Materials
1. Cardboard box or a sheet hung across a barrier to hide the other side.
2. A pole with a string and bent piece of wire shaped into a hook.
3. A variety of items with loops or hooks attached.
Activity
Place the items in a large box. Make sure the box is big enough so that no one can see into the box. Give them their fishing pole with the hook and allow them to fish items out of the box. Have some items that are nice prizes while others that are jokes such as an old shoe. Wire or rattan baskets with handles can also be used with items placed inside. Wire loops can be attached to items that otherwise might be difficult to snag. For an added application, attach scripture verses to the items.
Discussion
1. What are the things the world values? What things does the world go fishing for?
2. What are we to fish for as Christians?
3. Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never goes fishing?
4. Is a person a fisherman if he never catches a fish?
5. Is a person a true disciple of Jesus Christ if he never attempts to win a soul for Christ?
6. As a fisherman, do we cast our nets in our backyard or do we go to a place where fish can be found? Jesus never suggests that the world should come to the church but commands the church to go into the world to witness. Jesus has given us the example – he goes to the people, he never waits for the people to come to Him.
Applications
1. Matthew 4:17-22 – We are to be “fishers of men”
2. Use for a lesson on evangelism.
3. How is telling others about Jesus similar to fishing?
4. Lures are attractive to fish. How can you make the good news of Jesus attractive to your friends?
Closing Activity
As a closing gesture, give each kid a fishing lure as a reminder of the fact that we should be fishers of men (Remove the hooks for safety and tape them to a card with a key phrase from the passage in matthew 4:17-22.)
“I hope you will be good fishers of men each day!”
MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.