Jesus Calls Ordinary People

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K/1st 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, Fishers of Men Maze – 1 per child - Two Pictures - Mirror - Red Fish – 1 per child; Blue Fish – 1 per child; Yellow Fish – 1 per child - Fishing Rods - Pre-Printed Construction Paper – 1 per child  Place an arrival activity at each place on the table.

Welcome SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards, Attendance chart, stickers, pens, Fishers of Men Maze, crayons  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 and color the Fishers of Men Maze . 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  The Children’s Worship Leader will direct your class to come to 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 107. 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 107.

The Lesson SUPPLIES: Two Pictures, Mirror, Fish (with paper clips attached), Fishing poles, pre-printed construction paper, glue  Gather all the children in a circle on the carpet. As you are able, sit on the floor

with them or use a chair as part of the circle. ASK: Today we learned about Jesus choosing his first disciples. Who did he choose? (Fishermen) What kind of people were these fishermen? (Ordinary, regular, everyday people) SAY: Jesus chose regular people to be His disciples and He chooses regular people to follow Him today! I have pictures of three regular people that God chooses to follow Him. Show picture of Pastor Chris ASK: Who is this? (Pastor Chris) God chose Pastor Chris to lead our church and help people learn about God. Pastor Chris is a regular person just like you. He is a grandpa, The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

he has a dog, he was even an accountant before he became a pastor! Pastors are regular, ordinary people. Show picture of Suzanne Lyles ASK: Who is this? (Mrs. Lyles) God chose Mrs. Lyles to be a Sunday school teacher and help you learn about God. Mrs. Lyles is a regular person just like you. She has kids, she cooks dinner and goes to the grocery store, just like other moms and dads. Sunday school teachers are regular, ordinary people. Show the mirror ASK: Who is this? (You!) God chooses you to help others learn about Him! God thinks each of you is special and chooses you to share God’s love with others. SAY: To help you remember that Jesus chose ordinary fishermen to be his disciples and that God chooses you to follow Him, we are going to make a craft.  Show children the sample craft. Read the pre-printed message to children. (Jesus

Chose Fishermen)  Ask a volunteer to read the words on the fish (God Chooses Me). SAY: Instead of giving you these fish with the words on them, we are going to go fishing to get them!  Show the children the “pool” of fish.  Explain that each child will have a chance to use the fishing pool to catch three fish;

one of each color (red - God, blue - Chooses, yellow - Me).  When it is a child’s turn, they should use the fishing pole to catch one fish and then pass the fishing pole to the next child. It will take a child three turns to catch all of their fish. - The fishing pole has a magnet at the end and the fish have paper clips attached. - Encourage children to cheer each other on while catching fish. - If time is running short, allow children to catch all their fish in one turn.  Once a child has all three fish, help them glue their fish onto the pre-printed piece of construction paper.

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2

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 choosing me to share your love with others! Amen  If time remains before parents arrive, encourage children to return to their Fishers of Men Maze 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

God Chooses Me Craft

The Life of Jesus  Lesson 2