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Follow Me, Little Fishers

Jesus says no to Satan, fills Peter’s empty nets, and says, “Follow me”

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • Week 5
  • 📅 Sunday, January 31, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus always chose the right, and when He says “Follow me,” I can follow Him right away.

I can follow Jesus by choosing the right, 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

After His baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness to be close to Heavenly Father and fasted for forty days. Then Satan came and tried three times to get Him to do wrong: turn stones into bread, jump off the top of the temple, and bow down to Satan. Each time Jesus said no and answered with the scriptures: “It is written” (Matthew 4:1–11). For ages 4–7, keep it simple: Jesus was very hungry and very tired, and He still chose the right. He knew the scriptures, and He knew who He was. So can they.

Luke 4 tells how Jesus went home to Nazareth, stood up in the synagogue, and read from Isaiah about the One who would heal broken hearts and set people free. Then He told everyone that He was that promised Savior (Luke 4:16–21). A great line for children: Jesus came to help people who are sad, sick, or stuck.

Today’s Story Drama is Luke 5:1–11 (with Matthew 4:18–22). Peter and his partners fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus told Peter to go out into the deep water and try again. Peter was tired, but he said that because Jesus asked, he would do it. The nets filled with so many fish that they began to break, and two boats started to sink! Then Jesus invited these fishermen to follow Him and help bring people to God, and they left everything and followed Him. No child plays Jesus; you read His words.

Next Sunday is fast Sunday. Little children aren’t required to fast, but they can learn why we fast: to feel close to Heavenly Father, like Jesus did. For your 7-year-olds preparing for baptism, point out that baptism is how we promise to follow Jesus, just like Peter did when he left his boat.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a rock and a slice of bread. Start with Follow Me!, let your phone or tablet run the Story Drama, do The Hungry Test, teach Matthew 4:19 with fishing motions, and play Forehead Guess. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing” and the rock and bread become pretend ones the kids make with their hands.

What to bring4 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. Put the rock and the bread in a bag so you can pull them out like a surprise.
  2. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out story roles with one tap.
  3. Pick a 6- or 7-year-old reader to be Peter. He or she reads Peter’s big line from the screen in scene 4.
  4. If you brought paper fish, scatter them on the floor in one corner. That’s the “deep water.”

If your class is wild

  • Give the littlest wigglers the Fish role. They get to swim and flop, but only when their scene comes up. Until then they’re “sleeping fish” on the rug.
  • Follow Me! is your secret weapon all lesson long. Any time the room gets loud, say, “Follow me!” and do a quiet motion. Everyone copies.
  • In The Hungry Test, only kids sitting on their bottoms get to hold the rock. You’ll suddenly have a very still class.
  • Pair little ones with big-kid buddies for Forehead Guess, so a 4-year-old can whisper-act a clue with a helper.

The 25-minute plan25 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

Follow Me!

2 min

A copy-me game gets everyone moving and introduces Jesus’s invitation, “Follow me.”

  1. Stand up and say: “When I say ‘Follow me,’ do exactly what I do!”
  2. Say “Follow me!” and do silly moves one at a time: touch your nose, hop on one foot, flap like a bird, swim like a fish, row a boat.
  3. End with a quiet one: “Follow me!” Sit down and fold your arms. Wait until everyone copies.
  4. SAY“You were great followers! Today we’ll meet some fishermen who heard Jesus say ‘Follow me.’ Let’s see what they did.”
🌪️ Let a still, careful child be the leader for one round. Suddenly everyone wants to follow well so they get a turn.

