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Nets So Full They Broke

Jesus says no to Satan with the scriptures, then fills Peter’s empty boat and says, “Follow me”

  • 💧 Valiant 7–8
  • Week 5
  • 📅 Sunday, January 31, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus used the scriptures to choose the right, and when He says “Follow me,” I can trust Him and follow right away.

I can use the scriptures as a shield when I’m tempted and follow Jesus straightway, even when it’s hard.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 4; Luke 4–5 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 4; Luke 4–5)
Know the chapters

Right after His baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness to be with God and fasted forty days. That’s Matthew 4:1–2. The Joseph Smith Translation says He went “to be with God.” Then Satan came with three temptations. Turn stones into bread. Jump from the top of the temple. Bow down to Satan in exchange for all the kingdoms of the world. Twice Satan began with “If thou be the Son of God.” He was trying to make Jesus doubt who He was. Every time, Jesus answered, “It is written,” and quoted scripture from Deuteronomy. He never gave in. The Joseph Smith Translation also makes clear that the Spirit, not the devil, took Jesus to the temple and the mountain.

For eight-year-olds, the tools are simple and powerful. Jesus knew who He was. He knew the scriptures. And He was close to His Father through prayer and fasting. The kids are children of God. The scriptures and Primary songs they memorize can come to their minds right when they need them. Next Sunday is fast Sunday, so this is a great week to talk about why we fast.

In Luke 4:16–22, Jesus stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth, His hometown. He read Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah who’d heal the brokenhearted and free captives. Then He said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” He was telling them He’s the promised Savior. The people were filled with anger and tried to throw Him off a cliff. But He passed through the crowd unharmed, in Luke 4:28–30.

Today’s story starts with the temptations and ends with Luke 5:1–11. Matthew 4:18–22 tells it too. Simon Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus told him to try again in deep water. Peter’s answer is the heart of the lesson: “Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” The nets filled until they broke, and two boats began to sink. Jesus told these fishermen they’d now “catch men,” helping people come to Him. They left everything and followed Him “straightway,” right away.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Matthew 4:1–11 and Luke 5:1–11. Put a rock and a slice of bread in a bag. Tell the story from Teach Mode while kids listen for the word “fish.” Say Matthew 4:19 with motions, play Scripture Shield with crossed-arm shields, and close with your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” The rock and the bread become pretend.

What to bring3 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Read Matthew 4:1–11 and Luke 5:1–11.
  2. Put the rock and the bread in the paper bag and fold it closed.

If your class is wild

  • Listening for “fish” keeps every kid alert. Watch the little fish hands wiggle, and grin at each one.
  • Make your most dramatic kid the Shield Leader. Now their energy leads “It is written!” for everyone.
  • In Scripture Shield, only you throw, and only pretend temptations. Kids block from their seats.
  • At scene 6, drop your voice to a whisper. Kids almost always match your volume.
  • Got a kid getting silly during temptations? Make them the one who shouts “It is written!” for the whole class.

The 25-minute plan23 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Rock or Bread?

3 min

A rock and a roll make Jesus’s first temptation feel real.

  1. SAY“Imagine you haven’t eaten anything for forty days. Not one bite. How hungry would you be?”
  2. Pull the rock out of the bag, then the bread. Hold them side by side.
  3. Ask: “If you could turn THIS rock into THIS bread with one word, would you? Thumbs up or down!”
  4. SAY“Satan told Jesus to do exactly that. Jesus had the power, but He said no. Let’s find out why.”
🌪️ Pass the rock, not the bread, to a kid who’s sitting ready. Everyone else guesses how heavy it is.

Class screen: 🪨🍞 Would you turn a rock into bread? · 🪨 or 🍞?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A small rock, A slice of bread or a roll (just to show, not to eat)

Invisible Rock, Invisible Bread

  1. SAY“Imagine you haven’t eaten anything for forty days. Not one bite.”
  2. Pretend to lift a heavy rock and drop it. Tap crash on the Sound Board.
  3. Sniff the air. “Mmm, fresh warm bread!” Ask if they’d turn that rock into bread with one word. Thumbs up or down!
  4. SAY“Satan told Jesus to do exactly that. Jesus had the power, but He said no. Let’s find out why.”

