jesus • session 4 lessons for the leader wants obedience

What do these symbols mean?

Application Activities Format:

1t Follow the numbers with arrows for a 30-minute, large group plus 20-minute Application Activities format.

Large Group Format:

1 Follow all the numbers for a 45- to 60-minute large group only format.

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Jesus ... • Session 4

Lessons for the LeaderObedience is difficult for us even though we know we could benefit from it. Human nature is sinful. In this story we can learn to obey God.• Read John 21:1-3. The disciples knew Jesus was

alive. They had seen Him on two other occasions. Still, they were caught in a dilemma of knowing Jesus was alive but not quite knowing what to do about it. Peter decided to go fishing. His old ways were familiar, predictable, and probably something that felt right at the time. Give praise to God for giving us jobs, hobbies, and other enjoyments.

• Read verse 4. The disciples did not recognize the man on shore as Jesus. They did not even recognize His voice when He called out to them. How do you recognize God's voice? Do you realize that God wants to talk with you? He is waiting for you. Praise God for loving you and drawing you into a relationship with Him.

• Read verses 5-6. After the disciples fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus instructed them to throw the net out one more time. Notice the details of the disciples' obedience. John 21:11 records the exact number of fish in the net. What can you learn from this story? Blessings follow obedience. Obedience is a form of worship. How do you obey Jesus and God? How can you teach children that obeying God is a form of worship?

• Read verses 7-14. When John realized the Man on shore was Jesus, he shouted: "It is the Lord!" Peter's excitement overcame him. Peter tied his outer garment around his waist and plunged into the water. Are you as excited to meet with Jesus as Peter was? How can you ignite an overwhelming passion for Jesus in the children you teach?

Wants ObedienceFocus Passage: John 21:1-14

Key Bible Verse: John 14:15

Life ApplicationI can obey Jesus.

Session at a GlanceIntroduction to Worship (8 minutes)

Greet the Children Play "Swim, Fish, Swim!"

Worship (30 minutes/45 minutes)

Sing "Better Than Life"Sing "Trust in the Lord"/Receive OfferingWorship Jesus/PrayDramatize the Bible StoryUse Worship GuidesApply the Bible StorySing "You Are My All in All"Learn the Key Bible VerseShow "Jack Spade" Video Sing "The Happy Song"Play a Review Game

Application Activities (20 minutes)

Wrap-Up (10 minutes)

OK to copy.

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1tGreet the Children

2tPlay "Swim, Fish, Swim!"

Pull It TogetherMasking tape, whistle• Use tape to make "Start" and "Finish" lines about

10 feet apart.

• Form two teams. One team will be the "Fish" and the other team will be the "Net."

• Guide the "Net" team to hold hands in groups of three in front of the "Finish" line. "Fish" players stand at the "Start" line.

• Say: "When I say, 'Swim, Fish, Swim,' both teams will move toward each other. 'Fish' players will try to reach the 'Finish' line while 'Net' players will try to tag and keep the 'Fish' from reaching the 'Finish' line."

• Continue: "When I blow the whistle, 'Fish' who didn't reach the 'Finish' line will join the 'Net' players."

• Explain that "Fish" cannot break through the "Net," but they can go under or around. "Net" players must hold hands at all times.

• Play the game until only one "Fish" is left. • Say: "Today we will hear about an unusual

fishing trip the disciples took."

Worship

3 Sing "Better Than Life" (DVD, 3 minutes)

4t Sing "Trust in the Lord" (DVD, 3 minutes)/Receive Offering

5tWorship Jesus/Pray (3 minutes)

Pull It TogetherWorship Guides

• Distribute Worship Guides.• Lead the kids to look at the statements about

"Jesus!" on their Worship Guides.• Call on younger children and older children to

take turns reading aloud the statements. • Pray, acknowledging how wonderful Jesus is.

Praise Him for being the Savior of the world and taking the punishment for sin so we could have a relationship, or friendship, with God.

6tDramatize the Bible Story (6 minutes)

Pull It TogetherBible, newspaper, tape or glue, scissors• Print "Breakfast with Jesus" Teaching Picture (CD). • Print "Jesus Appeared to the Disciples" (CD). • Attach the teaching picture and the Bible story to

the newspaper to form an article.• Enlist another adult to help you tell the Bible story.

