcome time: Arriving Activity: Follow me As kids arrive, involve them in a game like Duck, Duck, Goose. Invite the kids to say Follow, Follow Me instead. Say Follow Me are two words we will hear a lot in our Bible story. We ll find out why in a moment. Activity page (5 minutes) Brought Together activity page, 1 per kid crayons or markers Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say We ve been studying different moments in Jesus life for the last several weeks. Today, we will find out how Jesus chose 12 men to serve with Him. We call them the twelve disciples. Unit 24 Session 6 Younger Elementary 3
Sunday, Sept 14, 2014 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group Session starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Follow the leader Line up the kids single file. Designate the first kid in line as the leader. The leader should walk around the room. Anything the leader does, the other kids must follow. Explain that at any point, you may tap another child gently on the head. If you do, that child must shout Follow me! to become the new leader. The kids should quickly get behind her and mimic her actions. Say It s great to be a leader, but there is someone God wants everyone to follow. We ll find out who in today s Bible story. Option 2: Fishing snack small plates, 1 per kid pretzel sticks fish- shaped crackers Allergy Alert Provide each kid with a plate along with a handful of fish- shaped crackers and cracker or pretzel sticks. Squeeze a small amount of cheese onto each plate. Invite the kids to go fishing with their cracker or pretzel sticks by licking the end of the pretzel stick and using it to pick up one of the fish crackers. Say Jesus asked several men to give up their fishing jobs to become fishers of men. We ll find out what Jesus meant in today s Bible story. SMALL GROUP LEADER Session Title: Jesus Called Disciples Bible Passage: Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9-13; Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19; Luke 5:27-32; 6:12-16 Big Picture Question: What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus means trusting Him, obeying Him, and telling others about Him. Key Passage: John 1:14 Unit Christ Connection: Old Testament prophecies looked forward to the birth of Christ. Jesus roles as Son of God and Messiah are established. Unit 24 Session 6 Younger Elementary 4
Sunday, Sept 14, 2014 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group Key passage activity (5 minutes) Key Passage Slide or Poster dry erase board and markers (optional) Make sure the key passage, John 1:14, is visible for each child, either as the printed poster or written on a dry erase board. Read the verse together. Say We have seen several ways that Jesus lived like you and me. He was born as a baby like you and I were. He was a kid who worshiped God. He went through tough times too. Jesus did all of this so we could be saved and to give God glory. Choose a volunteer who has memorized the verse to be the leader. He may come to the front of the room and lead everyone to say the key passage together without looking at the poster or slide. The leader may also choose to say it in a funny voice or with movements. The others must follow what he does. Choose additional leaders to do the same as time allows. Bible story review (10 minutes) Bibles, 1 per kid Small Group Visual Pack Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Encourage the kids to find Mark 1 in their Bibles. Help them as needed. Say Is Mark in the Old Testament or New Testament? (New Testament) Which division of the Bible is Mark in? (Gospels) The story of Jesus calling His disciples is in two other Gospels besides Mark. Does anyone know which books? (Matthew, Luke) Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today s Bible story is on the timeline. Review the Bible story provided using the bolded text, or summarize the story in your own words. This is a great story for kids to act out. You could also choose an adult leader to play the role of Jesus and select a kid each time Jesus chooses a disciple in the story. Say The Bible says Jesus had more disciples than just these 12, but the twelve were Jesus closest disciples. We don t know exactly why Jesus chose these 12 men. Some of them had a lot in common, but they were also very different. One of them was even an outcast! Jesus didn t come to save just one group of people; Jesus came to save the whole world! Jesus wants all people to follow Him by trusting Him, obeying Him, and telling others about Him. Show the big picture question slide or poster. Say What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus means trusting Him, obeying Him, and telling others about Him. Unit 24 Session 6 Younger Elementary 5
Sunday, Sept 14, 2014 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group Activity choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Name the disciple paper marker Bibles Note: Kids may not yet be familiar with the disciples stories. Encourage them to make a guess, and then reveal the correct answer. Write each disciple s name on a piece of paper. Scatter the papers throughout the room. Explain that you will say a sentence about one of the disciples, and the kids should find and stand near the disciple s name they think the sentence describes. Encourage them to be the first to find the right disciple s name. Explain that if they don t know the answer, they should guess. Below are some sample sentences. He was a tax collector and author of one of the Gospels. (Matthew) He was one of John the Baptist s disciples. He also told his brother about Jesus. (Andrew) He was called a zealot. (Simon) He introduced Bartholomew to Jesus. (Philip) He was also known as Nathanael. (Bartholomew) He might have been Matthew s brother. (James, the son of Alphaeus) He was John s older brother. (James, the son of Zebedee) He was a fisherman who tried to walk on water. (Simon Peter) He is known for doubting Jesus resurrection. (Thomas) He betrayed Jesus. (Judas Iscariot) He was a fisherman and author of more than three books in the Bible. (John) He is the only disciple not mentioned in the statements above. (Thaddaeus) Say We don t know a lot about some of these disciples, but we know Jesus chose them to follow Him. What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus means trusting Him, obeying Him, and telling others about Him. Unit 24 Session 6 Younger Elementary 6
Sunday, Sept 14, 2014 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group Option 2: Fish plate paper plates, 1 per kid scissors stapler Bibles markers stickers (optional) large piece of paper or dry erase board (optional) Provide each kid with a paper plate and a pair of scissors. Demonstrate how to cut a triangle out of the edge of the plate. Staple the sharp corner of the triangle to the other side of the plate to form a fish. Invite the kids to open their Bibles to Mark 1:17 and write the verse on their plates. You may also choose to write the verse on a large piece of paper or dry erase board for the kids to copy. Allow the kids to decorate their plates with markers and/or stickers. Say What does it mean to fish for people? It means telling others about Jesus. That s one way we follow Jesus. What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus means trusting Him, obeying Him, and telling others about Him. Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Journal Page, 1 per kid markers or crayons Bible Story Coloring Page Distribute each child s journal page provided with this session. Instruct the kids to draw a picture of one of the disciples. Writers can write ways they can choose to follow Jesus. Say Before you leave, let s take one more look at our big picture question and answer. What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus means trusting Him, obeying Him, and telling others about Him. If time remains, take prayer requests or allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session. Pray, thanking God for sending Jesus to lead us. Pray for each child by name, asking God to help each kid trust, obey, and tell others about Jesus. Dismiss to parents Make sure to check security tags when dismissing children. Unit 24 Session 6 Younger Elementary 7
Unit 24 Session 6 Jesus Called Disciples 2014 LifeWay OK TO PRINT God s Plan Is Jesus
Instructions: Draw a line between the pictures that go together. Then, see if you remember what order the events happened. UNIT 24 Session 5 Younger Kids Activity Pages God s Plan Is Jesus