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Follow Me, Little Fishers!

Empty nets, a try-again splash, a net full of fish, and Jesus says, “Follow me”

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • Week 5
  • 📅 Sunday, January 31, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

I can follow Jesus.

I can follow Jesus.

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

This week’s chapters begin Jesus’s ministry. He fasts forty days in the wilderness and answers every temptation with scripture. That’s Matthew 4:1–11. In Nazareth He reads from Isaiah that He was sent to heal and help. That’s Luke 4:16–21. Then, by the Sea of Galilee, He calls four fishermen to follow Him: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. See Matthew 4:18–22 and Luke 5:1–11.

Luke tells it like a picture book. Peter fished all night and caught nothing. In the morning Jesus taught the crowd from Peter’s boat. Then He told Peter to go out deep and let down the nets. Peter was tired, but he said he’d do it because Jesus asked. That’s Luke 5:5. The nets filled so full they began to break, and friends in another boat came to help. Jesus said, “Follow me.” The fishermen left their nets and followed Him right away. That’s Matthew 4:19–20.

Your one tiny truth today: I can follow Jesus. For a three-year-old, following Jesus means doing what He did. Be kind, say prayers, help, and share. Say the tiny truth again and again. Let them feel following by marching behind you, like the fishermen walking behind Jesus.

Show Jesus with a picture, and read His words yourself. No child plays Jesus. The temptation story and fasting are simple extras if you have time.

Only have 5 minutes?

Bundle a few rolled-up socks in a blanket for a “net full of fish.” Or tap “I brought nothing” and use fishy hands. Tell the picture story with a few splashy sounds. Say “Follow me” with a beckoning wave. Then play Follow Me. You say “Follow me!” and show a way to follow Jesus, and everyone copies. End with, “I can follow Jesus. I know He loves you.”

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. Roll up the socks and bundle them in the blanket. Fold it closed like a full net and put it under your chair.
  2. Tuck the picture of Jesus in your scriptures. You’ll hold it up at the end.
  3. Practice once. Row your arms, “Row, row!” Throw a net, “Splash!”

If your class is wild

  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Hand the child a sock fish and ask, “Will you be my fish helper?” If tears keep going, a parent can sit in the back.
  • For potty breaks, have another grown-up or a parent take the child. Never be alone out of sight with a child. Keep going with everyone else.
  • Use “Row, row, row!” as your call-back all day. When you say it, everyone sits and rows their pretend boat. Wanderers become sailors in two seconds.
  • Three-year-olds love to grab the sock fish. Give each child just one. When you’re done, they swim it back into the net.
  • The fishermen followed right away. When a child comes quickly, cheer, “You followed right away, just like Peter!”

The 25-minute plan22 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

What’s in the Net?

3 min

A bundled-up “net” full of sock fish grabs attention and sets up the fishing story.

  1. SAY“Something is in my net! Is it a shoe? A banana? Let’s count and open it. One… two… three!”
  2. Open the blanket and let the sock fish tumble out. Say, “Fish! So many fish!” Let each child make one swim.
  3. SAY“Today we’ll meet fishermen who caught SO many fish. Then Jesus asked them to follow Him.”
🌪️ One fish per child. When it’s time to move on, everyone swims their fish back into the net.

Class screen: 🥅 What’s in the net?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A blanket, sheet or big bath towel bundled around 5–10 rolled-up socks (the “fish”)

Fishy Hands

  1. SAY“Watch my hands. What am I?”
  2. Put your palms together and wiggle them like a swimming fish. Everyone makes a fishy hand and swims it high, low, fast, and slow.
  3. Then pull in a pretend net. Say, “Oof, heavy!”
  4. SAY“Today we’ll meet fishermen who caught SO many fish. Then Jesus asked them to follow Him.”

Class screen: 🐟 Swim, little fish!

2. Story

Picture Story: Nets Full of Fish

6 min

Seven short picture scenes show Peter trying again because Jesus asked, and then following Jesus right away.

  1. SAY“Some fishermen had a very surprising day. Look at the pictures. You get to make the sounds!”
  2. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. Make the sound together when one shows.
  3. After scene 7, ask, “What did Jesus say?” Everyone waves in and says, “Follow me!”
🌪️ If the splashing gets big, make the next net throw tiny and whisper “splash.” They’ll copy you.

Class screen: 🚣 Nets full of fish! · 🚣 Row, row! · 💦 Splash!

3. Wiggle break

Row, Throw, Pull!

2 min

A quick fishing wiggle gets the bounce out before the verse.

  1. SAY“Let’s go fishing! Sit down in your boat.”
  2. Everyone rows, “Row, row, row!” Throw the net way out, “Splash!” Pull it in slowly, “Oof, heavy!”
  3. Do it fast, then slow, then super slow. Finish by swimming fishy hands into your lap.

