Children’s Sermon

John 21:1-19

God’s Guidance

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John 21:1-19

God’s Guidance

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects suggested: Fishing equipment.

Picture of a trout available at:
http://www.troutnut.com/pictures/of-trout (Second image on this page is especially beautiful.)

How many of you have gone fishing? I don’t fish, but I’ve learned some things about where to find fish, especially when fishing for trout. (Show picture.)

I’ve learned that fish like cold water and that they need air (oxygen) that’s in water. Fish might hang out near a waterfall because the water there is churned up and has more air in it.

They like to swim in quiet pools because that is where they are likely to find food. They like to eat bugs and insects, so they may swim where trees overhang the river or lake. Bugs fall off the trees and into the water.

Early in the morning or in the evening, just before dark, is a good time to go fishing. These are the times fish like to feed and you will have a better chance of catching a fish during those times.

Even if you use all these ideas you may not catch a fish. You must be patient and wait, wait, wait.

We find a story about fishing in the Bible. Jesus’ disciples had been fishing in a boat and they had caught nothing. Jesus said,“Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some”(21:6).

So they did as Jesus suggested and their net was filled with so many fish they had trouble pulling it from the water. They had caught one hundred fifty-three fish!

What do you think we can learn from this story? Yes, the story teaches us that Jesus has God-given power and knowledge. He saw and knew things his disciples did not.

It is good to learn all we can about how to do something that is new to us. It is also good to remember that we don’t have all the answers.

When we study the Bible and pray, we must also listen for God’s guidance.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2010, Richard Niell Donovan