The Second Miraculous Catch 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: “The net was full of fish!”
Jesus had died, and God raised him to life again. Jesus had risen! Now some of his friends were by a big lake in Galilee. It was the Sea of Tiberias.
Seven friends were together: Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John, and two others. Let’s count them on our fingers. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven!
Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” The others said, “We are also coming with you.” So they all got into the boat.
On that lake, fishermen often fished at night. They used a big net. They threw it into the water and pulled it back up. They fished all night. They threw out the net. Splash! They pulled it in. Nothing! They threw it out again. Splash! Nothing! That night, they caught nothing. Not one fish.
Maybe they were tired. Maybe they were hungry. Maybe they were a little sad. Slowly the sky grew light.
When morning came, a man stood on the beach. It was Jesus! But his friends did not know it was Jesus. “Children, have you anything to eat?” he called. “No,” they answered.
He said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat. You will find some.” What do you think happened? They threw the net out again. Splash!
And now they could not pull it in! It was too heavy. Pull, pull! Can you pull a heavy net? The net was full of fish!
The friend whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Peter heard that, he wrapped his coat around himself. Then he jumped into the sea. Splash! Maybe Peter could not wait to get to Jesus. Can you swim with your arms like Peter?
The other friends came in the little boat. They were not far from land. It was about as far as a football field is long. They pulled the heavy net behind them. The net was full of fish!
On the beach there was a fire of coals. Fish and bread were on it. Jesus had breakfast ready! Mmm! Can you smell the fish?
Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Peter went and pulled the net onto the land. There were one hundred fifty-three big fish! So many fish, and the net was not torn. The net was full of fish!
Jesus said, “Come and eat breakfast!” Nobody asked him, “Who are you?” They all knew it was the Lord.
Jesus took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish too. Warm bread and fish by the fire. Yum! Remember? Jesus had called them “Children.” Now he fed them, like a dad feeds his children.
This was the third time Jesus showed himself to his friends. He had really risen from the dead! He stood on the beach. He talked with them. He gave them food with his own hands.
Jesus was alive, and he took care of his friends. He takes care of you too. The net was full of fish!
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the friends felt after fishing all night and catching nothing?
- What do you think Peter said when he reached Jesus on the beach?
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 7 friends who went fishing.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Cast the net on the right side of the boat” — John 21:6 (Cast the net → throw both arms forward; on the right side → point to your right; of the boat → make a boat with your hands)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you are alive. Thank you that you take care of your friends. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Jesus is with us, even in the dark
Memory verse: “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” — John 21:6 · WEB
The Bible story
After Jesus rose again, tired fishermen caught nothing all night, until a kind voice on the shore filled their net with 153 fish and their hearts with joy.
Talk about it
- Where were Jesus' friends at the start of the story? — By the Sea of Galilee
- Who said, "I am going out to fish"? — Peter
- How many fish did they catch all night long? — None at all
- What did the voice from the shore tell them to do? — Throw it on the right side
- What happened when they threw the net that time? — It was full of fish
- Which friend first said, "It is the Lord!"? — John
Where is Jesus in this story?
This story happened after Jesus had died on the cross and come back to life. He did not appear far away in the sky, but right on the beach where His friends worked, making them breakfast with His own hands. That is exactly what Jesus is like. He rescues us when we cannot help ourselves, fills our empty nets, and gently invites us to come close and be fed by Him. Just as He forgave Peter that morning and gave him a fresh start, Jesus offers each of us His love, His forgiveness, and a place beside Him forever.
What God wants to tell us
Sometimes we try and try and nothing seems to work, just like the friends who fished all night and caught nothing. But when Jesus was near, everything changed. God loves to help us when we trust Him and do what He says, even when we feel tired or empty. And He does not wait for us to come to Him first, He comes looking for us, cooks us breakfast, and welcomes us with a warm smile. You are never alone, because Jesus is always close, ready to fill your empty net and your heart with joy.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me even when I feel tired or when things go wrong. Thank You that Jesus came back to life and is always near me. Help me to trust You and do what You say, and fill my heart with Your joy today. Amen.
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