Jesus Calls His First Disciples Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Right away they followed Jesus.”
Jesus left his home town of Nazareth. He went to live in a town called Capernaum. Capernaum was by the sea of Galilee. That sea was really a big lake, with lots of fish in it.
Long before, the prophet Isaiah had said something about this land of Galilee. A prophet is someone who tells God’s words. Isaiah said, “The people who sat in darkness saw a great light.”
Now that great light had come. It was Jesus! When it is dark, a light helps us see the way. Can you make a light with your hands? Open them wide, like a shining lamp! Jesus came to bring God’s light to people.
Jesus told the people, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” That means: Turn back to God. God’s Kingdom is very near!
One day Jesus was walking by the water. He saw two brothers. Their names were Simon Peter and Andrew. They were fishermen. Fishermen catch fish for their work.
Peter and Andrew were throwing a big net into the sea. A net is like a big bag made of strings. The fish swim in, and the fishermen pull it out. Swish! Splash! Can you throw a big net with your arms?
Jesus called to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” Peter and Andrew caught fish. Now Jesus would teach them to bring people to God. What do you think Peter and Andrew did?
Peter and Andrew left their nets right there. They did not wait. Right away they followed Jesus.
Jesus walked on along the shore. He saw two more brothers, James and John. They were in a boat with their father, Zebedee. They were mending their nets. Mending means fixing the holes. Holes in a net let the fish slip out!
Jesus called James and John too. They left the boat. They left their father, Zebedee, in the boat. Right away they followed Jesus.
Now Jesus had four friends with him. Let’s count them on our fingers: Peter, Andrew, James, John! One, two, three, four. Four fishermen! Right away they followed Jesus.
Jesus went all around Galilee with his friends. He taught in the synagogues. A synagogue is a house where people met to learn about God. On the day of rest, they all came there. Jesus told them the Good News about God’s Kingdom.
And Jesus healed people. Healed means he made them well again. He healed every kind of sickness. Sick people got well. People who could not walk got up and walked!
News about Jesus went far, far away, all the way to a land called Syria. They brought all their sick people to him, and he made them well. Great crowds came from many towns, near and far. They followed Jesus too.
And Jesus’ four new friends stayed with him, day after day. They walked with him and listened to him. Jesus called them, and they came to be with him. Right away they followed Jesus.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the fishermen felt when Jesus called them?
- What would you like to ask Jesus if you could walk with him?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Color the 4 fishermen who followed Jesus and the 1 boat.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” — Matthew 4:19 (Come after me → wave your hand: come here; fishers → throw a big net; for men → point to the people around you)
Dear Jesus, thank you for calling your friends to come with you. Thank you that you call me too. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Jesus invites everyone
Memory verse: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” — Matthew 4:19 · WEB
The Bible story
By a shining blue lake, Jesus meets four fishermen and speaks a few simple words that turn ordinary friends into world-changing followers.
Talk about it
- Beside what water did Jesus walk? — The Sea of Galilee
- What was Jesus looking for that morning? — Special helpers to follow Him
- What were the first two brothers' names? — Simon Peter and Andrew
- What job did these brothers have? — They were fishermen
- What did Jesus say to the brothers? — "Come, follow me"
- What did 'fishers of men' really mean? — Bringing people to God
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jesus told Peter and Andrew, “I will make you fishermen for men” (Matthew 4:19), and he kept his word. A few years later, on the day of Pentecost, Peter told a huge crowd about Jesus, and about 3,000 people believed and were baptized (Acts 2:41). Jesus doesn't just call people; he changes them and does what he promises. He can use your ordinary hands too.
What God wants to tell us
Jesus did not choose famous kings or the cleverest people in the land. He chose ordinary fishermen with tired hands and simple boats, and He loved them just as they were. That means Jesus loves you too, exactly as you are today. When He calls us to follow Him, He is offering us the happiest adventure of all: walking with God, learning His ways, and sharing His love with everyone we meet. You do not have to be big or clever or perfect. You only need a willing heart that says a happy yes.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me just as I am. Thank You that Jesus invites me to follow Him and walk with You every day. Help me to say a happy yes when I hear Your gentle voice, and to share Your love with everyone I meet. I want to be Your friend forever. Amen.
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