Class screen: 👣 Follow me! Do what I do! · 🐟 🚣 🐦

2. Story

Story Drama: Nets So Full They Broke

6 min

Acting out the big catch shows that Peter trusted Jesus and followed Him right away.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode to assign them from your class list). Everyone left over is the Crowd. Say: “I’ll read what Jesus says. Listen carefully to His words.”
  2. Big-kid readers: let a 6- or 7-year-old read the caption on each screen before you read the scene.
  3. Read each scene and pause for the action. The Fish stay asleep until scene 5, so watch for their big moment.
  4. At scene 4, pause and ask: “Peter was tired. Why did he try again?” (Because Jesus asked him!)
  5. At the last scene, ask: “When you are baptized, you promise to follow Jesus too. How can you follow Him this week?”
🌪️ Boats stay on the rug. If Fish start swimming early, say, “Shh, the fish are sleeping!” and they’ll flop back down.

Class screen: 🎭 Story Drama time! · Everyone gets a part

3. Wiggle break

Cast, Reel, Flop!

2 min

Fishing moves get the wiggles out and review the story.

  1. Everyone stands. Say: “Cast your net!” Kids throw their arms out wide.
  2. SAY“Reel it in!” Kids pull hand over hand, slowly, like it’s super heavy.
  3. SAY“Fish!” Kids flop like fish on the floor, then pop back up.
  4. Go faster and faster, then end with: “Drop your net and follow Jesus!” Everyone drops their net and tiptoes back to their seat.

Class screen: 🎣 Cast! Reel! Flop like a fish! · Then follow Jesus 👣

4. Object lesson

The Hungry Test

4 min

A real rock and real bread help children picture how Jesus chose the right even when it was hard.

  1. Pull the rock out of the bag. Say: “Jesus went into the wilderness to pray and fasted for forty days. He was so hungry! Then Satan came and told Him to turn the stones into bread to prove He was the Son of God.”
  2. Pull out the bread. Ask: “Could Jesus do that?” (Yes, He had power.) “Did He?” (No!) Say: “Jesus chose to obey Heavenly Father. He answered with the scriptures: ‘It is written.’”
  3. Let a still-sitting child hold the rock. Say: “Satan tried two more times. Every time, Jesus said no. He always chose the right.”
  4. Play Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down. Read a choice; kids show thumbs up for a right choice, thumbs down for a wrong one: “Share your toy.” “Hit your sister.” “Pray before bed.” “Take a cookie without asking.” “Help clean up at church.”
  5. SAY“When it’s hard to choose the right, remember Jesus. Say a prayer and think of a scripture or a Primary song.”
🌪️ Pass the rock to a new child after each thumbs-up round. Holders must be sitting, and the rock stays in laps.

Class screen: 🪨 Stone or bread? Jesus chose the right! · 👍 Right choice · 👎 Wrong choice

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A rock (any stone from outside) and a slice of bread or a roll, just to show, not to eat

Pretend Stone, Pretend Bread

  1. Make a tight fist and knock on it: “This is a hard stone.” Kids copy. Then squish your hands together softly: “This is soft bread.” Kids copy.
  2. SAY“Jesus fasted forty days. He was so hungry! Satan told Him to turn a stone into bread.” Everyone holds up their stone fist.
  3. Ask: “Did Jesus do it?” (No!) Say: “He chose to obey Heavenly Father and said, ‘It is written.’” Everyone opens their hands like a book.
  4. Play Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down with choices: “Share your toy.” “Hit your sister.” “Pray before bed.” “Take a cookie without asking.” “Help clean up at church.”
  5. SAY“When it’s hard to choose the right, remember Jesus. Say a prayer and think of a scripture or a Primary song.”

Class screen: ✊ Knock knock, hard stone! Jesus chose the right! · 👍 Right choice · 👎 Wrong choice

5. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: Matthew 4:19

3 min

Motions help every child, reader or not, remember Jesus’s invitation to follow Him.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a big-kid Reading Helper to read it out loud.
  2. SAY“Fishers of men means helping people come to Jesus. You can do that by being kind and inviting friends.”
  3. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. Say it three ways: a whisper, a fishy bubble voice, and a strong, happy voice.
  4. Ask: “What did Peter do when Jesus said ‘Follow me’?” (He followed right away!) “What’s one way you can follow Jesus today?”

