Jesus Calls Ordinary People

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4th/5th Grade – Jan 14

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

Jesus Calls Ordinary People Bible Verse The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men. (Acts 4:13)

Teacher Enrichment This lesson is the second in the Life of Jesus series which examines how Jesus is our best example for inclusion. Jesus included everyone in his ministry from simple fishermen, to government leaders and kings; from devout followers to those considered sinners; and from old to young. Each week will explore the various ways and people Jesus chose to serve and teach. At the beginning of His ministry Jesus chose disciples to be His helpers in spreading God’s message. You may think Jesus would choose leaders of the church or famous people or important people in the community; but Jesus actually made some unexpected choices. With his very first disciples, Jesus chose simple fishermen going about their regular, mundane day. The disciples were ordinary people who didn’t have special training or special powers. They had the same human faults we find in ourselves. What they did have in common was their love for God and their willingness to follow Jesus with all of their heart. God is calling each of us in the same way today. He is not waiting for you to learn something new or become something different or more important. He is calling each of us now, as we are, in our full, complete ordinariness. This lesson will teach children that God calls everyone to follow Him, including them. They will begin to understand that ordinary is special because God is calling ordinary people to be His disciples – in the Bible and today. Children will explore ways that God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

Before Class Begins  Place the Sign In sheet and a pen where parents can see it upon arrival.  Place the Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards and pens where students can see them upon arrival.  Check that you have supplies for this lesson: - Arrival Activity, Calling Disciples Activity Sheet – 1 per child - Ordinary People from the Bible Worksheets - Blank Poster Board - Props for skits  Place an arrival activity at each place on the table.

Welcome SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards, Attendance chart, stickers, Calling Disciples activity sheet, pencils/pens  Greet each child individually as they arrive. Introduce yourself by name.  Help children find or add their name on the attendance chart. Provide each child  

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with a sticker to place in today’s column on the attendance chart. Encourage children to complete a Joy or Concern card if they have a particular joy or concern they would like to express. Collect completed Joy & Concern cards. Encourage children to complete a Time or Talent offering card if they gave their time to God or used their talents to serve God or others during the previous week. Children should keep their own completed Time and Talent cards. If children bring monetary offering, they should keep it with them. Direct children to complete the Calling Disciples activity sheet. Encourage conversation among the children and with you! Get to know the children in your classroom by asking about their week including school, activities and families. Introduce new children to each other and encourage friendships.

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

Children’s Worship SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards  Arrive at Ruth Hall at 9:20 or 11:05.  Bring the Sign In sheet and completed Joy & Concern cards to Ruth Hall. Hand the     

Joy & Concern cards to the Children’s Worship leader as you arrive. Have children bring their completed Time & Talent cards and any monetary offering. If additional children arrive while in Ruth Hall, have parents complete the Sign In sheet and remind parents that pickup is in Room 110. Encourage children to participate in Children’s Worship and provide re-direction if necessary. Assist the Children’s Worship leader as needed. At the conclusion of Children’s Worship, have children line up and return to Room 110.

The Lesson SUPPLIES: Ordinary People in the Bible Worksheets, Props, poster board, blank paper, markers, pens

SAY: Today we learned about Jesus calling his first disciples to follow Him. Those disciples were ordinary fishermen. ASK: How does it make you feel to know that God calls regular people to follow Him? Allow children to briefly provide answers. In general, looking for “it makes me feel good because I’m ordinary.” SAY: We don’t have to be perfect or powerful in order to follow Jesus. I bet Peter and John and James didn’t think they were worthy of following Jesus. But we don’t have to start out as perfect in order to be disciples. We just need to decide to follow Jesus’ example and love God! SAY: There are other examples in the Bible of Jesus and God calling ordinary people to follow them and to do extraordinary things. Let’s learn about these other people by teaching each other. The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

 Divide children into three teams.  Provide each team an Ordinary People from the Bible Worksheet. There are three

different worksheets – one for each Bible character.  Provide teams 5-10 minutes to come up with a creative way to teach the story to the rest of the class. This could be a skit, a news cast, a Facebook post with pictures, a cartoon, etc. Allow children to use the props and poster board/paper as needed. Presentations should be short; about 2-3 minutes maximum.  Allow each team to teach their story to the class. SAY: We’ve learned that Jesus not only called fishermen to be His disciples, but that Jesus and God called ordinary people to follow them all the time! God still does this today when He calls us to follow Him. Lead a discussion about God calling ordinary people today just as Jesus did with the fishermen. Questions for the Discussion  Why do you think Jesus called/calls ordinary people?  How is being a disciple today different from being a disciple in Bible times? How is it

the same?  How does God use you? Or, how have you seen God use ordinary people?

Closing  Lead the children in a closing prayer. You may say your own prayer, ask one of the

children to say a prayer or use the one below. God, Thank you for sending Jesus to earth to be an example to us. Help us to follow hear God when he calls us to do extraordinary thing. Amen The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

 If time remains before parents arrive, encourage children to return to their Calling

Disciples activity sheet if they did not complete it. Also encourage conversation between children and with you. This is another opportunity to build relationships with the children in your classroom!

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

Ordinary People from the Bible Bible Verse: 1 Samuel 17:1-50

1. Who is the main character? ____________________________________________________________________ 2. What made them ordinary or an unexpected choice? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 3. What did they do that was extraordinary? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

4. How will you share this with the class?

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Skit



News Report (printed or TV)



Social Media Post (with pictures!)



Cartoon or Billboard



Other Idea: ___________________________________

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

Ordinary People from the Bible Bible Verse: Acts 4:1-22 and Luke 5:1-12

1. Who is the main character? ____________________________________________________________________ 2. What made them ordinary or an unexpected choice? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 3. What did they do that was extraordinary? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

4. How will you share this with the class?



Skit



News Report (printed or TV)



Social Media Post (with pictures!)



Cartoon or Billboard



Other Idea: ___________________________________

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

Ordinary People from the Bible Bible Verse: Exodus 3:1-12 and 4:1-13

1. Who is the main character? ____________________________________________________________________ 2. What made them ordinary or an unexpected choice? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 3. What did they do that was extraordinary? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

4. How will you share this with the class?



Skit



News Report (printed or TV)



Social Media Post (with pictures!)



Cartoon or Billboard



Other Idea: ___________________________________