‘Breakfast on the Beach’ Childrens Lesson on John 21:1-14

BIG IDEA: DISCIPLES KNOW JESUS AS THEIR LORD

AIM: The aim of the ‘Breakfast on the Beach’ Childrens lesson is to help children to see that Jesus is always the same – yesterday, today and forever, and because of this they can trust Him as their Lord.

SONG IDEAS:

1. ‘Praise Ye, the Lord’ by Listener Kids
2. ‘Let’s Praise the Lord’ by LifeKids
3. ‘Lord I Lift Your Name on High’

GAME IDEAS:

1. Beach Ball Volleyball. (regular/widescreen) Using a cheap beach ball, split your teams into two and have them go to either side of the room. You can use a net if possible, or simply create a line between the two teams using masking tape. Children must take turns to try and hit the ball into the opposing team’s space. If the ball touches the floor the team wins a point for their team. The winning team is the team with the most points at the end.
2. Sandcastle Relay. (regular/widescreen) You will need some small paddling pools, buckets and spades, sand and water. Teams race to relay up to their paddling pool, and create a sand castle. The leader shouts ‘change!’ For when the player needs to run back and tak the next player to run and build upon their existing castle. The team with the biggest castle, once the leader shouts ‘time’s up!’ Is the winning team.
3. Pancake Relay. (regular/widescreen) Using a spatula children must relay with a pancake (pre-bought and/ or American style is probably best) and go to the end of the room, flip the pancake three times, catching it with the spatula and returning to pass it to the next player. The whole team that does this the fastest is the winning team. Application: Some people like pancakes for breakfast, but Jesus and his disciples ate fish and bread!

BIG VERSE: Jesus told the people who had faith in him, “If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. John 8:31.

(regular/widescreen) 

Download Bible Cards

SET the Scene:

Read John 21:1-14. You could use the sensory story to introduce the Bible story to the children.

VIDEO IDEAS:

1. ‘Breakfast with Jesus’ by GraceLink

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. Why did the disciples go out in the boat?
2. How many fish did they catch on their own?
3. How many fish did they catch with Jesus’ help?
4. What did they have to do to get those fish?
5. Who called Jesus ‘Lord’?
6. Which disciple jumped out of the boat and went to Jesus?
7. How many times had Jesus now appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead?

SPOT the Simple Meaning:

1) DISCIPLES KNOW JESUS AS THEIR LORD

Print the L-O-R-D PDF  or use the L-O-R-D PowerPoint images (regular/widescreen).

You could also show a picture of the ‘Star Lord’ from Guardians of the Galaxy / The Avengers (you will need to Google this). Then show a picture of the stars in the night sky (regular/widescreen).

Say: Do you know what the word ‘Lord’ means? [Get feedback] When we say someone is our Lord, we are saying they are in control of us. They are our owner; our Master. Sometimes you might see someone call a king, Lord.

The Star Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy is a great character! He can do lots of cool things and is very funny. Yet our God is Lord of the stars! The Bible tells us that God created the stars! He created everything! He is Lord of all! The Master of the Universe! He is in control of all creation. That’s why Jesus was able to be raised from the dead – because He is the ruler over all of life!

You see, disciples know that Jesus is Lord. They ask Him to be the Lord of their lives – the Masters of their life. That means they bring their decisions to Him and ask Him to show them what to do. It means that they listen to Him for direction and trust Him with their lives. As soon as John – the disciples Jesus loved – saw Jesus he cried out “It is the Lord!” (verse 7) and Simon Peter headed straight for him. That’s because disciples know Jesus as their Lord; they recognise His voice. Do you?

2) DISCIPLES KNOW JESUS IS FOREVER THE SAME

You could show the children some fruit or vegetables that are new and some that are rotten.

Say: Most things in this life change! As the saying goes ‘nothing lasts forever’. In fact, in the Bible book Ecclesiastes (3:1-15) that’s exactly what we’re told! What things can you think of that change? [Get feedback] The leaves change in different seasons. People change and get old. All the latest trends change, what might have been cool last week may not be cool today [You could mention some of the children’s favourite items here and explain that they may not like them next year]. Even the new [insert popular movie series/franchise] won’t be new next year and so won’t be as loved. That’s because things change!

