How were Jesus’s Apostles special witnesses of Him?
Matthew 4:18-29
Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, “He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Apostles Were Special Witnesses of Jesus match game
OBJECTIVE: Play the Apostles Match Game to learn about the 12 Apostles that Jesus chose to lead His church.
TO MAKE Print, color, and cut out two sets of Apostles Match Game cards that follow for each youth.
TO INTRODUCE THE GAME, talk about the Apostles chosen. Explain that the Apostles were teachers, examples, and special witnesses of Jesus Christ. They followed Jesus and taught others about the plan of salvation. They taught what He taught, and they wrote about Him in the scriptures. They tried to live as He did.
ACTIVITY: Apostles Were Special Witnesses of Jesus match game
TO PLAY:
1. Divide the class.
2. Lay cards facedown.
3. Teams take turns drawing two cards to make a match. When a match is made, say the two Apostles’ names aloud.
4. When all cards are matched, the team with the most matches wins.
5. If the cards “Special Witness of Jesus” or “Teacher/Example” are matched, take another turn.
THOUGHT TREAT Example Feet. Shape sugar cookie dough into foot shapes and top with M&M miniature candies for toes and bake. Or, make fudge and form it into foot shapes and add candies for toes. No baking is necessary. The feet symbolize following in the footsteps of Jesus as His Apostles did.
To Make Footstep Fudge. Melt ingredients (below in the microwave)
Ingredients: 1 can of Sweetened Condensed milk (14 ounces); 2 cups (one 12-ounce bag) of semi-sweet chocolate chips; 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
*Form into feet shapes then press M&M miniature candies on the toes.
DISCUSSION POINTS (Scriptures, Missionary Work, Jesus Christ)
Jesus chose “FISHERS OF MEN”
In Matthew 4:16-19 we learn of Jesus saying to his friends Simon and Andrew (the brother of Simon) as they were casting their nets into the sea, Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” “And immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
Jesus gives us the same invitation to be His disciples to be “fishers of men” to take the time out of our busy lives to seek Him and to serve Him, and to spread His gospel. This way we can live as He did and become like Him and someday return to live with Him in heaven someday.
There were 12 men whom Jesus called to serve with Him. He declared: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). His mission was to preach this gospel plan. He needed good counselors to help Him spread this gospel.
Jesus wanted his two friends to leave their fishing nets and cast a wider net to become “fishers of men” to bring Christianity (His way of living) to the world. Not all that followed Him and became His Apostles were fishermen. Let’s learn about His chosen ministers called “the Twelve.” let’s learn about His chosen ministers called “the Twelve.”
• These “12” called disciples loved Jesus and He loved them. When He first called Peter, Andrew, James, and John from their fishing boats, they became His disciples.
• From the large group of disciples who followed Jesus, He chose twelve men to be his Apostles Luke 6:13. Jesus ordained them. Mark 3:14-15.
• An apostle is an important servant of the Lord. They are special witnesses of Jesus Christ.
• How did Peter, Andrew, James, and John respond when Jesus told them to follow him? Matthew 4:19-22.
• How did their response show that they believed that Jesus was the Christ? Why is it important for us to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
• Simon had been fishing all day with no success and he was very tired. Jesus told him to drop his net in the sea. Luke 5:4. What happened? Luke 5:6–7. Do you think the disciples had greater faith in Jesus after this happened? Luke 5:8-10. What did Peter, James, and John do to prove that they had faith in Jesus? Luke 5:11. How can we show that we follow Jesus Christ?
BIBLE SCRIPTURES TO UNDERLINE:
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” Ephesians 2:20
THE APOSTLES OF JESUS FOR POSSIBLE DISCUSSION:
Judas (brother of James) is called Lebbeus Thaddeus by Matthew, Thaddeus by Mark, and Judas the brother of James by Luke.
Simon is the first apostle and is known as Peter. He was a fisherman. Andrew was his brother. They were partners with James and John in a fishing business. They owned their own boats. Peter was married. He gave much to help Jesus.
Nathanael (Bartholomew) He is the man called Nathanael in John’s Gospel—the one whom Christ designated as “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.” He is named again as among those who went fishing with Peter after the resurrection of Christ.
Judas Iscariot is the only Judean named among the Twelve; all the others were Galileans. He served as treasurer, receiving and disbursing funds and purchasing supplies. He was unprincipled and dishonest as attested by John. He betrayed Jesus for money. He brought his guilty life to a close by suicide.
Simon called Zelotes may not have been called to become an apostle to Jesus except Jesus saw good in him. Simon changed through the teachings and example of Jesus. He became one of His earnest followers. He is probably the least known apostle.
Thomas was a twin. He is mentioned as a witness to the raising of Lazarus. He was devoted to Jesus. To his fellow apostles, Thomas said: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” He was absent when the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples and would not believe unless he could see and feel for himself the wounds in the crucified body. Eight days later the Lord visited the apostles again, when, as on the earlier occasion, they were within closed doors; and to Thomas, the Lord said: “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side.” Then Thomas, no longer doubting but with love and reverence filling his soul, exclaimed “My Lord and my God.” The Lord said unto him: “Thomas because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
James and John were brothers and partners in business with Simon Peter as fishermen. Jesus called them Sons of Thunder because of their zeal in their service to Jesus. They were nearest to Jesus during his time in Gethsemane. James is referred to as James 1. John was given the charge to care for the Savior’s mother Mary at the time of his death. He took her to his own house.
Philip May have been the first to receive the call “Follow me” from the lips of Jesus. He immediately testified that Jesus was the long-expected Messiah. His home was in Bethsaida, the town of Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus asked him “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” when they were feeding the five thousand. Jesus knew the answer but was testing Philip.
Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother. He followed John the Baptist and brought Simon Peter to Jesus. He helped with the feeding of the five thousand.
James son of Alpheus is mentioned in the Gospels only in the matter of his ordination to the apostleship; and but once elsewhere in the New Testament by the appellation “Son of Alpheus.” In writings other than scriptural he is sometimes designated as James II to avoid confusing him with James the son of Zebedee.
Matthew son of Alpheus, was one of the seven who received a call to follow Christ before the ordination of the Twelve. Matthew was a publican or a tax collector. The Jews did not like tax collectors. His Hebrew name was Levi, (believed to be of the tribe of Levi). He is the author of the first Gospel. He was one of the most active of the apostles after Christ’s death.