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(WT) Jesus Calls the Disciples ~ A Video & Music Workshop

Rotation.org Writing Team

Jesus Calls the Disciples (and You)

A Video & Music Workshop Lesson

Summary of Lesson Activity

jesusandpeterStudents will watch two video clips, then rework and sing the lyrics from the second video clip.

The first video clip is a scene from “Son of God” (2014) where Jesus calls the fisherman. The second video clip is the song “Part of My World” —Ariel’s song from the Little Mermaid.  Perhaps you’ve never realized it (even after hearing it a thousand times), but the song’s lyrics are a vivid expression of a young person’s desire for more than “thingamabobs.” She expresses her soul’s desire for a more meaningful life.

Out of the sea   Wish I could be   Part of that world

Through a fun and clever “mad-lib” we’ve created for this lesson, your students will perform and never hear this song the same way again. They will begin to understand what it means to be “Part of HIS World.”

Using popular movies and movies about Jesus to teach Sunday School lessons has a long and treasured history in many Sunday Schools, children's, and youth ministries. The idea behind using "popular movie clips" is to hook our content and the lesson's memory to something the kids already know well -- and will undoubtedly see many times in the year ahead.

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.

Materials and Advanced Preparation List

  • Read Bible Background, scripture and lesson.
  • Bibles or Bible Storybook.
  • Obtain and Preview copies of the videos, Son of God (2014), and The Little Mermaid (Disney). Both these movies can be ordered on DVD, or streamed on a TV or computer connected to the internet using an Amazon.com or Amazon Prime account and Disney account. Check with your members to see who owns The Little Mermaid (the Disney animated one).
  • Cue them to their starting points.
  • Son of God:  The Jesus and Peter is in Scene 4, starting at 7:40 and running through 12:50.  (timemarks approximate.)
  • Little Mermaid: "Part of Your World" starts at about the 15 minute mark into the movie.
  • Print copies of the “Part of His World” lyric worksheet. (Tip: print in landscape orientation)
  • Optional (two - inexpensive Ariel red wigs purchased or made)



Lesson Plan

Open

Welcome the students and introduce today’s lesson. Tell them that as part of their lesson they are going to get to rephrase and sing one of the most popular Disney songs ever. See if they can guess what it is, but let it be a surprise.

Have students open their Bibles and read along with you the story of Jesus calling the disciples to follow him as found in Luke 5: 1-11.

After reading the passage, give them the other two Gospel references, and ask them to quickly review those scriptures to see what parts of the story Luke included that Matthew and Mark didn’t. Explain that these three Gospels often tell slightly different versions of the same story probably because the disciples remembered them slightly differently, and the writers didn’t write down every detail they heard.   Luke’s version is the only one that remembers to tell the part about Jesus getting in the boat and telling them to cast their nets over the side before he calls them to be “fishers of men.”

Dig

Introduce and write-out the following questions for the students to answer after the video.

  1. Jesus will say, "Give me an hour and I will give you a whole new life."  What kind of whole new life was he talking about?  (Follow up: Peter responds, "Who says I want one?" Does everyone want what Jesus is offering? Why not?)
  2. How does Jesus respond and treat Peter when Peter acts that way?  (Jesus stays calm and understands that he must convince Peter.)
  3. What about Peter do we know that would have made him a good choice to be a disciple? A bad choice?
  4. The scene ends with the words, "All who heard him felt his power." What does Jesus' power feel like?  (Follow up: This is a deep question that must be answered so that our students know what to expect. It can feel like calm amid the storm, strength in times of trial, faith in the face of trouble, peace knowing your life is God's).


Now show the Son of God movie, starting in Scene 4 and end it on the words, "And all who heard him felt his power."

After viewing it, go to the four questions asked above, and then finish with the point below.