Class screen: 🪨🍞 Would you turn a rock into bread? · 🪨 or 🍞?

2. Story

Story: Nets So Full They Broke

7 min

A true story shows Jesus choosing the right with the scriptures, then Peter trusting Jesus and following Him right away.

  1. SAY“This is a true story from the Bible. Listen for the word ‘fish.’ Every time you hear it, wiggle a fish hand.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. Read each scene, and watch for the wiggling fish.
  3. After scene 2, ask, “What did Jesus use to say no to Satan?” The scriptures!
  4. After scene 4, ask why tired Peter let down the net anyway. He trusted Jesus.
🌪️ If the room drifts, whisper “fish” and watch the hands swim back.

Class screen: 🎣 Nets So Full They Broke · 👂 Listen for “fish” · 🐟 Wiggle a fish hand!

3. Scripture

Key Verse: Matthew 4:19

4 min

Motions help kids memorize Jesus’s invitation to follow Him.

  1. SAY“Here is Jesus’s invitation to Peter and Andrew, and to us.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet and read it slowly.
  3. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. Say it together twice, once normal and once in a whisper.
  4. Ask, “What’s a fisher of men?” Someone who helps people come to Jesus by being kind, inviting, and sharing.

Class screen: 🎣 “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

4. Game

Scripture Shield

6 min

Jesus answered every temptation with “It is written,” so the kids practice using true things as a shield.

  1. SAY“Satan still tries to tempt us. Cross your arms. That’s your shield! When I throw a temptation, block it and shout a true thing!”
  2. Tap whoosh on the Sound Board and throw an invisible temptation at a kid. “Take a cookie and don’t tell!”
  3. The kid blocks and says, “It is written!” plus a truth, like “Be honest!” or “Love one another!” Everyone cheers.
  4. Keep it fast so everyone gets a turn. Try “Laugh at the new kid” or “Say a bad word to look cool.”
  5. SAY“When you know the scriptures, the Holy Ghost can bring them to your mind. Right when you need them!”
🌪️ Only you throw, and only pretend. Kids block from their seats. Out of your seat? Be the cheering section for a round.

Class screen: 🛡️ Shields up! “It is written!” · Block the temptation · Shout a true thing!

5. Testimony

Testimony & Shield Up

3 min

End calm and reverent, with something to do at home.

  1. SAY“Peter followed Jesus straightway, right away. We can too.”
  2. Briefly share a time you chose to follow Jesus when it was hard. Or share how a scripture helped you.
  3. SAY“Next Sunday is fast Sunday. Fasting helps us get close to Heavenly Father, like Jesus did.”
  4. Show the Shield Up challenge on the screen. Then invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🛡️ This week: Shield Up! · Memorize Matthew 4:19 · Say it when you’re tempted

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Sea of Galilee Edition

4 minBONUS

A quick Heads Up–style review of the temptations and the great catch.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Give clues, but don’t say the word.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess.
  3. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class. Everyone else gives clues from their seats.
  4. Tilt down for “got it” and up to pass. Each turn is 45 seconds. Then pass your phone or tablet to the next kid.
🌪️ Go around the room one clue at a time. That way nobody shouts over anybody.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues, don’t say the word!

7. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. SAY“Peter’s Boat versus Zebedee’s Boat!”
  2. Split the class in two and tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. Read each question out loud. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer.
  4. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

The story

Nets So Full They Broke

Matthew 4:1–11, 18–22; Luke 5:1–11 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Shield LeaderStarts the crossed-arm “It is written!” from their seat each time it comes up.
  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 🏜️🙏 Forty days in the wilderness

    After Jesus was baptized, He went into the wilderness to be with Heavenly Father. He fasted for forty days. Then Satan came. He said, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”

    🙌

  2. 🛡️📜 “It is written”

    Jesus had the power, but He said no. He answered with the scriptures. “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.” Satan tried two more times. Each time Jesus answered, “It is written.” And Satan had to leave.

