NBBC Kids’ Club: Mark 1:16-20

Introduction: Friends, we’re going to have a great Fall together looking at the life of one of Jesus’ disciples. There are 12 of them, which one do you think that it is? - Peter! That’s right!

Content and Explanation: Mark 1:16-20

Mark 1:16–18 “16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.

Friends, we see Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee - a busy place of where fishermen are launching out and trying to catch fish to sell in the market there.

Now, friends, did these fishermen use fishing rods like we’re used to?

No!

What did they use?

Nets.

How do you think that they would have casted their nets? (let everyone have a try at casting a net)

When Jesus gets there, He sees two brothers.

What’s the other name that Simon goes by?

Peter, that’s right!

He’s there with his brother, Andrew.

How would you like to be known by who your sibling is?

Matthew, the brother of Wyatt.

Harvey, the brother of Quincy, Daphne, and Phoebe.

This is the Spirit’s way of helping us to understand that out of all Andrews in the world, this one is Peter’s brother!

Why, friends, were Peter and Andrew there casting a net into the sea?

Because they were fishermen.

This was their job.

Unlike many of us who like to fish for fun, they fished to earn a living.

I bet, though, that if Matthew was paid to fish, he wouldn’t mind too much!

Friends, we’ve got this vivid picture in our minds to the extent that we could almost smell the salt in the air from the Sea of Galilee.

Everyone take a deep breath through your nose.

Do you smell the salt in the air yet?!

While we might think that Jesus is walking along for a pleasure stroll, He’s here on a mission.

Let’s keep reading to see what He does next.

17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

Friends, who is Jesus speaking to?

Peter and Andrew, that’s right!

He’s told them to follow Him.

What would Jesus do in them as they followed Him?

He would make them become fishers of men.

Friends, what do you think that it means to be a fisher of men?

Fishermen go out and catch fish.

A fisher of men goes out and calls on others to do what they’re doing, following Jesus.

Friends, could Peter and Andrew just go out and start inviting others to follow Jesus on their own?

No!

They needed Jesus to change them and teach them how to do this.

Friends, Jesus not only needed to change Peter and Andrew but He has the power to do so.

Let’s see how Peter and Andrew respond to Jesus’ invitation.

18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”

Friends, look at how quickly these guys followed Jesus!

Immediately!

They didn’t take a few minutes to count their catch of fish or anything!

Friends, notice that, to follow Jesus, there was a change to their daily lives that needed to be made.

They left their nets.

Remember, friends, this was their job.

Following Jesus wasn’t just something that they would do on the weekends or even just Sunday if they had time.

Friends, what’s another way that we could describe what Peter and Andrew did here as they listened to what Jesus told them to do by following Him?

They obeyed Jesus.

Following Jesus isn’t just obedience.

But, obedience is definitely involved.

Following Jesus was a way of life for Peter and Andrew and all of Jesus’ disciples.

They would obey what Jesus said, all coming from God’s Word.

They would teach others to do what Jesus said.

They would trust Jesus with their needs, no matter where they went.

Wherever Jesus told them to go or took them, they would follow, even if it meant that it would not be comfortable.

They would call on others to follow Jesus.

Notice, friends, that Jesus begins the classroom instruction, Fishing for Men 101.

Mark 1:19–20 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

Friends, if Jesus is going on a little farther from where He started on the Sea of Galilee, then where is Jesus?

He’s still on the Sea of Galilee!

That’s why it makes perfect sense that Jesus would find more fishermen here!

Who is it that Jesus sees next?

James and John, James’ brother; sons of Zebedee.

What was it that these brothers were doing?

They were mending their nets.

In other words, they were busy at work!

You see friends, Jesus is doing the same thing that He did with Peter and Andrew.

Jesus found those brothers in the middle of their work.

Jesus has not found these brother right where they normally would be, doing what they normally would do.

Jesus is meeting these men right where they are.