• Open your Bible to John 21 and start telling the story, which will cue the "actor" to burst in and tell the story with the newspaper article.

Jesus Appeared to the DisciplesBased on John 21:1-14

Actor: [Runs in, yelling. Holds up and shakes the newspaper.] Hey! Hey! Did you hear? Look at this!

Leader: [surprised] What? What's going on?

Actor: [excited] Jesus appeared to the disciples! [shows the news article] Look at this headline! [reads and points to the headline] The headline says: "Jesus Appeared to the Disciples."

Leader: [reaches for the paper] Let me see that. "After Jesus died on the cross and rose again, the disciples went to Galilee, just as Jesus had told them to do. While they were in Galilee, Simon Peter told the disciples he was going fishing. Six of the disciples decided to go with him. They fished in the Sea of Galilee all night, but they did not catch anything. Not one fish."

Oh, how sad ... [sadly lowers paper]

Actor: [reaches for the paper] What else does it say? "In the morning a Man stood on the shore, and called to them: 'Men, you don't have any fish, do you?' When the disciples answered no, the Man said, 'Cast your net on the right side of the boat. Then you'll catch some fish.'

"The disciples cast the net on the right side of the boat, and they began to catch fish. The net was so full they could not pull it in the boat.

"At that moment John realized the Man on the shore was Jesus! Immediately, Simon Peter jumped into the water and swam to the shore. The other disciples came to shore in the boat, dragging the net full of fish.

Introduction to Worship

Wants Obedience

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"On the shore, the disciples found a small fire burning, fish, and bread. Jesus told the disciples, 'Bring some of the fish you caught.' Simon Peter obeyed. He hauled the net of fish on shore. Although there were 153 fish in the net, the net did not tear.

"'Come and eat some breakfast,' said Jesus. The disciples obeyed and did not ask who He was because they knew the Man was Jesus. Jesus took the bread and fish and gave the food to the disciples."

Here, read the last sentence. [holds paper toward Leader]

Leader: [takes the paper and reads] "This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after God raised Him from the dead."

Awesome! [turns to Actor] You came just in time with this news. [holds up the paper and the Bible] This article was the Bible story I was about to tell. Thanks for sharing this story with us. [Actor leaves.]

7tUse Worship Guides (3 minutes)

Pull It TogetherPencils

• Distribute pencils.• Lead the children to complete "Whose Line Is

It?" on their Worship Guides.

8tApply the Bible Story (3 minutes)• Lead the children to complete "Did You Catch

That?" on their Worship Guides. (Answers: Younger children—I can obey Jesus. Older children—I can obey Jesus by following His commands in the Bible.)

• Show the teaching picture from the newspaper. • Ask: "How can we obey Jesus?"• Invite the kids to respond.• Comment: "Jesus wants us to love and obey

Him just as the disciples did."• Call on kids to name how the disciples obeyed

Jesus. (Read the following verse answers: John 21:6,10,11,12,13.)

9 Sing "You Are My All in All" (DVD, 3 minutes)

10tLearn the Key Bible Verse (3 minutes)

Pull It TogetherFish net, masking tape, marker, scissors• Print, copy, and cut out "Fish Cards" (CD) (1 per

key Bible verse word or phrase).• Write 1 or more words from John 14:15 on each

"Fish Card."• Attach the words in order to the fish net.

• Guide the kids to open their Bibles to John 14:15.

• Display the "Fish Cards." • Lead the kids to say the verse together.• Detach and mix up the cards so the children can

put them in the correct order.

11t Show "Jack Spade" Video (DVD, 8 minutes)

• Show the video.• Ask: "Why do you think Daniel chose to disobey

his instructions while navigating the maze? What was the result of his disobedience?"

• Say: "When we obey Jesus, we show our love for Him."

12 Sing "The Happy Song" (DVD, 3 minutes)

13 Play a Review Game (6 minutes)

Pull It TogetherWading pool or large tub of water, fish net, waterproof toys, towels• Add toys to the water.

Teacher Tips• Use shower curtains or newspapers to protect the

floor.• Caution children not to run around wet areas.

• Allow children to take turns using the fish net to catch a toy from the pool.

• Encourage each child who catches a toy to tell one thing she learned from the Bible story before placing the toy back in the pool.

• Continue play as time allows.