    🙌 Cross your arms like a shield: “It is written!”

  3. 🌙🎣 Fishing all night… nothing!

    Later, by the Sea of Galilee, Simon Peter and his partners fished all night. They threw out their nets again and again. By morning they had caught nothing. Not one fish! Then Jesus taught a crowd from Peter’s boat.

    🙌

  4. 🗣️🌊 “Launch out into the deep”

    Jesus said, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” Peter was tired. He said, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing.” But he trusted Jesus. “Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”

    🙌 Big thumbs up together: “Nevertheless… at thy word!”

  5. 🐟🐟🐟 Fish! Fish! FISH!

    Down went the net, and suddenly it was full of fish! So many that the net began to break! Peter waved to James and John to come help. They filled both boats so full that the boats began to sink!

    🙌

  6. 🙇😲 Peter falls to his knees

    Peter knew this was a miracle. He fell down at Jesus’s knees. He felt he wasn’t good enough to be near Him. Jesus said kindly, “Fear not.” Then He said, “From henceforth thou shalt catch men.”

    🙌

  7. 👣❤️ “Follow me”

    Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They would bring people to Jesus. Peter, Andrew, James and John left their boats and nets. They followed Him straightway. That means right away!

    🙌 Pat your knees fast: “Straightway!”

Key verse

Matthew 4:19 ↗
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
In kid words: Jesus said, “Come with Me, and I will teach you to help people come to Me.”
🙌 “Follow me” = wave someone toward you · “and I will make you” = point to a friend · “fishers” = cast a fishing line and reel it in · “of men” = open your arms wide to the whole room

More verses

Matthew 4:4 ↗
“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
In kid words: Food keeps our bodies alive, but we need God’s words to really live.
Luke 5:5 ↗
“nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net”
In kid words: Even if it doesn’t make sense to me, I’ll do what You say.
Luke 4:18 ↗
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted”
In kid words: Jesus read that He was sent to teach the gospel and heal people whose hearts are hurting.
Matthew 4:20 ↗
“And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”
In kid words: They dropped their nets right away and followed Jesus.

Forehead Guess words18 words

  • 🎣 Simon Peter
  • 🧑 Andrew
  • 👴 Zebedee
  • 🕸️ Net
  • 🐟 Fish
  • ⛵ Boat
  • 🌊 Sea of Galilee
  • 🪨 Rock
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 🍽️ Fasting
  • 🏜️ Wilderness
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • ⛰️ Mountain
  • 📖 Scriptures
  • 🛡️ Shield
  • 🏘️ Nazareth
  • 📜 Scroll
  • 👣 Follow
Clues for each word
  • Simon Peter: Fished all night and caught nothing
  • Andrew: Peter’s brother, also a fisherman
  • Zebedee: James and John’s dad, left in the boat
  • Net: So full of fish it broke
  • Fish: Swims in the sea; Peter caught tons
  • Boat: So full of fish it started to sink
  • Sea of Galilee: The big lake where Peter fished
  • Rock: Satan said, “Turn it into bread”
  • Bread: Man shall not live by this alone
  • Fasting: Going without food to feel close to God
  • Wilderness: Where Jesus fasted forty days
  • Temple: Satan said, “Jump off the top of it”
  • Mountain: Very high place where Jesus saw all the kingdoms
  • Scriptures: Jesus said, “It is written”
  • Shield: Blocks arrows, like scriptures block temptation
  • Nazareth: Jesus’s hometown, where He read Isaiah
  • Scroll: A rolled-up book Jesus read from
  • Follow: Jesus said, “____ me”
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. How many days did Jesus fast in the wilderness?
    • A. Seven
    • B. Forty
    • C. One hundred
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Forty Forty days and forty nights! He was close to His Father the whole time.

  2. What did Satan tell Jesus to turn into bread?
    • A. Stones
    • B. Sand
    • C. Leaves
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Stones Jesus answered that we need every word from God, not just bread.

  3. What did Jesus say every time He was tempted?
    • A. “Maybe later.”
    • B. “Okay, fine.”
    • C. “It is written.”
    Show answer

    ✅ C. “It is written.” He used the scriptures like a shield, three times in a row.