Class screen: 🎣 Row, throw, pull!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Matthew 4:19

3 min

A calling motion and a beckoning wave help Sunbeams remember Jesus’s words, “Follow me.”

  1. SAY“Jesus said two little words to the fishermen. They’re in the Bible. Listen!”
  2. Hold up your scriptures. Read slowly, “he saith unto them, Follow me.” Then say, “Jesus wants us to follow Him too!”
  3. Teach the Key Verse motions. Say it together three times: a whisper, a regular voice, then a happy voice.
  4. Ask, “Who can follow Jesus?” Everyone points to themselves and says, “Me!”

Class screen: 👋 Follow me! · 📣 He saith unto them · 👋 Follow me

5. Game

Follow Me!

5 min

A follow-the-leader game practices the big idea: I can follow Jesus by doing what He would do.

  1. SAY“Jesus said, ‘Follow me!’ Let’s practice following. When I say ‘Follow me,’ copy what I do!”
  2. Say “Follow me!” and fold your arms to pray. Everyone copies. Cheer, “That’s following Jesus!”
  3. Keep going. Hug yourself to be kind. Pick up pretend toys to help. Wave hello to be a friend. Fold arms to pray again.
  4. Let a child lead. They say “Follow me!” and pick a way, and everyone copies. Give three or four kids a turn.
  5. Ask, “Who can follow Jesus?” Everyone points to themselves and says, “Me!”
🌪️ Stay on your own spot for this game. Following means copying, not chasing.

Class screen: 👣 Follow me! · 🙏 Pray · 🤗 Be kind · 🧸 Help · 👋 Be a friend

6. Testimony

Quiet Fishermen

3 min

A calm ending helps each child feel that Jesus loves them and they can follow Him.

  1. SAY“Let’s put our nets down and sit very still, like a quiet boat on the water.”
  2. Hold up the picture of Jesus. Share, “Peter followed Jesus right away. I love to follow Jesus. It makes me happy.”
  3. Say each name softly, like “Sofia can follow Jesus.” That child waves a hand in and says, “Follow me!”
  4. Invite them to play Following Feet at home this week. Fold arms for the closing prayer.

Class screen: 💛 I can follow Jesus. · Play Following Feet at home

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus (from a Friend magazine, the meetinghouse library, or the Gospel Library app)

  1. SAY“Let’s put our nets down and sit very still, like a quiet boat on the water.”
  2. Show story scene 6 on your phone or tablet. Share, “Peter followed Jesus right away. I love to follow Jesus. It makes me happy.”
  3. Say each name softly, like “Sofia can follow Jesus.” That child waves a hand in and says, “Follow me!”
  4. Invite them to play Following Feet at home this week. Fold arms for the closing prayer.
7. Game

Picture Quiz

4 minBONUS

A gentle picture quiz reviews the story. Everybody wins.

  1. SAY“Picture quiz time! Listen, then point to the right picture.”
  2. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture. Kids point or call out the answer.
  3. Cheer every right answer. Skip team scores if they cause tears. With Sunbeams, everybody wins.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Picture quiz!

8. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A picture reveal reviews the story if you have a few extra minutes.

  1. SAY“A picture from our story is hiding! Let’s find out what it is.”
  2. Open Mystery Picture. Call out a “show me,” like “Show me rowing arms!” Tap away a tile after each one.
  3. Let everyone guess. When the picture shows, tell that part of the story together.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🖼️ What’s hiding?

The story

Nets Full of Fish

Luke 5:1–11; Matthew 4:18–22 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Picture HelperSits by you and holds up the picture of Jesus in scenes 2 and 6.
  • Sound HelperTaps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet with your help.

Scenes

  1. 🌙🎣 Fishing all night… no fish!

    Peter and his friends were fishermen. They fished all night long. But they didn’t catch even one fish.

    🙌 Throw your net: “Splash!” Then shrug: “No fish!”

  2. ☀️👥 Jesus comes to the sea

    In the morning, Jesus came to the sea. Lots of people came to hear Him teach.

    🙌

  3. 🚣📖 Jesus sits in Peter’s boat

    Jesus sat in Peter’s boat and taught the people. Then He told Peter to go out to the deep water. Let down the nets!

    🙌 Row your arms: “Row, row!”

  4. 🥅💦 Peter tries again

    Peter was tired. But because Jesus asked, he let down the net again.

    🙌

  5. 🐟🐟 So many fish!

    Fish, fish, and more fish! The net was so full it started to break. Friends came in another boat to help.

    🙌

  6. 👣👋 “Follow me,” said Jesus

    Jesus said, “Follow me.” Peter and his friends left their nets and followed Jesus right away.

    🙌 Wave your hand in: “Follow me!”

  7. 🙂💛 I can follow Jesus too!

