Rotation.org Writing Team

Jesus Calls the Disciples (and You)

Cooking Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activity

Students will make "fish pizza" in the shape of fish, nets, and a boat to remember the story of Jesus calling fishermen to be his disciples.  They will discuss what being a disciple means today and how they are working together in Sunday School and at church to be disciples of The Great Fisherman. After eating their pizza, they will race to share their pizza creations and tell the story behind it —because that's what disciples do: share and tell.

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)

Lesson Objectives

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

Preparation and Materials

Read Bible Background and scripture and lesson plan.

Gather the following materials:

• An Ichthys symbol
• Bibles
• Aluminum foil
• Cookie sheets or pizza pans
• Plastic Knives
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowls
• Napkins or paper towels
• Oven
• Pepperoni
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Pre-made Pizza dough
• Pizza sauce, canned or jarred
• Pictures of, or props in a bag:  A Net, A Boat, A Fisherman, A Fish

Lesson Plan

Opening

Welcome students and go over what they'll be doing in today's lesson.

Ask:  Who likes pizza? What shape is a pizza? Has anyone ever eaten a pizza in a shape other than a circle? 

Say: Today we will be making pizza using shapes from our Bible story today, the story of Jesus calling the fisherman. Can anyone guess what that shapes will be? (allow any responses)

Let's read the Luke 5: 1-11 Bible story for clues about what shapes we can make our pizzas.

As you read the story with them, have them identify possible shapes to make pizza:  Fish, Net, Boat, what else?

Note: While the pizzas are baking, you will do more follow up on the story itself.

After reading the story....

Have everyone wash their hands as they prepare to work the pre-made pizza dough.

First, show them the "sign of the fish" by cutting out the shape of the Christian fish from the dough. Now invite each of them to cut out a similar shape.  The SIZE of the fish needs to be big enough to hold some sauce and cheese (about 5 inches long and 4 inches high should do.)    As they put sauce and toppings on their fish pizza, be sure you explain that "the symbol of the fish" was one of the earliest symbols that Christians used to identify themselves. In fact, it was used even earlier than the cross!  

Say: Not only did Jesus use the fish symbol to describe the people he wanted to "catch" with his Good News, we also know that fish need to live in water. What "water" do we use in worship and what does that water symbolize? 

After making the fish pizzas, put them on the baking sheet and now let them experiment with making the other objects/symbols they found in the story.

Pizza dough in the shape of a boat large enough to hold sauce and cheese.

Pizza dough "strips" to make a net can be "breadsticks" topped with cheese and dipped in the sauce.

If you you get done early, invite some students to make a pizza that looks like Jesus.

Now put all the pizzas in the oven, set a timer, and return to the discussion area.

During the Baking Play the "What does it mean?" Game

It should only take about 8 to 10 minutes for the pizzas to be done. Use the following activity to reinforce what the symbols in Luke's story are trying to tell us.

Gather a picture or prop of a boat/fish/fisherman/net in a bag and sit with your students in a circle.

Say: Each of the things in my bag are "symbols" that tell us important things about being disciples of the Great Fisherman, Jesus. In a moment, I'm going to pull an item out of the bag and toss it to you. You will have 5 seconds to say "what it means," or "what it tells you about being a disciple."  Now here's the big rule:  You cannot repeat what someone has already said about the object. You must come up with something new to say about it. Ready?

To the Teacher: Below are the four objects you need to have in your bag. At this point in the lesson, it should be fairly easy for the student to come up with something to say about the object. As it gets harder, and especially if they are younger, give them clues. For example, the first time they see the hook, you might say, "what do you do with a net?"  They will respond something like "catch fish." Since that's not the meaningful answer you're looking for, you might then ask, "what things do we do to 'catch' children's interest here at our church?" Or in the case of the boat you might give them the clue, "do the disciples work together in the boat, or do whatever each one wants to do?"  Below are some more ideas you can turn into clues.

Teaching your students to think more deeply about words and symbols is part of what we do to turn them into disciples.

Boat:   The church is the boat. Our class is a boat. We work together just like the disciples did to take care of the boat, prepare it, sail it, and work the nets. Jesus gets in our boat and tells us where to fish.   The boat is also a safe place for disciples, a place to rest and enjoy each others company.

Net: Nets are those things we use to gather the fish together: worship, music, fun, study, taking care of each other. How is Sunday School class like a net?

Fish: We are the fish, students are the fish, those in need are the fish. Do they want to jump in the boat? No, we have to convince them to get in the boat where Jesus is. Sometimes we are the fisherman, and sometimes we are the fish needing to be "caught up" again in Jesus' net.

The Fisherman and the fishermen:  Jesus is the Great Fisherman. He comes looking for us. He catches us and brings us into the boat. Then he teaches us how to help him fish.

Eat & Share

Disciples are people who share with others. Who should we share our pizza with?  

Say: In pairs, wrap up a piece of your Disciple Pizza and when I say "go" you need to rush out to find someone to share it with. When you meet them, you have to tell the story of Jesus calling the disciples and saying "follow me and I will make you fishers of people" and then rush back here. First team to do all that and not leave anything out -wins. Ready?

Back after the sharing...

Ask:  What was the reaction of the person you shared your pizza and message with?

Ask: Fisherman fish!  What can you do to get one of your un-churched friends to come to church with you next Sunday?  (Maybe promise to take them out for pizza afterwards?) 

Say:  Sometimes things in the Bible or our faith seem complicated, but in today's story we learn that it's pretty simple:   Come Follow Jesus, Learn from Him, and Help Others Do the Same.

Closing

Wrap up a boat or net pizza in a piece of foil, and have students write a "tag" that summarizes what you just said to them:  "Jesus says, "Come, Follow, Learn, Share."   Attach the tag to the pizza gift and have them give it to someone on their way out of church.

Involve the students in the cleanup process.

Written by: Neil MacQueen for the Writing Team based on a lesson from Linda Tresner and Carol Hulbert

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