Family Devotion Idea: Fishers of Men
*About twice a month, we try to post the outline of a family devotion that you and your kids can do together. Carve out some time with your kids for a fun and creative discussion this week!
Teaching Goal:
God wants us to share the Good News about Jesus with others.
Scripture:
Matthew 4:18-22 “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
Acts 3:11-26 Peter speaks to the onlookers. He tells others the good news: repent and believe in Jesus, the Son of God, so that you will be raised up like Jesus.
Matthew 28:16-20 “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
Materials:
Large box
Fishing poles
Weights to put on the end of the fishing line
Buckets and rope or garden hose
Paper people or small plastic toy characters
Lesson and Discussion:
*Words that are written in bold are when you, the parent, are speaking. Feel free to use your own words.
When you go fishing, what are you trying to catch? Fish. What do you use for bait? Worms, flies, etc.
Jesus had a group of twelve close friends. Do you know what they are called in the Bible? Disciples. Did you know that at least four of his twelve disciples were fishermen?
When Jesus met the four fishermen—Peter, Andrew, James, and John—he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” What is a fisher of people trying to catch? Other people. What bait did Peter, Andrew, James, and John use to catch other people? The Good News: We can go to heaven by believing in Jesus, the Son of God.
Jesus commands Christians to tell others the good news (Matthew 28:16-20). When he called his disciples to be fishers of men, it was to tell others about Jesus so that they could also go to heaven.
Share stories of times you have shared Jesus with others.
ACTIVITY:
Do this activity outside. Put weights on the end of the fishing line instead of hooks. Use a large box as a boat. Each child takes a turn being a fisherman in the boat. Others stay far away while kids are learning to cast. Place buckets containing paper people or plastic characters close to the box-boat. When the child successfully drops the lure (weight) into the bucket, he or she may take out one of the people. Using rope or a garden hose, make circular areas farther out in the yard and place paper people or plastic characters within the circles. Each time a child casts into the area, he or she may take out one of the people. Wading pools also make great target areas.
As the children take turns playing, explain again how Jesus used the term “fishers of men” to describe our sharing the good news with family, friends, and people we meet.
Application:
List the names of some people we could share Jesus with. Make a list of people and then pray for them.
If you like this devotion idea, there are hundreds more available from Family Time Training. See the link on the left side of this page for more information.