14t Transition to Application Activities or Wrap-Up


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Wrap-Up(Large Group Only Format)

15 Sing "Whoa!" (DVD, 3 minutes)

16 Play a Bible Trivia Game (4 minutes)

Pull It TogetherConstruction paper, marker, tape• Write true and false on separate sheets of

construction paper. Tape on opposite walls.

• Gather the children in the center of the room.• Explain: "I will read a statement. If you think the

statement is true, move to the true sign; if you think the statement is false, move to the false sign."

• Read the following statements one at a time: t True or False: Fishermen in the Sea of Galilee used two kinds of nets. A casting net was thrown into the water from the shore. A dragnet had weights and floats attached and was dropped from a boat. t True or False: Fishermen had to mend their nets and sails and repair their boats during the day, so they often fished at night. t True or False: The Sea of Galilee is actually a lake. t True or False: There were about 25 different species of fish in the Sea of Galilee in Jesus' time, including the tilapia, which is sometimes called "St. Peter's Fish." t True or False: Because the weather on the Sea of Galilee was unpredictable, sudden violent storms could cause high waves.

• Allow children to respond, then reveal the correct answer before reading the next statement. (Note: All the statements are true.)

17 Personal Testimonies (2 minutes)• Invite volunteers to share about a time when

they obeyed God.

18 Pray (1 minute)

19 Dismiss the Children to Their Parents

Wrap-Up(Application Activities Format)

15tSing "Whoa!" (DVD, 3 minutes)

16tShare Application Activities (6 minutes)• Invite the children to share their Application

Activity experience. tArts and Crafts—Memo Boards tDramatic Play—Jesus Said tGames—Rock, Paper, Scissors t Exploration and Discovery—Fishing Tackle Puzzles

17tPray (1 minute)

18tDismiss the Children to Their Parents

Jesus ... • Session 4 Worship KidStyle Children's Edition Leader Guide, Volume 3© 2013 LifeWay.

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Application Activities Select from the following choices. Each choice is designed for 20 minutes of small group time.

Jesus Said• Call on a volunteer to read aloud John 14:15 from her Bible.• Say: "Jesus gave us rules to help us live peacefully with each other and

God. All those rules are in the Bible for us to discover and follow. If we were reporters explaining what Jesus taught people, what kinds of things would we report?"

• Call on a few kids to respond. • Lead the kids to form pairs.• Give each pair one or more "Jesus Said" cards and pencils.• Assist as the children find and read the verse(s), and learn from

commentaries or dictionaries. When each pair is ready, record the pair's reporting.

• Encourage the kids to read aloud the verses from the Bible, explain what the verses mean, and give modern-day examples of how to live out the verses.

• Play the recorded reports for the group. • Call on a volunteer to pray, thanking God for teaching us how to live in

ways that bring Him honor and glory.

Pull It TogetherBibles, Bible commentaries, student Bible dictionaries, pencils, scissors, recording device (video or audio), microphone • Print "Jesus Said" (CD)

and cut apart.

Teacher Tips• Encourage each child

to participate in every aspect of the reporting.

• Give older children more than one verse or pair an older child with a younger child.

Worship Through Dramatic Play

Memo Boards• Call on a volunteer to read aloud John 14:15 from her Bible.• Lead the children to name ways they can obey Jesus.• Say: "Let's make memo boards to help us remember to obey Jesus."• Give each child a board and permanent marker.• Guide the children to write the life application at the top of their boards

and the words of the key Bible verse, John 14:15, at the bottom of their boards.

• Direct the boys and girls to choose two plates, cut off the rims, and glue the circles to the boards.

• Invite the children to decorate their memo boards. • Instruct the children not to write on the circles with the permanent markers.• Say: "To obey Jesus you need to know His commands."• Lead the children to open their Bibles and read the following verses:

Matthew 5:44; Matthew 6:14; Matthew 22:37; and Matthew 22:39.• Give the children erasable markers and encourage them to choose one of

Jesus' commands to write on the memo board circles. Suggest children write additional messages or notes on the other circles.

• Encourage the boys and girls to display their memo boards at home where they will be reminded to obey Jesus.

• Call on a volunteer to pray, thanking God for teaching us how to live in ways that bring Him honor and glory.

