We had an excellent morning in SC Kids this Sunday! With the warm weather the children were lively and energetic as we learned about being 'Fishers of Men' from story 89 of the Gospel Story Bible (Luke 5:1-11). Look over these teaching notes and use this week's Family Worship Guide to lead your family in devotions throughout this week.

The amazing catch revealed the power of God at work in Christ—We learn from John 1:35–42 that Jesus had already met Simon and renamed him Peter. Jesus boarded Peter’s boat and asked him to put out from shore so he could teach the crowds. He had already healed many, and the crowds followed him. Putting away from the shore allowed people to gather along the shoreline, making it easier for them to see and hear Jesus. After Jesus finished speaking, he asked Peter to go out into the deep water and let down his nets. Peter objected, telling Jesus that the fishing was terrible—they had been out all night and not caught a thing! Even so, he let down his nets. So many fish filled the nets that they needed help to bring them in. With this, Simon was convicted of his sin. He knew that God has command over the fish of the sea. Though he didn’t yet fully understand that Jesus was God, the power and majesty of God was shown to him through the miraculous catch. Calling Jesus Lord, Peter fell down at Jesus’ knees in fear, acutely aware of his sinfulness.

Fishers of men—Jesus said four amazing words to Peter, “Do not be afraid.” Those words were a mark of grace. Peter was right to have recognized his sinfulness and Jesus could have condemned him as a sinner. Instead, Jesus told Peter not to be afraid. Jesus knew even then that Peter was called as a child of God destined to be forgiven. With those four words, Jesus recognized Peter as a member of God’s family whom he would use to reach the lost. Then Jesus called Peter to follow him and become a fisher of men. Between Peter’s call and Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, Jesus would train Peter. It would be Peter, on the day of Pentecost, who would preach to the multitude and see three thousand people repent and believe in Jesus. That catch of people would parallel this catch of fish and validate Jesus’ words (see Acts 2:41).

The disciples left everything—After bringing their boats to shore, Peter, James, and John left everything to follow Jesus. Imagine leaving the biggest catch you have ever seen in your life to follow a wandering teacher. Of course, Jesus was more than a wandering teacher; he was Lord and he was King! They would see Jesus multiply fishes and loaves, heal the sick, and walk on water. It is not always easy to leave the things of the world to follow Jesus, but the disciples made the right choice. 

How does this fit into God's great plan of redemption?

Luke 19:10 says that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. In our story today, Jesus seeks out a man named Peter and a few of his fishing companions and calls them to join him in his mission to reach the world. Though they were accustomed to netting fish, Jesus told them they were called to catch men (Luke 5:10). Like Peter, whom the Lord did not condemn for his sin, they would join Jesus in calling others. The picture of the nets, bursting with fish, depicts the kingdom of God. Through his death on the cross, Jesus would call men from every tribe, language, and nation. This catching of men would only be possible through the grace of God available through Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection. Jesus called other men as well and they responded and followed him. For instance, when Jesus told Nathanael where he had been earlier in the day--before they met-- and went on to describe the setting, Nathanael was amazed. He instantly believed and praised Jesus, saying, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49).