Bible Study “Abundance”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
"Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." An astounding discovery! The Easter news was spread to all who would listen. The disciples told people, who in turn, told people, and to this day, we hear the message — a message of weeping and then of joy that comes with the morning of a new day. We, like the disciples, weep AND then delight in the joy bursting forth in us. We too are called to bring this message with our lives, and, if necessary, with words, to those who have not yet heard it.
Thinking their ministry days were over, the fishermen went back to what they knew: fishing. But they caught nothing all night. In the depth of their discouragement they hear a call from the shore, "Try the other side." Abundance. And who is that on the shore, standing by the charcoal fire he made in anticipation of the fish?
Opening Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for the way you taught your disciples and the ways you teach each of us. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to John 21:1-19 and read or read the scriptures below.
John 21:1-19
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Reflection Questions:
- Which of the disciples go fishing in this passage? (Verse 2)
- How long did they fish and what did they catch? (Verse 3b)
- What did the "man on the shore" suggest they do? (Verse 6)
- What happened? (verse 6b)
- What did Peter do? (verse 7)
- What did the other disciples do? (verse 8)
- What had Jesus prepared for them? (verse 9)
- How large was the catch of fish? (verse 11b) What did the disciples and Jesus do then? (They had a breakfast of bread and fish.)
Additional questions:
- How do you hear this story?
- What do you think the person that wrote this would say to us today?
- What word or phrase stands out to you when you read this?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on the words or url)
John 21: 1-19 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZOJUCssT0Q
John Chapter 21 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PftRF2xVDD4
Song
Every Day with Jesus – Sabbath School Song for Kids w/Lyrics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQdK6jOoEGY
Hezekiah Walker New Video “Every Praise” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuuZMg6NVeA
Activities:
A word for today that has less contemporary meaning is LORD. We have people who have authority over us (parents, for example, teachers, and for our parents: bosses) but the concept of "Lord" is not in our experience, unless we mean God. Think about what the word “Lord” means.
A definition from a dictionary is:
1. One having power and authority over others
2. Capitalized a. GOD b. JESUS
3. A man of rank or high position
4. A British title
5. A person chosen to preside over a festival
After you have thought about the word “Lord,” think about what your icon would look like for "Lord."
Design an icon: for the word "Lord." (click on ICON for examples) and draw or copy and paste the icon on the blank bookmarks (click on BOOKMARKS for examples)
Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/breakfast_on_the_beach_decoder.htm?fromSermonId=607
Word Search: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/3601867/abundance/
Maze: Abundance
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for showing yourself to us as our Lord. Help us to follow you and know you as our Lord in this Easter Season. Amen.