Pull It TogetherBibles; glossy, disposable, plastic plates (different colors and sizes); foam boards or sturdy poster boards (1 per child); glue sticks; scissors; permanent markers; erasable markers

Teacher TipBuy inexpensive erasable markers and give them to the children to keep with their memo boards.

Worship Through Arts and Crafts


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Fishing Tackle Puzzles• Ask: "Today's life application is 'I can obey Jesus.' How can we obey

Jesus?" • Say: "If we want to obey Jesus, we have to know His commands. One way

to know His commands is to read the Bible."• Inform boys and girls they will solve a series of puzzles to find out what

Jesus said.• Say: "We can fish for answers by finding each verse in the Bible."• Display the "Fishing Tackle" box and give the kids paper and pencils.• Direct the children to remove one piece of tackle at a time, solve the

puzzle, and write the answer on their papers. (See Teacher Tips for clue-solving directions.) After kids solve each puzzle, they can place the tackle back in the box and choose another piece.

• Review the answers by reading and discussing the verses.• Conclude: "Jesus knows the best way to live. He wants people to love and

obey Him, which brings glory and honor to God." • Call on a volunteer to pray, thanking God for teaching us how to live in


Pull It TogetherBibles, pencils, fishing tackle box, scissors, paper• Print "Fishing Tackle"

(CD), cut apart, and place in tackle box.

Teacher TipsGive these directions:• Flatfish (Matthew 5:44):

each number represents a letter in the alphabet in numerical order

• Bobber (Luke 6:31): maze

• Jitterbug (Luke 6:27): put first letter of each picture in blank

• Spinner (Mark 12:30): rhyming word

• Pliers (John 13:34): cross out every other letter

• Rubber worm (Luke 6:37): read backward

Worship Through Exploration and Discovery

Rock, Paper, Scissors• Ask: "Today's life application is 'I can obey Jesus.' How can we obey

Jesus?" • Emphasize that we need to read the Bible and learn about Jesus and His

teachings so we can do as Jesus commands.• Point to the container as you inform the children they will gather "logs" for

a "campfire" to see what they learned about obeying Jesus.• Form two pairs around the container to play "Rock, Paper, Scissors."• Give each pair a pencil and sheet of paper.• Ask: "Who knows how to play 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'?" After the kids

respond, explain and demonstrate the game. • Continue: "One person from each pair will play 'Rock, Paper, Scissors.'

The winner of the round will earn 10 points for his team and will select a 'log' from the container. He will ask his partner the question on the 'log' and if the teammate answers correctly, the partners will earn the points on the 'log.' As questions are answered, stack the 'logs' to make a 'campfire' and write your score on your paper. The other two partners will then play a round to continue the game. When a pair reaches a score of 100, we will form two more pairs for another game."

• Encourage the children to search the container of "logs" for different questions so the game is more fun and fair.

• Play the game. • Return the "logs" to the container and form new pairs when a pair reaches

100 points. • Conclude: "Jesus knows the best way to live. He wants people to love and

obey Him, which brings glory and honor to God." • Call on a volunteer to pray, thanking God for teaching us how to live in


Pull It TogetherBibles, large container, scissors, brown paper, pencils, paper• Print "Game Cards"

(CD) on brown paper and cut apart.

• Place the "logs" in the container.

Teacher TipAttach "Game Cards" to pieces of firewood for added interest.

Worship Through Games

OK to copy.Worship KidStyle Children's Edition Leader Guide, Volume 3© 2013 LifeWay.

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Jesus Appeared to the Disciples (John 21:1-14) Jesus ... • Session 4Worship KidStyle Children's Edition, Volume 3 Brian Call© 2013 LifeWay. Printed in the USA. OK to copy.

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Jesus Appeared to the Disciples (Jesus ... • Session 4)Worship KidStyle Children's Edition, Volume 3© 2013 LifeWay. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

Jesus Appeared to the DisciplesBased on John 21:1-14

Actor: [Runs in, yelling. Holds up and shakes the newspaper.] Hey! Hey! Did you hear? Look at this!

Leader: [surprised] What? What's going on?

Actor: [excited] Jesus appeared to the disciples! [shows the news article] Look at this headline! [reads and points to the headline] The headline says: "Jesus Appeared to the Disciples."

Leader: [reaches for the paper] Let me see that. "After Jesus died on the cross and rose again, the disciples went to Galilee, just as Jesus had told them to do. While they were in Galilee, Simon Peter told the disciples he was going fishing. Six of the disciples decided to go with him. They fished in the Sea of Galilee all night, but they did not catch anything. Not one fish."