Point: You might think that Peter had special qualifications to be a disciple, but in fact, we know that Peter had some problems too. He would end up denying Jesus three times.   For sure, Peter at times felt unworthy and was no religious scholar. And we know from other stories that Jesus was often accused of surrounding himself with the wrong people, including mere fisherman!  All these things point to an important truth: the Holy Spirit picks us to be Disciples, not because we are smart or strong, but because God loves us. As Jesus would later tell the Chief Priest on Palm Sunday, “God can make stones to sing.”  This is good news to those of us who sometimes feel like we are made of stone rather than spirit.

Ask:  So what is the #1 Qualification for Being a Disciple of Jesus?

=A desire to follow him=   That’s it. Jesus will provide the rest of what you need.

Now introduce the second video clip, “Part of Your World” from the Little Mermaid.  It starts at about the 15 minute mark.

Ask:  How many of you know this song?  Know it by heart?  (Let whoever try to sing it as a fun warm up.)

Especially if you have older boys in your class, you are going to want to “sell” them on what is sometimes perceived as a “girl’s song.”  Tell them that you think there is a secret message in the song for people like Christians who want a different life, a life with Jesus.  Tell them that after viewing Ariel’s song, they will be turning it into a song about being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.

Show the video clip of the song, “Part of Your World.”

After viewing it, ask these questions as a lead-up to the mad-lib activity, which is on a handout attached to this lesson at rotation.org

Questions:

What things does Ariel own that she realizes are not making her life complete?  (Possessions)

What does Ariel want?  (Ariel is waiting for something more. She sees a different life that’s possible, more fulfilling, and wants to go there.)

What do you think Peter, John and James wanted? –just to be fisherman?   (We all want more than things and jobs. One of the reasons Jesus probably picked Peter, John and James was he somehow knew they wanted more out of life, just like Ariel did. And if they followed him, they would find life's deeper meaning and purpose.)

Say:  Disciples of Jesus are people who want the life Jesus offers, something fulfilling and faithful. Not just full of thingamabobs and gadgets, not just about school or sports or a job, but a life where they feel like they are dancing with God.

Ask: How DO we GET that kind of life, a life that feels like we're dancing with God?   (Jesus gives it, we just have to want it. We need to understand what it is that God is giving us, and that's why we come to church and read scriptures.  Most of all, we need to understand that God is giving HIMSELF. God wants a personal relationship with us. "Follow ME," he says.)

Say:  When Ariel sings,
When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?
Out of the sea,  Wish I could be, Part of that world
I want to suggest to you that WE know something Ariel doesn't know. And we are learning it here at church:  That Jesus is the one to follow across the shore. Jesus is the one ready to give us the world.

Reflect

The "Part of His World" Song Activity

Working together in pairs, students complete the “Part of HIS World” handout, and then sing their version to the rest of the class. Tip: Pick a pair of students who are natural "hams" to go first.

Performing the New Song

Options: You can have them sing it from memory if you think they can. Or, play the video clip in the background with the volume on low and have each pair sing over the top of Ariel’s vocal. If you think it will help them get into character, have two red Ariel wigs ready for the pairs as they perform their song for the group.  Inexpensive Ariel wigs can be found online, or made out of a long piece of red fun-fur strapped to their head.

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, you call us to follow you and be part of your world, a world where we feel full of faith, are excited to hear your voice through your word, can talk to you in prayer. Help us to grow feet instead of fins —so we aren’t just flopping around in our faith. And don’t let us be distracted by gadgets and gizmos, but always keep our eye on you as you lead us. Amen.

Tip: Sometimes it is nice to give them a visible reminder of the lesson to go home in their pocket. You might give them a little bit of red-fur hair or a swedish fish candy.



Written by Neil MacQueen and the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright © Rotation.org
Printed from https://www.rotation.org

Images and lyrics used for educational purposes under the US Copyright Fair Use exception.




Excerpts from the song, "Part of Your World"

(The original full lyrics are included in the handout).



You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty!

But who cares? No big deal,

I want more

……………

When's it my turn?

Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?

Out of the sea   Wish I could be   Part of that world

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Last edited by Neil MacQueen
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