Breakfast on the Beach

You’ll Need: Bibles, Plastic eggs, Slips of paper, Pen

Get Ready: Write words or phrases from the Bible verse on separate slips of paper and stuff one into each egg. Hide the eggs around the room. Make more than one set if you have a large group.

“He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” (John 21:5-6)

Have kids learn the words of the Bible memory verse by doing this activity.

• Have kids open their Bibles to John 21:5-6.
• Read it aloud together.
• Have kids go “fishing” for the eggs.
• Ask kids to use their Bibles as a reference to order the words or phrases according to the verse.
• Have kids say the verse together.
• Remove words and have kids try without the missing words.
• Continue until all the words have been removed.

ASK:

• What do you think was the most rewarding part for the disciples?

SAY: Jesus’ followers couldn’t catch any fish on their own, but because of their friendship with Jesus, He blessed them with more fish than they could carry! Following Jesus brings us great things, too.

You’ll Need: Bible, “Fish” handouts, Pencils, Large net, Masking tape

SAY: Today we’re learning that following Jesus brings great rewards. Let’s do something to remind us of that.

Lead kids through these steps:

• Gather children along the side of the room.
• Read aloud John 21:1-6.

ASK:

• Tell about a time Jesus surprised you.
• What are ways you think following Jesus helps us?

• Give each child a handout, and allow kids to write or draw a picture around the fish to represent anything they shared. If children are new to faith, they can write or draw something they need help with.
• Explain that the net represents ways Jesus helps us.
• Invite kids to tape their fish to the net.
• Read aloud John 21:7-14.

ASK:

• What things do you notice about Jesus’ friendship with His disciples?
• How might those things be similar to your friendship with Jesus?

SAY: Every good thing we have in our lives, Jesus has allowed us to have. But when we believe in Him and follow Him, because He knows what’s best for our lives, He helps us. And sometimes that means super-special blessings like how the disciples caught 153 fish!

Under the Sea

You’ll Need: Paper plates, Plastic knives, Graham crackers, Swedish Fish candies, Goldfish crackers, Blue icing or blue yogurt

Follow these steps for the snack:

• Have kids clean their hands.
• Give each child a paper plate, a plastic knife, a graham cracker, and some Swedish Fish candies and Goldfish crackers. Set out the blue icing (or yogurt) to share.
• Show kids how to spread the blue icing or yogurt on the graham cracker to make the cracker look like it’s partially covered with water.
• Have kids add candy or crackers to the water. Encourage them to create their own designs.
• Have kids show their designs to the rest of the group.
• Enjoy!

SAY: When we follow Jesus, He helps us—just like when Jesus’ friends caught all those delicious fish!

Catch ’Em Quick!

You’ll Need: Foam peanuts, Toy fishing nets, Music

SAY: Today we heard about how Jesus’ friends caught all kinds of fish in their nets when Jesus told them to cast their nets on the right side of their boat. Let’s play a game where we catch fish with our nets.

Follow these steps to play the game:

• Form teams of five or six kids.
• Give each team a fishing net.
• Spread out the foam peanuts in the center of the room.
• Place teams evenly around the perimeter of the room.
• Explain that when you say “Go!” one child from each team will attempt to catch as many “fish” (foam peanuts) as he or she can in 1 minute. He or she must crawl and can only pick up the fish with the net.
• The other teammates can cheer on their team member from the side- lines.
• Turn on music as kids play.
• After all the fish have been caught, determine which team caught the most. Then have another child from each team take a turn, repeating until everyone gets a chance to fish.

ASK:

• How did you like fishing today?
• How was this game like or unlike what fishing might have been like for Jesus’ friends?

SAY: Fishing isn’t always easy. Life isn’t always easy, either. But Jesus brought great rewards to His friends and helped them when they were in need. We can go to Jesus and ask for His help, too. And we can trust that He’ll take care of us—and sometimes even bring us big blessings.

Rewarding Nets

You’ll Need: Chenille wires, Mesh fabric circles, Unsharpened pencils, Several staplers

To make the craft, have kids follow these steps:

• Remind kids of the Bible passage.
• Give each child three chenille wires, a mesh circle, and a pencil.
• Explain that kids are going to make their own nets to take home.
• Have kids connect two of the chenille wires to make a circle that is smaller by at least a few inches in diameter than the mesh circle. Have them wrap the ends of wires tightly around one another so they’re secure.
• Have kids use the third chenille wire to attach the pencil to the circle. The pencil will serve as a handle, so they’ll want to secure it tightly to the circle.
• Have kids place the mesh circle on a table and place the chenille wire circle on top of it. Have them wrap the mesh over the edge of the wire and staple it in place, repeating this process around the circle to com- plete the net.

SAY: Take home your fish net as a reminder that when we follow Jesus, we receive great rewards!

Fishing Net Prayers

You’ll Need: Rewarding Nets crafts

Lead kids to pray in this way:

• Have kids sit in a circle while holding their fishing net crafts.
• Invite kids to take turns thanking Jesus for any ways they feel He’s blessed them. When they want to share, they’ll make a scooping motion with their nets.
• Allow everyone to share.
• Close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, You are so good to us. Help us follow You. We know You’ll care for us. In Your name, amen.