Friends, let’s notice what it is that these brothers do in response to Jesus’ call to become fishers of men.

20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.”

Friends, there’s something rather different here from Peter’s and Andrew’s call that I want for you to notice.

When Peter and Andrew were called, we got to read what Jesus said.

Here, we assume what Jesus said when He called them, namely that Jesus would make them fishers of men also.

When Peter and Andrew left, we’re told that they left their nets.

Notice all that John and James are described as having left.

Their father.

Their boat.

The servants.

You see, friends, James and John could afford to hire servants to help with their fishing work.

If James and John could afford to hire servants, then their fishing business was making some money.

In other words, friends, James and John were wealthy, even more than Peter and Andrew.

Friends, when James and John followed Jesus to be changed to be fishers of men, they were leaving a business from which they were making money.

Application:

Identification of the godly characteristic: Following Christ

Friends, were Peter, Andrew, James, and John already fishers of men?

No.

This was something that Jesus had to do in them.

They needed to be changed if they were going to be able to influence others to follow Jesus.

You see, friends, the same goes with us.

In order to follow Jesus, we can’t do it on our own.

On our own, we just want to do things that displease the Lord.

Friends, what do we call this?

Sin.

Define sin.

Friends, we sin and want to sin because we’re born sinners.

But, friends, to follow Jesus like this, Jesus has made it possible that we could be transformed.

Jesus lived perfectly.

Jesus died sacrificially for our sins.

Jesus lives victoriously and awaits His return to earth to rule in righteousness.

Friends, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Savior from your sins today.

Additionally, friends, when Peter, Andrew, James, and John were called upon by Jesus to follow Him, they didn’t hesitate, even when they left things behind.

Friends, when Jesus calls us to follow Him, there might be things that we have to leave behind, even good things like making lots of money.

Friends, you might have to leave friends who don’t want to please the Lord.

Friends, you might have to give up good things …

friends, following Jesus changes your whole life, even your time.

But, friends, no one who has followed Jesus has ever said, “I made a mistake in following Jesus.”

Why?

Because following Jesus is worth it!

In following Jesus, He’s set us on a path to live with Him forever in a perfect place that is free of sickness, death, suffering, and lack.

Friends, when we’re with Jesus, we’re not going to be thinking about I wished I would have watched more tv, or that I would have spent more time riding my bike.

if anything, we’ll regret that we didn’t spend more time following Jesus.

We won’t regret anything that we did to please the Lord.

Follow Jesus, friends, even when it means that you have to leave good things behind, because it’s worth it.

Scripture Memory - Mark 1:18 “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”

Friends, Peter and Andrew left their job without hesitation to follow Jesus.

Following Jesus meant that they would be totally depending on Jesus for everything, to include learning how to invite others to follow Jesus.

Friends, follow Jesus without hesitation.

Repetition - Mark 1:18 “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”

Conclusion: What keeps us from following Jesus?

Discussion Questions:

What body of water did we find Jesus walking beside? - the sea of Galilee

Who did Jesus initially see when He was walking beside the Sea of Galilee? - Simon and his brother Andrew

What is another name of Simon, the brother of Andrew? - Peter

What were Simon and Andrew doing when Jesus saw them? - throwing a net into the sea

Why were they throwing a net into the sea? - because they were fishermen

What was the first thing that Jesus told Peter and Andrew to do? - follow Me

Then, what did Jesus tell them that He would do? - He would make them fishers of men

Could Peter and Andrew make themselves fishers of men? - No; they needed Jesus to change them to be fishers of men

How quickly did Peter and Andrew respond to Jesus’ invitation? - immediately

What did Peter and Andrew leave behind to follow Jesus? - their fishing business

Because Peter and Andrew listened to Jesus’ invitation and followed Him, what could we say that they did? - they obeyed Jesus

What did James and John leave behind when they followed Jesus? - their father, Zebedee, their boat, and the hired servants