Lent #1
"What kind of bait did you use?"

Text (Luke 5: 5-7, 10b-11) 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 done¾ a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waived for their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.

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. (The Message-Eugene H. Peterson)

Thought Starters

Are you tired of it being cold outside? This week I saw someone ice fishing, that really looks cold.

I have friends who love to fish, even on the ice. They fish all the time, and you know what? They always tell their friends what kind of bait they used when catching lots of fish. I don’t think they ever tell them where they caught the fish.

Even professional fishermen always talk on their radios to tell the other fishermen what kind of bait they caught their fish with. Word travels fast, especially when it comes to fish stories.

(Read or tell them the fish story in Luke 5) What is special about that story? The nets ready to break? Catching so many fish they filled up the second boat?

I wonder about how heavy the boats must have been when they came ashore, full of fish. What about the people, maybe other fishermen standing by the shore? I wonder if they were thinking or asking, "What kind of bait did you use?"

What did the disciples catch with Jesus?

What or whom did Jesus catch?

What did Jesus tell the disciples he would make them fishers of?

Hymn-"Fishers of Men" —Unknown

Prayer-Dear Lord, Thank you for the story of fishing with the disciples. Teach us also to be fishers of other boys and girls. Amen

Prop-none