Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon's and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd. When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch." Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets." It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. "Master, leave. I'm a sinner and can't handle this holiness. Leave me to myself." When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee's sons, coworkers with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "There is nothing to fear. From now on you'll be fishing for men and women." They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.

Ease 88%, Level 4.0

LESSON

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and Peace be with you Christ's Soldier!

Do you remember the time you caught your first fish. I was with you, and we went out to Lago Linda (that means pretty lake) with your little Scooby Doo rod and reel. We got some worms and we stood on the little dock in front of Linda's cabin. It wasn't easy to catch those fish was it?

Today's Bible story is about a some men who fished in a big lake for a living. Now they were just normal men, nothing special that we could see. But you know what. God saw something very special. One of the fishermen was named Simon, the other two were brothers: John and James, son of old Thunder! I'll bet he got that name cause he hollered a whole lot. I'll be his sons were like him too!

One day Jesus came down to the lake a teaching. There were a lot of people following him. Simon had been out fishing all night with John and James his partners. They did not catch a thing! All NIGHT. whew.... Well, Simon was a fixing his net on the bank and throwing it out in the water. Simon liked Jesus. Jesus liked Simon and called him Peter, which means "Rocky". Peter's brother was named Andrew, and he had met Jesus first down by the Jordan River. Jesus asked to use his boat, and to push him out a little cause everyone was pressing against him. Well he taught and taught.

When he got finished teaching and the people left, he told Simon to throw out his net where he had been teaching. Peter did not think he would catch a thing, but he said he would. Well do you know what, there were so many fish that he could bring them in. He called John and James to help him. There were so many that their boats started to sink.

Peter then realized that Jesus was not just a regular type of preacher like Granddaddy. No Sir, Jesus could do miracles. He could make things happen that were wonderful. Peter was so awed that he fell down at Jesus knees, and asked him to go away because Peter knew he was nobody special, just a fisherman. But Jesus had a special job for Peter, and for Andrew and John and James. They were going to catch men for the Kingdom of God. From then on they were going to have a new job with Jesus. The didn't know much when they started, but by the time Jesus needed them to take over, they knew more about God than anybody else in the world. They caught a whole lot of men too. Today, all those who follow these fishermen, are still catching men -- about 2,000,000,000 (two billion) and growing more everyday.

You can be a fisherman for Jesus too. Just like you caught that fish with Granddaddy that day, you can catch a person for God. All you need to do is to tell them about Jesus. Tell them how they can have a friend in their heart to talk to. Tell them how Jesus will give them a special spirit. Tell them he will teach them to be fishermen too!

So long fisherman. God be with you and all your family, and your friends too!

Granddaddy

Ease 88%, Level 3.9

LESSON EXERCISES

* Can you name the people in this story, and tell about them?

* In you own words, what do you think this story is about?

* Draw a picture that tells the Gospel story. (You may copy or trace the one on the lesson if you wish.)

* Make up a story (parable) or share a true story that is like our lesson today.

* Sing a song about today's story Wide, Wide as the Ocean

Songs for Children

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Notice: This is an open letter to my Grandson Nathan. It is under copyright protection: The Rev. Mark Carroll, MMVI

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