Class screen: 🎣 “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” · Matthew 4:19

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Sea of Galilee

4 min

A picture guessing game reviews the story, and the pictures let non-readers give clues too.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. A guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. Everyone else looks at the picture and gives clues without saying the word. Little ones can act it out: swim for fish, row for boat.
  3. Big kids can read the hint under the picture if the class gets stuck.
  4. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. Give each guesser about 30 seconds. Pair a little one with a big-kid buddy on their turn.
🌪️ Clue-givers stay on their bottoms and raise a hand. Shouting the word means you act out the next clue with no sound.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Act it out or give a clue · Don’t say the word!

7. Talk it over

Fishers Talk

2 min

Connect the fishermen’s choice to the children’s own ways of following Jesus.

  1. Sit close in a circle. Ask one question at a time. Let two or three kids answer each, and share your own answer too.
  2. Little ones can answer by acting: “Show me how you would follow Jesus at home.”
💬 Ask the class
  • Peter was tired, but he tried again because Jesus asked. When is it hard for you to obey?
  • What did the fishermen leave behind to follow Jesus?
  • How can you help a friend or someone in your family come closer to Jesus?

Class screen: 💬 Let’s talk!

8. Testimony

Follow Him Right Away

2 min

End calm and reverent, with one way to follow Jesus this week.

  1. Lower your voice. Everyone puts their pretend nets down and folds their arms.
  2. Share one or two sentences about a time you chose to follow Jesus even when it was hard, and how it felt.
  3. SAY“When we are baptized, we promise to follow Jesus, just like Peter did. Every week at the sacrament, we promise again.”
  4. Introduce the Right Away challenge on the screen, and ask a child to say the closing prayer. Little ones can repeat a prayer after you, a few words at a time.

Class screen: 👣 I can follow Jesus right away. · Choose the right · Obey right away · Invite a friend

9. Game

Fishers of Friends

4 minBONUS

A gentle catching game shows how one friend can help bring another to Jesus.

  1. Everyone is a fish swimming slowly around the room with walking feet. Pick one fisher.
  2. The fisher gently taps a fish on the shoulder. That fish names one way to follow Jesus (pray, share, say sorry, go to church), then holds the fisher’s hand.
  3. The net keeps growing as each new fish joins hands. Keep going until everyone is in the net.
  4. SAY“Jesus asked Peter to help bring people to Him. When we’re kind and invite friends, we’re fishers too!”
🌪️ Fishers tap shoulders only, no grabbing. If the room is small, fish can swim in place and the fisher walks to them.

Class screen: 🐟 Swim, little fish! The net is growing! · Walking feet only

10. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team picture quiz reviews the lesson.

  1. Split into two teams, each with big kids and little kids mixed.
  2. Tap Scripture Showdown. A big kid on each team reads the question out loud; the whole team whispers and points to an answer.
  3. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point. Cheer for both teams.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

Story drama

Nets So Full They Broke

Luke 5:1–11; Matthew 4:18–22 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • PeterThe tired fisherman. Rows the boat, lets down the net, and reads his big line: “At thy word I will let down the net.” A good part for a 6- or 7-year-old reader.
  • AndrewPeter’s brother. Pulls the net with Peter and helps lift the heavy fish.
  • James and JohnTwo partners in the other boat. They row over fast to help when the nets start to break.
  • FishThe littlest kids. Sleep on the rug, then swim with fish lips and flop into the net.
  • WavesTwo or three kids who sway their arms side to side and go “Shhhh.”
  • The CrowdEveryone else. Scoot close to hear Jesus, gasp at the fish, and cheer at the end.

Scenes

  1. 🌙🎣 Fishing all night… no fish!

    Peter and his brother Andrew were fishermen. All night long they threw their nets into the sea. But every time they pulled them up, the nets were empty. Not one fish!

