Jesus Calls the First Disciples: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Matthew 4:18-22
An interactive 45-minute lesson for ages 6-10 on Matthew 4:18-22. Children hear how Jesus called four fishermen, play a review game, make a fish bookmark, learn Matthew 4:19 (KJV) and pray about following Jesus.
Memory verse
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell how Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John.
- Explain that following Jesus means going with him and trusting him.
- Say Matthew 4:19 from memory and name one way to follow Jesus this week.
The full lesson plan
Welcome and Follow the Leader (6 min)
Setup: Clear a walking path. Spread the blue sheet on the floor if you have one.
Steps:
1. Welcome the children and have them stand in a line behind you.
2. Walk slowly around the room doing simple actions: clap, hop, turn, tiptoe. The children copy you. Walking only, no running.
3. Let two or three children take a turn as leader.
4. Sit down together.
Say: "When you follow the leader, you go where the leader goes and do what the leader does."
Say: "Today we will hear about the day Jesus said, 'Follow me,' to four fishermen."
Say: "What do you think they did?"
Transition: Now let's open our Bibles and find out.
Hear the Story (7 min)
Read Matthew 4:18-22 aloud from the KJV, or retell it in order with actions:
1. Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee (sweep your arm like waves).
2. He sees two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew, casting a net into the sea. They were fishers (pretend to throw a net).
3. Jesus says, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (beckon with your hand).
4. They straightway leave their nets and follow him (drop the net, step forward).
5. Jesus goes on and sees two more brothers, James and John, in a ship with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He calls them.
6. They immediately leave the ship and their father and follow him.
Say: "Listen for the words 'straightway' and 'immediately.'"
Say: "Those words mean right away."
Say: "Every time I say 'followed him,' take one step forward."
After the reading, ask: "Who did Jesus call? What did they leave?" (Peter, Andrew, James and John. Their nets and the ship.)
Transition: Now let's think about what this means.
Why Did They Follow? (8 min)
Say: "Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishers, and fishing was their work."
Say: "Jesus walked up and invited them to come with him, and they went."
Background: Fishing with nets was a common job around the Sea of Galilee. Leaving a boat and nets was a big change.
Teach three simple points. Hold up one finger for each.
1. Jesus calls. He chose them and invited them. Jesus still invites people today.
2. Following means going with Jesus. They left their nets to be with him and learn from him. For us, following means listening to Jesus, trusting him and obeying what he says.
3. Jesus has a plan. He said he would make them "fishers of men," which means helping other people come to know him. The Bible does not say they understood all of it yet. They trusted him anyway.
Say: "Jesus is the Son of God who came to save us, and he welcomes everyone who follows him."
Say: "Following Jesus is the best choice we can make."
Transition: Now let's play a game to remember the story.
Fish Cards Game (7 min)
Setup: Cut out 10-12 paper fish. On each, write a review question (examples: Who walked by the sea? What did Peter and Andrew do for work? What did Jesus say? Who was with James and John?). Scatter the fish face down on the floor or on the blue sheet.
Steps:
1. Make teams of 3 or 4.
2. One child from each team walks (no running) to pick up a fish and brings it back.
3. The team reads the question and answers it together. Help with Bible verses if needed.
4. A correct answer earns a cheer. Put the fish aside and send up the next child.
5. Play until the fish are gone or time is up.
Say: "Great fishing, team!"
Say: "Jesus said, 'Follow me.' What would you say back?"
Transition: Now let's make something to help us remember his words.
Follow Me Fish Bookmark (8 min)
Safety: Children use safety scissors under supervision. Check for allergies and ask parents before using any glue or craft supplies on skin. Pre-cut shapes for younger children.
Setup: Before class, cut a fish-shaped template and write the memory verse on index cards.
Steps:
1. Trace the fish template on construction paper and cut it out (or use pre-cut fish).
2. Glue or tape the memory verse card onto the fish.
3. Decorate the fish with crayons: scales, eyes, a smile.
4. On the back, write or draw one way you will follow Jesus this week.
5. Read the verse aloud together twice.
Say: "Matthew 4:19 says, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'"
Say: "Put your fish bookmark in your Bible or on your bedroom wall."
Transition: Now let's talk about what we learned.
Talk About It (5 min)
Ask these questions. Give children time to think, and let them pass if they wish.
1. What did Peter, Andrew, James and John do when Jesus called them? (They left their nets and boat and followed him right away.)
2. What does it mean to follow Jesus today? (Listen to him, trust him, obey what the Bible says and be kind to others.)
3. What can make it hard to follow Jesus? (Friends, being scared, wanting our own way. Jesus is always worth following.)
4. How can you tell someone about Jesus this week? (Invite a friend to church, share a Bible verse, pray with someone.)
Say: "Jesus wants us to follow him one step at a time."
Transition: Let's finish by talking to Jesus.
Say the Verse and Pray (4 min)
Memory verse: Say Matthew 4:19 together three times, once whispering, once loudly and once with actions.
Prayer points: Pray one line at a time and have the children repeat it.
1. Thank you, Jesus, for calling us to follow you.
2. Help us listen and obey you every day.
3. Help us show others how great you are.
4. Be with our families this week.
Say: "Jesus, we want to follow you. Amen."
Say: "Take your fish home and show your family."
Dismiss the children one at a time to their parents or leaders.
Materials
- Bibles (KJV if possible)
- Blue sheet or cloth (the sea)
- Paper fish cards with review questions (10-12)
- Construction paper
- Crayons or markers
- Safety scissors
- Glue sticks or tape
- Index cards with the memory verse written out
Teacher notes
- Safety: The craft uses scissors and glue. Supervise closely, check for allergies and keep small scraps off the floor.
- Adaptation: For children with special needs or mixed ages, use picture cards of the story, pair children with a buddy, and offer a quieter option such as coloring the fish instead of cutting.
- Stay with the text: the Bible does not say how the men felt or what they said. If children ask, say "The Bible doesn't tell us, but they did follow Jesus."
- Keep the games walking only and move on if a section runs long so the lesson ends at 45 minutes.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Matthew 4:18-22, where Jesus called fishermen Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him, and they left their nets and followed. The children learned that Jesus invites us to follow him and that he has a plan for those who do.
- What did the fishermen leave behind to follow Jesus?
- What is one way you can follow Jesus at home or at school this week?
Play Follow the Leader at home. Take turns leading, then talk about how following Jesus is like following a leader you trust. Read Matthew 4:18-22 together.
Each day this week, say Matthew 4:19 and do one thing to follow Jesus, such as obeying right away, sharing or praying for a friend.
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