Children’s Story for January 23th, 2005

Strange Invitations

By Janet Penner, Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship, Winnipeg, MB

Bible Passage

• Matthew 4: 12-23

Theme

• Jesus calls the first 4 disciples.

Needed Items

• Pre-arrange for a few children to bring show and tell items.

Strange Invitations

Have you ever received a strange invitation to a party? (Feel free to substitute your own examples for the ones included here.) A new girl came to church in January. Her birthday had passed, but she still wanted to have a party with her new friends, so she invited people to an unbirthday party. There was a cake and balloons and games, but the children were still confused about this unbirthday party. Some even brought presents. It was fun but strange.

Julie has a late December birthday. She doesn’t like getting all her presents in one week and then waiting a year. So she celebrates her half birthdays instead and has a party in June. One time, her family invited people to bring half presents. Some people were so confused, but others got the idea and brought a half a box of cookies or Lego. Others brought regular gifts. It’s fun to be creative with birthday celebrations but it can be confusing.

Another time, Janet received an invitation to a “Moving and Shaking Party”. The invitation said that we should wear comfortable clothes. She thought the party might be a dance but instead of that they moved some friends out of their apartment into a house. They spent time shaking out their rugs and cleaning the apartment. Even though it wasn’t what Janet expected, she still had a good time talking and working with friends. Everyone had a good laugh as they talked about how they had been tricked into helping her friends.

In today’s Bible story, Jesus gives an interesting invitation to some fishermen, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” I can imagine what went on in their minds, a big net full of people being caught. (You may want to have a cartoon drawing of this to show the children.) We do not know what questions they asked Jesus about this interesting but funny invitation, but the Bible says they immediately left their nets and followed him. The same thing happened with James and John who also left their boat, nets and father to follow Jesus.

Maybe things happened that they didn’t expect, like with the invitation to the moving and shaking party, but they had a good time getting to know the other disciples and working with Jesus. I’m sure they did not regret saying yes to Jesus’ invitation.

Jesus still invites us to be his followers. People still follow Jesus’ invitations. Sometimes that means sharing Jesus’ love with others through our words and deeds. Sometimes, accepting his invitation means changing your job to do what Jesus invites you to do. It can include moving overseas. Your Sunday school money may help support a missionary who followed Jesus’ invitation to serve God in another country.

Wondering questions

• I wonder what questions the disciples asked Jesus about fishing for people.
• If Jesus invited you to fish for people, what would you do?
• What might it be like if your parents decided to go and serve Jesus in another country?
• I wonder what interesting thing Jesus is inviting each of us to do?