    🎬 Peter and Andrew throw a pretend net, pull it in, and look inside: “Nothing!” The Fish stay asleep. The Waves sway.

  2. 👥🚣 Jesus teaches from Peter’s boat

    In the morning, a big crowd came to the shore to hear Jesus. There were so many people! Jesus climbed into Peter’s boat, sat down, and taught everyone from the water.

    🎬 The Crowd scoots close and cups their ears. Peter pats the boat seat: “Come in!”

  3. 🌊🥅 “Go out into the deep water”

    When Jesus finished teaching, He told Peter to row out into the deep water and let down the nets. But the fishermen were tired. They had just tried all night!

    🎬 Peter, Andrew and the Waves row together: pull, pull, pull. Everyone yawns a big, tired yawn.

  4. 🤔➡️😊 “At thy word I will let down the net”

    Peter said, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” That means: we worked all night and caught nothing, but because You asked, I will try again.

    🎬 Peter reads from the screen: “At thy word I will let down the net!” Everyone gives Peter a thumbs up.

  5. 🐟🐟🐟 Fish! Fish! So many fish!

    Splash! Down went the net. Then it got heavy. Then heavier! The net was so full of fish that it started to break!

    🎬 The Fish wake up and swim into the middle of the room, then flop at Peter’s feet. Everyone shouts, “Fish! Fish! FISH!”

  6. 🚣‍♂️🆘 Help! The boats are sinking!

    Peter waved to his partners, James and John, in the other boat to come and help. They rowed over fast. They filled both boats with fish until the boats began to sink!

    🎬 James and John row super fast. Everyone leans way to one side, then the other: “Whoa! Whoa!”

  7. 🧎💛 Peter kneels by Jesus

    Peter was so amazed that he knelt down by Jesus. He knew Jesus was no ordinary man. Jesus said kindly, “Fear not.” He told Peter that from now on he would help bring people to God.

    🎬 Peter kneels. Everyone whispers, “Fear not.”

  8. 👣🌅 They left everything and followed Jesus

    Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Right away, Peter, Andrew, James and John left their boats, their nets and all those fish. They followed Jesus!

    🎬 Everyone stands up, drops a pretend net, and marches in place: “Follow Jesus! Follow Jesus!” Then a big cheer.

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 help you bring people to Me.”
🙌 “Follow me” = march in place · “and I will make you” = point to yourself · “fishers” = cast a pretend fishing pole and reel it in · “of men” = scoop your arms in like you’re bringing friends close

More verses

Matthew 4:20 ↗
“And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”
In kid words: They dropped their nets right away and followed Jesus.
Luke 5:5 ↗
“nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net”
In kid words: Peter said, “Because You told me to, I will do it.”
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: Jesus told Satan that we need God’s words even more than we need food.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🚣 Boat
  • 🥅 Net
  • 🎣 Fishing pole
  • 🌊 Waves
  • 🌙 Night
  • ☀️ Sun
  • 🪨 Rock
  • 🍞 Bread
  • ⛰️ Mountain
  • 📖 Scriptures
  • 👼 Angel
  • 👥 Crowd
  • 🧎 Kneel
  • 👣 Follow
  • 🙏 Pray
Clues for each word
  • Fish: It swims and has fins
  • Boat: Peter rowed it on the sea
  • Net: Fishermen throw it in the water to catch fish
  • Fishing pole: Cast it and reel it in
  • Waves: Water that goes up and down
  • Night: Dark time with the moon. They fished all of it
  • Sun: Bright and hot in the morning sky
  • Rock: Satan said to turn it into bread
  • Bread: You make sandwiches with it
  • Mountain: Very tall and pointy. You can climb it
  • Scriptures: Jesus said, “It is written”
  • Angel: Came to help Jesus after Satan left
  • Crowd: Lots and lots of people
  • Kneel: Get down on your knees, like Peter did
  • Follow: Walk behind someone and go where they go
  • Pray: Fold your arms and talk to Heavenly Father
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. What did Peter catch after fishing all night?
    • A. Nothing!
    • B. A whale 🐋
    • C. A boot 👢
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Nothing! Luke 5:5. The nets were empty all night long.