Oh, how sad ... [sadly lowers paper]

Actor: [reaches for the paper] What else does it say? "In the morning a Man stood on the shore, and called to them: 'Men, you don't have any fish, do you?' When the disciples answered no, the Man said, 'Cast your net on the right side of the boat. Then you'll catch some fish.'"

"The disciples cast the net on the right side of the boat, and they began to catch fish. The net was so full they could not pull it in the boat.

"At that moment John realized the Man on the shore was Jesus! Immediately, Simon Peter jumped into the water and swam to the shore. The other disciples came to shore in the boat, dragging the net full of fish.

"On the shore, the disciples found a small fire burning, fish, and bread. Jesus told the disciples, 'Bring some of the fish you caught.' Simon Peter obeyed. He hauled the net of fish on shore. Although there were 153 fish in the net, the net did not tear.

"'Come and eat some breakfast,' said Jesus. The disciples obeyed and did not ask who He was because they knew the Man was Jesus. Jesus took the bread and fish and gave the food to the disciples."

Here, read the last sentence. [holds paper toward Leader]

Leader: [takes the paper and reads] "This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after God raised Him from the dead."

Awesome! [turns to Actor] You came just in time with this news. [holds up the paper and the Bible] This article was the Bible story I was about to tell. Thanks for sharing this story with us. [Actor leaves.]

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Fish Cards (Jesus ... • Session 4) Worship KidStyle Children's Edition, Volume 3© 2013 LifeWay. Printed in the USA. OK to copy.

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Jesus Said (Jesus ... • Session 4) Worship KidStyle Children's Edition, Volume 3© 2013 LifeWay. Printed in the USA. OK to copy.

Find and read the verses in the Bible: Luke 6:27-28,35.Find and read what the reference materials say about these verses.

Use a Bible dictionary to discover what love, bless, and persecute mean.Give an example of how we can do as Jesus said.

Find and read the verses in the Bible: Matthew 6:14-15.Find and read what the reference materials say about these verses.

Use a Bible dictionary to discover what forgive means.Give an example of how we can do as Jesus said.

Find and read the verses in the Bible: Matthew 22:37-39.Find and read what the reference materials say about these verses.

Use a Bible dictionary to discover what love means.Give an example of how we can do as Jesus said.

Find and read the verse in the Bible: Luke 4:8.Find and read what the reference materials say about this verse.

Use a Bible dictionary to discover what worship and serve (or servant) mean.Give an example of how we can do as Jesus said.

Find and read the verses in the Bible: Luke 20:22-25.Find and read what the reference materials say about these verses.Use a Bible dictionary to discover what denarius and money mean.

Give an example of how we can do as Jesus said.

Find and read the verses in the Bible: John 13:34-35.Find and read what the reference materials say about these verses.Use a Bible dictionary to discover what love and disciples mean.

Give an example of how we can do as Jesus said.

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Game Cards (Jesus ... • Session 4) Worship KidStyle Children's Edition, Volume 3© 2013 LifeWay. Printed in the USA. OK to copy.

Who is Jesus? (God's Son, who willingly died on the cross for everyone's sin and was raised from the dead.)

50 points

How many fish did Peter and the disciples catch during the night? (none) 10 points

Who was the Man the disciples saw on shore?

(Jesus) 20 points

What did Jesus tell the disciples to do with their net?

(throw it over the right side of the boat) 30 points

Does Jesus want people to love and obey Him? (yes) 20 points

What did Simon Peter do when he realized the Man on shore was Jesus? (He jumped out of the boat and swam to Jesus.) 10 points

What does John 14:15 say? 40 points

How did Simon Peter obey Jesus? (He brought the fish like Jesus asked.) 30 points

How did the disciples obey Jesus? (They went to Galilee to wait for Him; they threw the net over the right side of the boat;

they ate with Jesus.) 10 points

How can you love and obey Jesus? 50 points

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Fishing Tackle (Jesus ... • Session 4) Worship KidStyle Children's Edition, Volume 3© 2013 LifeWay. Printed in the USA. OK to copy.

Fishing Tackle

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P J L O T H Y N 13:34

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jesus • session 4 lessons for the leader wants obedience

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