    We can follow Jesus too. We can be kind, say prayers, and help, just like Jesus.

    🙌

Key verse

Matthew 4:19 ↗
“he saith unto them, Follow me”
In kid words: Jesus said to the fishermen, “Follow me.”
🙌 “He saith unto them” = cup your hands around your mouth like you’re calling across the water · “Follow me” = wave your hand toward you, “come on!”, then march in place.

More verses

Matthew 4:20 ↗
“And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”
In kid words: The fishermen put down their nets and followed Jesus right away.
Luke 5:5 ↗
“nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net”
In kid words: Peter was tired, but he said, “You asked, so I will do it.”
Luke 5:10 ↗
“Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not”
In kid words: Jesus told Peter, “Don’t be afraid.”

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🚣 Boat
  • 🥅 Net
  • 🌊 Sea
  • 🎣 Fisherman
  • 🧔 Peter
  • 🌙 Moon
  • ☀️ Sun
  • 👣 Feet
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 📖 Scriptures
  • 🍞 Bread
Clues for each word
  • Fish: Swims in the sea
  • Boat: Peter sat in it and rowed
  • Net: Fishermen catch fish with it
  • Sea: Lots of water with waves
  • Fisherman: Peter’s job
  • Peter: He tried again when Jesus asked
  • Moon: Up in the sky all night
  • Sun: Comes up in the morning
  • Feet: We follow with them
  • Heart: Be kind like Jesus
  • Scriptures: The holy book with the story
  • Bread: Yummy food made from wheat
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. What did the fishermen want to catch?
    • A. 🐟 Fish
    • B. 🐶 Puppies
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🐟 Fish Fish! Let’s swim our fishy hands.

  2. What do fishermen catch fish with?
    • A. 🧦 A sock
    • B. 🥅 A net
    • C. 🥄 A spoon
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🥅 A net A big net! Throw it out… splash!

  3. Where did Jesus sit to teach?
    • A. 🚗 In a car
    • B. 🚣 In a boat
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🚣 In a boat Jesus sat in Peter’s boat. Row, row, row!

  4. When Jesus said try again, how many fish?
    • A. 🐟🐟🐟 So many!
    • B. 🚫 None
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🐟🐟🐟 So many! So many fish the net started to break!

  5. Who said, “Follow me”?
    • A. 🐸 A frog
    • B. 🦆 A duck
    • C. 🙂 Jesus
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🙂 Jesus Jesus said, “Follow me,” and the fishermen followed Him.

  6. What do we follow with?
    • A. 👃 Our nose
    • B. 👣 Our feet
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👣 Our feet Our following feet! March, march, march.

  7. Which one is following Jesus?
    • A. 😠 Grabbing toys
    • B. ❤️ Being kind
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ❤️ Being kind Being kind is following Jesus!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Do As I’m Doing Children’s Songbook, p. 276

    A follow-the-leader song for marching like the fishermen who followed Jesus. Find it ↗

  • I’m Trying to Be like Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 78

    Sing or hum the chorus: following Jesus means trying to be like Him. Find it ↗

  • Tell Me the Stories of Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 57

    A gentle song to start class as the children sit in the boat. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Following Feet

Play follow the leader at home. When a grown-up says, “Follow me!” march behind them. Then do one thing Jesus would do. Give a hug, say a prayer, or help pick up.

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned that Jesus helped Peter catch so many fish the net started to break. Then Jesus said, “Follow me.” Our tiny truth: I can follow Jesus. Ask your child, “What did the fishermen catch?” Then play follow the leader and talk about one way to be kind like Jesus.

📝 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?

🍞 Bread or Rock? · 3 min

  1. Hold up a slice of bread and a small rock, or just draw them in the air. Ask, “Which one can we eat?” Bread!
  2. Point to Matthew 4:3–4. Say, “Jesus was very hungry. Satan wanted Him to turn rocks into bread. Jesus said no! He chose the right.”
  3. Play Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down. Call out “Sharing a toy,” “Hitting,” and “Saying sorry.” Then say, “I can choose the right like Jesus!”

🩹 Jesus Helps Everyone · 2 min

  1. Open to Luke 4:18. Say, “Jesus read in the scriptures that He came to help and heal people.”
  2. Give a teddy bear or your own arm a pretend owie. Everyone gives it a gentle pat and a pretend bandage.
  3. Say, “Jesus helps us when we’re sad or hurt. He loves us!”

🙏 Close to Heavenly Father · 2 min

  1. Open to Matthew 4:1–2. Say, “Before Jesus taught, He went without food for a long time to be close to Heavenly Father. That’s called fasting.”
  2. Say, “When you’re bigger, you can fast too. Right now, you can be close to Heavenly Father when you pray.”
  3. Everyone folds arms. Say a short prayer together, one little phrase at a time, and let the kids repeat it.

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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