First Thoughts: As Jesus begins his itinerant ministry, he starts to build his team. In church work we might spend a lot of time figuring out what we need most from our leaders. Perhaps we make a list of gifts we'd like to see, expectations we want to have fulfilled, desired previous experience which indicates the likelihood of success in this church environment. Jesus apparently had none of these criteria; he just asked for a "yes." But this wasn't a casual "yes," like we might say to a request to teach Sunday school or serve as stewardship chair. It was a leave-everything-behind-and-totally-sell-out-to-the-cause yes! Jesus didn't seem too concerned with what the disciples currently knew; he knew that anyone who was dedicated would learn on the job. Jesus had faith that God could equip his team as they went along, and they would be willing to learn the lessons as they came. So how would we be disciples? Are we willing to be transformed as we serve God, to learn new things about ourselves and others, to grow new skills? Are we so sold-out to the gospel work that we're willing to set aside what we're currently doing to pursue the new thing God has for us? In other words, would Jesus have invited us to join him by the Sea of Galilee?
Teaching On Your Own: Hey everybody. Know what I have here? It's fishing gear. I love fishing. Do you? Yeah, but I bet you're wondering why I have this fishing gear in church today, huh? I read in the lesson today that Jesus tells some folks that they should follow him so they can all go fishing. That sounded pretty good to me, so here I am -- ready to go! But I'm still not sure how it's going to work. I mean, look around. Where's the water? Maybe we should look at the story again. Here Jesus is, walking next to the Sea of Galilee, and he's looking for folks who will be part of his ministry team. That means he needs people who will travel with him, sharing the good news of God's love, and healing those who are sick. So who do you think he found on the seaside? Fishermen, like me! Jesus finds Simon and Andrew throwing out their net to catch some fish. Jesus sees they're fishing and walks right up to them and says, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Hey, wait a minute... fishers of people? That's different from fishing for... well, fish. Isn't it? But what do you think it means to become a fisher of people? Jesus wanted to pull people out of their fear and sadness, to show them that God was with them and would take care of them. It's like he was fishing people out of their loneliness, so they could live in the sunlight of God's love. And you know what Simon and Andrew did? They set down their nets right then and there, left everything behind, and followed him. I guess I understand that. I mean, I love fishing, but I think working with Jesus might be even more fun. What do you think?
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 has the props)
Leader 1: What you got there -- fishing gear?
Leader 2: That's right. I LOVE to fish.
Leader 1: I see that. But why do you have it in church?
Leader 2: Well, I read ahead in the lesson today, and Jesus tells some folks today that they should follow him so they can all go fishing. That sounded pretty good to me, so here I am -- ready to go!
Leader 1: I see. I think you might be a little confused. See, in the story today, Jesus is looking for folks who will be part of his ministry team. That means he needs people who will travel with him, sharing the good news of God's love, and healing those who are sick. And he's looking for folks while he walks next to the Sea of Galilee. And who do you think he found on the seaside?
Leader 2: Fishermen! Just like I told you -- they were fishing!
Leader 1: Yes, Jesus finds Simon and Andrew throwing out their net to catch some fish. Jesus sees they're fishing and walks right up to them and says, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
Leader 2: Oh, fishers of people! Guess I misread that. But what does that mean?
Leader 1: Jesus wanted them to join him in his work to "catch" people in God's net. Jesus wanted to pull people out of their fear and sadness, to show them that God was with them and would take care of them.
Leader 2: I see. So it's like he was fishing people out of their loneliness, so they could live in the sunlight of God's love.
Leader 1: Exactly. And you know what Simon and Andrew did? They set down their nets right then and there, left everything behind, and followed Jesus.
Leader 2: I can understand that. I mean, I love fishing, but I think working with Jesus might be even more fun.
Leader 1: You know what? I think you're probably right.
Closing Prayer: God, help us also to be like Simon and Andrew, ready to follow you and do your work in this world. Help us to be fishers of people, so that everyone can understand that you love them and will help them live happier lives more full of joy. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, revisit the scripture story again. You might invite the children to close their eyes as you encourage them to imagine the scene: the bright sunlight shining off the water, the sounds of men chatting and laughing as they cast nets into the sea, the smell of fish and salt air. Then invite them to imagine Jesus walking on the shore, smiling at the sunshine, looking into the faces of the men he passes. Finally he comes to Simon and Andrew -- just like the others, or at least they seem to be. But Jesus looks more closely at them, looks into their eyes. At first Simon and Andrew look a bit uncomfortable, "Who is this guy studying us?" But as Jesus continues to look at them, they begin to smile a little. They like this guy. There's something special about him. Imagine Jesus smiling back and offering the invitation, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Simon and Andrew hear him, look at each other, and shrug. They don't know who this guy is or what he's asking them to do, but somewhere in their hearts they know they need to go. They drop the nets, smile at each other and then at Jesus, and say "All right. We'll go!"
Ask the children to think about the story. Which parts did they like best? Which characters? How would they feel if they were Simon and Andrew? Would they be ready to go? It took a lot of faith for them to leave behind everything they knew. Why would someone agree to that? Because what Jesus asked them to do was important -- to share God's love and bring God's healing to people who really needed it. They wanted to make the world a better place, and they were willing to dedicate their lives to this cause.
For a craft idea, print out a template for each child. Also provide them with construction paper, markers or crayons, and some mesh cloth. Ask them to think about what kinds of folks would be in God's net, maybe even some folks in their own lives who would be there. Invite them to draw a few figures and cut them out. (A variation on this might be providing the children with magazines out of which they can cut different images.) Then have them cut out a bit of the mesh cloth and glue it on its edges to the net section on the template, leaving the top open so they can fit their figures in the net. They can either glue the figures in or leave them free to go in and out. If they have too many to fit in the net, they can also have figures outside the net, ready to be "caught." Remind the children that every time they do something kind in the world, every time they forgive someone who has hurt them, or share with someone in need, they are drawing people closer to God's net, bringing them closer to understanding that God loves them and will always be with them. Close in prayer.