  2. Where did Jesus sit to teach the big crowd?
    • A. On a horse 🐴
    • B. In Peter’s boat 🚣
    • C. In a tree 🌳
    Show answer

    ✅ B. In Peter’s boat 🚣 Luke 5:3. He taught the people from the water.

  3. What happened when Peter let down the net again?
    • A. It floated away
    • B. A crab bit it 🦀
    • C. It filled with fish 🐟
    Show answer

    ✅ C. It filled with fish 🐟 Luke 5:6. So many fish that the net started to break!

  4. Who came to help pull in all the fish?
    • A. James and John
    • B. Two big dogs 🐕
    • C. A mermaid 🧜
    Show answer

    ✅ A. James and John Luke 5:7, 10. They filled both boats until they started to sink.

  5. Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of…”
    • A. Frogs 🐸
    • B. Men
    • C. Sandwiches 🥪
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Men Matthew 4:19. That means helping people come to Jesus.

  6. What did the fishermen do when Jesus said “Follow me”?
    • A. Took a nap 😴
    • B. Said “Maybe later”
    • C. Followed Him right away 👣
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Followed Him right away 👣 Matthew 4:20. They left their nets straightway, right away.

  7. Satan told hungry Jesus to turn a stone into…
    • A. Bread 🍞
    • B. A toy 🧸
    • C. Gold
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Bread 🍞 Matthew 4:3. Jesus said no and answered with the scriptures.

  8. What did Jesus say each time Satan tried to trick Him?
    • A. “Okay!”
    • B. “It is written”
    • C. “Go away, fish!”
    Show answer

    ✅ B. “It is written” Matthew 4:4, 7, 10. He used the scriptures to choose the right.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    Sing it after the testimony: following Jesus means trying to be like Him. Find it ↗

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

    Goes with The Hungry Test: Jesus always chose the right. Find it ↗

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

    Jesus knew the scriptures and answered Satan with them. We can learn them too. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Right Away

This week, when a parent or another grown-up at home asks you to do something good, do it right away, like Peter did when Jesus said, “Follow me.” Count how many times you can do it!

Text the parents

This week we acted out Peter fishing all night with no fish. When Jesus told him to try again, Peter obeyed, and his nets filled until they broke! Then Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19), and the fishermen followed Him right away. We also learned that Jesus said no to Satan and always chose the right. Ask your child: what did Peter do when Jesus said “Follow me”? Next Sunday is fast Sunday, so it’s a great week to talk as a family about why we fast.

📝 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?

🙏 Why Do We Fast? · 3 min

  1. SAY“Jesus fasted to feel close to Heavenly Father. Next Sunday is fast Sunday. Grown-ups skip two meals, pray for something special, and give money to help people in need.”
  2. SAY“Little children don’t have to fast, but you can join your family by praying for the same special thing.”
  3. Ask: “Who is someone we could pray for on fast Sunday?” Let each child name a person.

💛 Jesus Came to Help · 3 min

  1. SAY“In His hometown, Jesus read from Isaiah that He came to help people who are sad, sick, or stuck” (Luke 4:18).
  2. Name a need and let kids act how Jesus helps: a sad friend (hug), a sick person (gentle hands), someone who is lost (lead them by the hand).
  3. Ask: “How can we help people the way Jesus does?”

🔁 Try Again Relay · 3 min

  1. Pretend the rug is the sea. Kids take turns “casting” an invisible net and pulling it up empty: “Nothing!”
  2. On the third try, say, “Because Jesus asked!” and everyone pulls up a huge, heavy catch together.
  3. SAY“Sometimes we have to keep trying. When we listen to Jesus, good things happen.”

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.

All CTR 4–7 lessons