You could also use this story during a children’s session, using the actions as they are written here, with everyone sitting down, or making the actions bigger, standing and / or walking around the room as you do them.

Jesus was walking along the shore,

Jesus was walking along the shore,

Jesus was walking along the shore,

Of the Sea of Galilee, (make wavy motion with hands.)

Of the Sea of Galilee, (make wavy motion with hands.)

Of the Sea of Galilee. (Make wavy motion with hands.)

Peter and Andrew were standing there,

Peter and Andrew were standing there,

Peter and Andrew were standing there,

Casting their nets in the sea, (pretend to throw fishing nets.)

Casting their nets in the sea, (pretend to throw fishing nets.)

Casting their nets in the sea. (Pretend to throw fishing nets.)

Jesus said: “I’ve got a job for you.”

Jesus said: “I’ve got a job for you.”

Jesus said: “I’ve got a job for you.”

“So come and follow me.” (Point to yourself.)

“So come and follow me.” (Point to yourself.)

“So come and follow me.” (Point to yourself.)

“You’ll be casting your nets for people.”

“You’ll be casting your nets for people.”

“You’ll be casting your nets for people.”

“And fishers of men you will be.” (Repeat net-throwing motion.)

“And fishers of men you will be.” (Repeat net-throwing motion.)

“And fishers of men you will be.” (Repeat net-throwing motion.)

So Peter and Andrew followed him,

So Peter and Andrew followed him,

So Peter and Andrew followed him,

Along the shore of the sea, (repeat wavy-arm motion.)

Along the shore of the sea, (repeat wavy-arm motion.)

Along the shore of the sea. (Repeat wavy-arm motion.)

That’s when they bumped into James and John,

That’s when they bumped into James and John,

That’s when they bumped into James and John,

And their father, Zebedee, (point finger in air and say: “that’s me!” in an old man’s voice.)

And their father, Zebedee, (point finger in air and say: “that’s me!” in an old man’s voice.)

And their father, Zebedee. (Point finger in air and say: “that’s me!” in an old man’s voice.)

They were mending the holes in their fishing nets,

They were mending the holes in their fishing nets,

They were mending the holes in their fishing nest,

So the fish couldn’t squeeze out and flee, (flap your fins and shout: “Wee-hee!”)

So the fish couldn’t squeeze out and flee, (flap your fins and shout: “Wee-hee!”)

So the fish couldn’t squeeze out and flee. (Flap your fins and shout: “Wee-hee!”)

But Jesus had different plans for them,

But Jesus had different plans for them,

But Jesus had different plans for them,

And he said: “Come and follow me.” (Point to yourself.)

And he said: “Come and follow me.” (Point to yourself.)

And he said: “Come and follow me.” (Point to yourself.)

So they followed Jesus and left their nets,

So they followed Jesus and left their nets,

So they followed Jesus and left their nets,

And their father, Zebedee, (point finger in air and say: “That’s me!” in an old man’s voice.)

And their father, Zebedee, (point finger in air and say: “That’s me!” in an old man’s voice.)

And their father, Zebedee. (Point finger in air and say: “That’s me!” in an old man’s voice.)

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