JESUS CALLS DISCIPLES
Computer Lab Lesson
www.sundaysoftware.com
by Neil MacQueen

 

     3. Let's Talk CD... kids recreate the lesson with new "calling" dialog.

     4. Play and Learn Children's Bible CD: "Jesus Chooses 12 Disciples."

Luke's version of the Call extends the scene -- having Jesus call to the Disciples who are still in their boats to cast their nets "again" after a long day of fishing. Then he calls them to be Disciples. The Matthew 4 version is shorter.

It's very common for a Bible computer lab to have ALL of these CDs in their library because each can be used for so many Jesus stories. Depending on your age group and available software, you can use several of these CDs in this one lesson. That's pretty common too -to use several Jesus CDs in one lesson.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Introduce the lesson by reading the selected Scripture passage or by telling the story.

If you have the "A Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus CD, it is worth viewing at the beginning of the lesson as an introduction, to show the Sea of Galilee in 360 degree "photobubble" which the program presents. Pretty cool. There is an audio note in the Sea of Galilee photobubble that mentions the Sea as a "source of fresh water" for much of Israel. A good transitional question to ask here would be "What else did the Sea produce for God's people?"  Footsteps CD is the kind of CD the teacher can gather the kids around to kick off many Jesus lessons with a visual from the Holyland. You can also "fly them" to the Holyland using HolyLand 3-D Bible Atlas CD if you have that program. It's pretty spectacular. Both these programs can be projected on the wall with an LCD project to create a very nice "lesson opener."

Dig - Main Content

It's common for labs to have Life of Christ CD, so that "Call" lesson in that CD should be the beginning point. Play the story (found in the professor's orange crate on his desk in the program) and take the quiz. If you have pre-readers, use the story in Play & Learn Children's Bible CD.

After taking the Life of Christ quiz, go into Let's Talk CD or Kid Pix and have the students recreate the dialog of the Call --but re-configuring Jesus' words to appeal to different professions. Both these programs can PLAY BACK whatever the kids type, so there's the reward. Work with them to craft their responses.

Example: Instead of calling fisherman with the words "make you fishers of men," Jesus might call nurses to become "healers of people's spirits." What WORDS and IMAGES would Jesus have used to call people of other professions?

-a student
-a basketballer
-a carpenter
-teacher
-a mom
-a good son
-a professional athlete
-a police officer
-a nurse
-an assembly line worker
--etc etc.

Begin this exercise at the whiteboard by asking them to list other common professions. Make sure to include things that represent the kids now and what they want to be in the future. Pick one of the professions and ask the entire class to think aloud "how might Jesus have called THIS person." 

Then, split into workgroups at the computer and have each work group work on one OR MORE of the professions to craft "Jesus' call to...."

This activity will take some thinking. Work with the students to craft their statements. Then go around the room after everyone is done and have the Let's Talk or Kid Pix program PLAY BACK OUT LOUD what each workstation came up with.

Reflect - Closure

Create one final presentation in the software, or conduct a discussion away from the computers, on "The disciple who said no when Jesus called."

Have the entire class create a story for this disciple who "said no."

What was she/he doing when Jesus called?
What did Jesus call her to do?
What didn't he want to give up?
What was she afraid of?
How did Jesus respond to him?