Look at these fruit and veg [show the new fruit and veg] Don’t they look great?! You could bite into one of the fruit…. But if this fruit and veg is left a while, what happens to it? [Get feedback] It

goes bad! That’s because things change. [Pull out some of the old fruit and veg] Anyone want to eat this?! [Don’t let them, of course! Ha ha]

Disciples know Jesus is forever the same. After Jesus died and rose from the dead, the disciples recognised Jesus. They knew that he was the same person. When John (the disciple Jesus loved) said ‘It is the Lord!’ he recognised Jesus because Jesus does not change. He is still the miracle working God that He ever was.

Jesus told the disciples to put their net onto the other side of the boat, just as he had in years gone by (Luke 5). Peter knew instantly that it was Jesus. He remembered how Jesus had done this before.

Disciples know that Jesus is the same God, the same Lord and the same Master that he always has been. That’s why we can trust that He will always be good and will always do the best for us.

SEARCH the Scriptures:

You will need Bibles, Hoop the star printables and glow stick bracelets.

Hoop the Stars. (regular/widescreen) Print the Hoop the Star Printable and place them on the floor. Using some glow sticks to make bracelet hoops, try and hoop the star printables. Once the children have hooped the star they can take it away and try and find it in the Bible. The first team to find all their Bible verses is the winning team.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What does it mean to call someone Lord?
2. How is Jesus your Lord?
3. Would others be able to tell that Jesus is your Lord? Why/why not?
4. Do you want others to know Jesus is your Lord? Why/why not?
5. What is the difference between life before and life after you asked Jesus to be your Lord?

SENSE How You Feel:

Encourage the children to think about what it would have been like to see Jesus again. Ask them to think about who they would love to have breakfast with, given the opportunity.

How would you feel to have breakfast with Jesus?

1. Sensory: Pour sand and shells onto your sensory table. Use a blue cloth to represent the sea, if you have any. Use toy people to represent the disciples and Jesus and allow the children to re-enact the scene. Great for 5-7s and children with additional needs.
2. Mould: Using play dough, encourage the children to create the fish and bread, or the fire that Jesus made, or the boat with the disciples in it – or the whole scene!
3. Building blocks/Lego: Encourage the children to construct their own scene of the boat and the shore.

4. Craft: Create a sand picture. Use coloured sand (or grate coloured chalk into salt) to stick to a picture of the Breakfast with Jesus scene.
5. Make sand bottles. You’ll need to buy coloured sand, or make it by grating coloured chalk into salt. This will give the effect of sand. Then have the children pour the different colours in layers into pre-prepared bottles. You’ll have a fun coloured sand bottle effect!
6. Sensory: You could use a water station as a sensory station to encourage the children to think about what it was like for Peter to walk through the water to Jesus. Simply add some toy (wind-up) fish. You might just need to be aware of any children that like to make a splash – and limit their time at the sensory station.
7. Fill in/Color the activity booklets for 5-7s and 8-11s

SEEK God:

1. Imagination Station

Today we’re going to imagine meeting Jesus for breakfast. [Encourage the children to close their eyes] Imagine that you are rowing in your boat. You haven’t caught any fish, but then suddenly there are so many fish that you can’t grab them all! They are jumping everywhere – all jumping into your net!

Then you see Jesus standing on the shore. What does Jesus’ face look like? Is he sad or happy? You decide to jump out of the boat and run to Jesus. He asks you to have breakfast with him. What does Jesus say to you? [Spend a few moments letting the children listen to Jesus] What does He want you to know? [Spend a few more moments in silence] Let’s thank Jesus for spending time with us. [Give the children a few moments]

We’re going to open our eyes now.

What did Jesus say to you? [Listen to the children and hear what they are saying. If you feel that they are saying something contrary to the character of Jesus, gently ask them to think about whether the Bible shows Jesus to be this way and remind them how good Jesus is.]

2. Asking Jesus to be Lord

Encourage your children to think about whether they have invited Jesus to be the Lord – the Master and Owner – of their life. If they are ready, encourage them to pray with you.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You that You sent Jesus Your Son. Jesus, I ask You to be the Lord of my life. I ask You to be my Master and my King. I believe that You died and that You rose again and that You are alive today. Forgive me for the wrong things I have done and help me to be more like You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.