Rotation.org Writing Team

Jesus Calls the Disciples (and You)

Video Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activity

The students will study the story and explore the meanings of the words "disciple" and "discipline." They will watch part of the video Jesus, which is based on the Luke version of the story. (Video segment downloadable from Jesus Film Media or purchase the entire video at Jesus Film Store.) The students will also discuss the reasons the disciples may have chosen to follow Jesus and the ways they can choose to follow Jesus.

Note: There's another Video Workshop in this set at Rotation.org that uses a clip from the "Son of God" movie.

Scripture

Passage: Luke 5:1-11

Key/Memory Verse: “Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." 11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.” (NRSV)

Note: This story is also found in Matthew 5 and Mark 1. Luke adds the memory of Jesus first getting into the boat with Simon Peter, James and John, and telling them to let down their nets one more time.

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives. 

Additional Objectives for the Video Workshop

After completing this workshop, participants will...

Preparation

Read Bible Background and scripture.

Materials List

• Bibles
• Copies of regular student dictionaries and kid's Bible dictionaries and a few Thesaurus.
• Large sheets of newsprint or easel paper, one piece for every 3 or 4 students (alternately, if you have a large chalk board or white board that can accommodate all of the students).
• A means of hanging up the sheets of paper on the walls.
• Appropriate markers.
• Jesus video produced by John Heyman and starring Brian Deacon (available from Jesus Film Media the digital expression of The Jesus Film Project).
• Popcorn, if normally served in this workshop (otherwise Goldfish crackers are an appropriate treat)
• small six sided box (used like dice) - write reflection questions on it.

Advance Preparation Requirements

• Preview the video. (You can watch the various segments online here. Choose "more clips")
• Cue the video to the correct starting place. If time permits, the story flows nicely from the John the Baptist sequence, so cue the video to following the birth and the boy Jesus in the temple stories. Otherwise, begin after the John the Baptist scene (Narration: "And he came to Nazareth ...").
• Decide how much of the video you want to show. Again, if time permits, a good ending place is after all 12 Disciples are called (right before the "blesseds" begin). Approximate running times: including John the Baptist through naming of all 12 Disciples -- 11 minutes;
  Just the fishing boat/teaching from the boat and calling Simon Peter sequence -- 3 minutes.
• Based on the number of students expected in your workshop, hang an appropriate number of sheets of paper on various walls in the classroom. On at least one sheet write the word "Discipline." On at least one sheet write "Disciple."

Lesson Plan 

Open

 Welcome students and introduce today's lesson activities and subject. 

Read the scriptures, both the Matthew and the Luke version - Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:1-11, and ask them to note the differences in the two versions. Ask: "Why is that?" 
Explain that we often hear two people tell the story of the same event differently, such as, a family story. Not only do people remember things differently, they sometimes leave out parts or don't include them in their storytelling. 

Ask: What is in Luke's version of the story that has something cool we can learn from?

Dig into "Discipline"

Say: We are going to do some digging to find the meaning of words. Half of you will be exploring the word "discipline" and the other half will explore "disciple." Those words sound very similar. I wonder what we'll find? 

Do: Break the class into an even number of groups. (Recommend no more than 4 students in each group if possible.) Have groups each gather around a sheet of paper on the wall. Assign them a word - either Discipline or Disciple. Distribute appropriate resources.

Say: Your task is to define your word by writing down other words which mean the same thing. (Perhaps demonstrate by having the entire class come up with a word, or words, for discipline -- such as "training.")

Say:  You have 3 minutes. Go.

Do: Give a one-minute warning. After time is up, review the findings.

Ask: How does "Discipline" relate to the word we use for Jesus' followers -- Disciples?

Ask: How does being a disciple take discipline?

Notes:  A "Discipline"  is something that is learned and practiced. It is also used to describe being "punished" but that's not what we want our students to be thinking about!  Discipline is something you repeat. It tends to be regular, like practicing soccer to get better, doing drills over and over until you know them. When you learn something, you can then move to the next level.

Ask:  What do we do "over and over" in church in order to become "disciplined" at them? i.e. "move to the next level."  Is going to Sunday School a discipline?  Yes!  As is prayer, and obeying Christ's commands.

A Disciple is "one who learns," —one who "follows," and that takes discipline.

Watch the video clip!

Say: "Now we are going to see Jesus calling some fisherman to come be his disciples. Do you think that will take discipline?  You bet!  Be sure to notice how everyone responds to what Jesus says and does -- both the Disciples (before and after being called) and others.

Depending on the portion of the video you have chosen to show, tell the students that there are some other stories from the Gospel of Luke included.

Discuss the video. Use the questions appropriate for the portion of the video you viewed.

• I wonder why Simon Peter, after catching so many fish, said to Jesus, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" (Luke 4:8)?
• Reread the verses where Jesus actually calls Simon Peter (Matthew 4:19 and Luke 5:10); were they requests or commands? Did Simon Peter have a choice? Why?
• How do you think it felt to be called by Jesus?
• Did you notice how Simon Peter reacted when Jesus restored the little girl to life? [Surprised] I wonder why he reacted that way. Do you think the Disciples were always surprised by what Jesus did or do you think they got used to expecting the unexpected?
• Did you notice that in the calling of the twelve, there were many, many more that were not called? I wonder how and why Jesus chose the people he chose? Do you think they could have said "No" and not followed him?

If time permits, consider showing part of the video again: the fishing boat scene and the healing of the dead girl. Have the children watch Peter's reaction in particular to Jesus' teaching and healing.

Ask:  What do you think the actor was trying to show us about what Simon Peter thought about Jesus and how Simon Peter felt about Jesus before and after these events?"

Reflection Activity

Write the following questions on (6) sides of a box. Pass the box to each student and ask them to roll it like a dice and answer the question that appears on top.

1. Name something a Disciple needs to keep practicing to become a more faithful follower of Jesus.
2. When or where do you feel closest to God?  And how does it feel?
3. What excuses do you make for not doing what Jesus wants you to do?
4. Name something you do that helps you be a follower of Jesus.
5. Pick any question and make the person on your right answer it!
6. On a scale from 1 to 10, how much do you try to follow Jesus, and what could you do to become a better disciple?
   
   

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, help us to hear you when you call us and help us to follow you obediently and faithfully. Give us courage and wisdom to live as disciples, sharing your Good News with all we meet. Amen.

Additional Suggestions

Adaptations - Younger Children 

Some children may find the story of the girl restored to life (Luke 8:40-42, 49-56) disturbing. (However, my 6-year-old daughter did not, and she is sensitive to scary and threatening images.) Before showing the video, tell the children that one of the stories they will be seeing is the healing of a dead girl. If you know of any children who have had recent deaths or sicknesses in their families, you may want to stop the video after Jesus calls the fishermen and not include Jesus calling the twelve. Consider not including the John the Baptist segment for first and second graders, as it may be confusing for them to see too many different stories not directly related to the lesson.

Adaptations - Older Children

An alternate video choice is on the video Fish-Eyes with Ted & Lee which presents the Gospel story from the point of view of Peter and Andrew. The updated settings for these familiar stories makes the telling by the creative team of Ted Swartz & Lee Eshleman, fresh. See http://www.tedandcompany.com/ for more about these talented, imaginative and quirky artists. View a two-minute trailer of "The Call." Learn about the DVD Fish-Eyes here. Read a Rotation.org review of other videos by Ted and Company.

Another alternate video choice is the scene from Luke in "Son of God" video (2014).

Written by: Amy Crane for the Rotation.org Writing Team. Updated and improved in 2016.

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Printed from https://www.rotation.org