FAMILY CONVERSATION: PRE-K

1. In today’s story, who chose to follow Jesus? (Peter)
2. What was Peter doing when Jesus got into his boat? (fishing)
3. Where did Jesus tell Peter to go? (out into the deep water)
4. What happened when Peter obeyed Jesus? (he caught a lot of fish)
5. What else did Jesus tell Peter to do? (show other people how to follow him)
6. Who else can follow Jesus? (all of us!!)

FAMILY CONVERSATION: K-6TH

1. What did Jesus call Peter to do? (Fish for people!)
2. Do you think it was risky to go follow Jesus? What did Peter have to give up? (Let kids respond. Peter gave up his job and home to follow Jesus.)
3. What does it mean to “fish for men”? What’s the name of one person you want to “fish for”?  (That means that we should invite other people to follow Jesus and to be part of God’s family. Let kids share someone that they could invite to follow Jesus.)
4. Why don’t we have to be afraid of following Jesus, and doing the important job he wants us to do?
(Read Luke 5:10-11 “Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”Jesus tells us we don’t need to be afraid! It might be scary to obey Jesus sometimes, it might mean that we have to leave something we really love but Jesus will always be with us to comfort us, guide us, and love us.)

YOUNGER KIDS: “PETER SAYS”

Play a game of “Peter Says” and remind kids that we can all follow Jesus like Peter.

Use any actions you want, but here are some ideas (and remember, kids should only do actions that “Peter says” to do!):

○ Hop once

○ Touch your head

○ Spin around

○ Put your hands on your hips

○ Get as tall as you can

○ Get as short as you can

○ Say “I can follow Jesus” in a high voice

○ Say “I can follow Jesus” in a low voice

 Pray asking that Jesus would help us to be like Paul and tell other people about God’s love.

OLDER KIDS: FISHING FOR MEN

Supplies: Paper plate or plastic, fish template here, markers, scissors, tape, rubber bands or hair ties

We’re going to create a net full of fish to remind us how Peter followed Jesus, and his special mission was to “fish for men”!

-       Set out markers, scissors and tape.

-       Give each kid a plate, 10 rubber bands, and a fish template.

-       Stretch the rubber bands around the plate in all different criss-crossing directions, to create a “net”.

-       Now, let kids color and cut out as many fish as they want from their fish template, and stick them inside the net! 

What happened when Jesus told Peter to throw his nets in the deeper water? How do you think that happened? Was it a miracle? (Let kids discuss.)

Pray asking that Jesus would help us to be like Paul and tell other people about God’s love.