  4. In Nazareth, whose prophecy did Jesus read about Himself?
    • A. Isaiah’s
    • B. Jonah’s
    • C. Noah’s
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Isaiah’s Then He said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

  5. How long had Peter fished without catching anything?
    • A. Five minutes
    • B. One week
    • C. All night
    Show answer

    ✅ C. All night “We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing.”

  6. What happened when Peter let down the net?
    • A. Nothing at all
    • B. It filled so full it broke
    • C. A whale jumped out
    Show answer

    ✅ B. It filled so full it broke Two boats filled with fish and started to sink!

  7. Jesus said He would make them fishers of…
    • A. Whales
    • B. Men
    • C. Frogs
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Men They would help people come to Jesus. You can too!

  8. How fast did Peter and Andrew follow Jesus?
    • A. Straightway, right away!
    • B. After a long nap
    • C. Next year
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Straightway, right away! Matthew 4:20: “they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • We’ll Bring the World His Truth Children’s Songbook, p. 172

    Fishers of men help bring people to Jesus. Sing it after the story. Find it ↗

  • Choose the Right Way Children’s Songbook, p. 160

    Jesus chose the right every time Satan tempted Him. Find it ↗

  • Search, Ponder, and Pray Children’s Songbook, p. 109

    Knowing the scriptures gives us a shield like Jesus had. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Shield Up!

Memorize Matthew 4:19 with its motions and teach it to your family. When you feel tempted this week, say a scripture or a Primary song in your head. That’s just like Jesus saying, “It is written.”

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned that Jesus used the scriptures as a shield when Satan tempted Him. We also heard about the day Peter’s nets filled with so many fish they broke. Peter trusted Jesus even when it didn’t make sense, and then followed Him right away. Next Sunday is fast Sunday. Ask your child what Jesus said every time He was tempted. Then ask what it means to be a fisher of men.

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

📜 The Hometown Scroll · 4 min

  1. Roll a sheet of paper into a scroll. Write on it, “He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted.”
  2. Tell Luke 4:16–21. Jesus unrolled Isaiah’s words in His hometown synagogue. Then He said the scripture was fulfilled that day.
  3. Let a kid unroll the scroll and read it out. Everyone else leans in and asks, “Who is it about?”
  4. Ask who Isaiah was writing about. Jesus! Then ask how Jesus has helped someone whose heart was hurting.

🍽️ Why Do We Fast? · 4 min

  1. SAY“Next Sunday is fast Sunday. Jesus fasted to be close to Heavenly Father.”
  2. On fast Sunday, many families skip two meals and pray about something special. The food money helps people in need.
  3. Kids can fast in a way that’s right for them, with a parent’s help. Ask what their family could fast and pray for.

🐠 Fishing for Friends · 5 min

  1. Cut out paper fish. On each, write a way to help a friend feel Jesus’s love, like sitting by someone alone.
  2. Scatter them face down. Kids take turns casting by tossing a sock, then read the closest fish.
  3. Each kid takes a fish home as their fishing assignment for the week.

🕸️ Slow-Motion Net · 4 min

  1. Two kids hold hands to make the net. Everyone else is a fish swimming around the room.
  2. EVERYONE moves in slow motion, like underwater. Anyone who goes fast has to wash their nets and sit out a round.
  3. When the net tags a fish, the fish names a way to follow Jesus. Then they join hands with the net.
  4. Keep going until the net catches everyone. Say, “Fishers of men bring people to Jesus, and the net keeps growing!”
  5. In a small room, play sitting down. The net catches fish by touching toes.

🐟 Cast, Pull, Flop! · 2 min

  1. Everyone stands. Call “Cast the net!” Swing both arms and throw it far out.
  2. Call “Pull it in!” Go hand over hand, slowly, like it’s super heavy. Groan loudly!
  3. Call “Fish!” Flop like a fish for three seconds, then FREEZE.
  4. Call “Row the boat!” Row fast, then slow. Then call “Straightway!” and sit down in one second flat.

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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