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Father was getting ready to go fishing. Randy and Debbie watched as Father got his fishing pole out.

"I wish I could go fishing," Randy said.

"I'll take you with me another day, son," Father promised.

When Father had gone, Mother said, "I have time to tell you a short story. What shall it be?"

"Is there a story in the Bible about fishing?" Randy asked.

"Yes, indeed," said Mother. "One day Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw two men fishing. The men were brothers. Their names were Peter and Andrew. Jesus called to them and told them something very strange."

"What did He say?" asked Debbie.

"Jesus said, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men," Mother answered.

"Fishers of men?" Randy asked. "What did Jesus mean?"

"Jesus meant that He would teach Peter and Andrew how to tell people the way to Heaven," Mother explained.

"So the brothers left their fishing nets on the shore. They followed Jesus day after day and listened to His teaching. Jesus taught them many things about God. Then Jesus told them that He was going back to Heaven to get a place ready for all who belonged to Him. Before Jesus left, He said, 'I will come again.'"

"Is Jesus really coming back?" asked Debbie.

"Yes, He is," Mother answered. "That is why He wants us to tell others about Him. Remember our verse says, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Jesus wants us to tell others about Him so they will take Him as their Savior. Then they will be ready to meet Him when He comes again."

"If we tell people about Jesus, will we be fishers of men too?" Randy asked.

"Yes," Mother answered as she went back to her work.

The children went out to play with Scrappy. They put Scrappy in the wagon. But Scrappy didn't want to ride in the wagon. He jumped out and ran toward the gate.

Debbie ran after Scrappy. She picked him up. Then she saw Granny Brown going past.

Debbie climbed on the gate. "Hello, Granny Brown," said Debbie. "May I ask you a question?"

Granny Brown put down her heavy shopping bag. "Yes, Debbie," she said. "What is it?"

"Did you know that Jesus is coming back again?" Debbie asked.

Granny Brown's tired face broke into a smile. "Yes, Debbie, I do know that," she said. "But I've been so busy lately I haven't thought of it very much. Thank you for reminding me. It makes me happy to remember that Jesus is coming again."

When Granny Brown went on her way, Randy said, "I wish I could tell someone about Jesus."

"You can tell somebody at school tomorrow," said Debbie.

"But I want to be a fisherman for Jesus today," Randy said as they went back to their play.

The children played for a long time. Suddenly they heard a whistle. Randy jumped up. "It's Jack, the paper boy," he said, running toward the house.

Jack got off his bike. "Payday, Randy," he said with a grin.

"I'll tell Mom," Randy said. In a minute Randy was back again. "Mom is getting your money, Jack," he said.

"Okay, I'll wait," said Jack.

Randy looked at Jack's smiling face. "Jack," he said, "I want to be a fisherman for Jesus, but I don't know how to say it."

"A fisherman for Jesus?" Jack said. "What's that?"

"It means to tell people about Jesus," said Randy. "Like the disciples did in the Bible. Do you have a Bible, Jack?"

Jack scratched his ear. "I think Mom has one somewhere," he said.

"Well," Randy told him. "In the Bible Jesus tells us He is coming back again. And Jesus wants everybody to be ready so He can take them to heaven with Him."

Jack looked surprised. "Are you sure about that, Randy?" he asked.

Randy nodded. Just then Randy's mother brought Jack his money. Jack got on his bike. He waved to Randy. "Good-bye, Mr. Fisherman," he said. "I think I'll ask Mother to show me that in our Bible."

When Father came home he brought two large fish. He told the children how he had caught them. Then Debbie told him about Granny Brown. Randy told him about Jack. Father said, "Catching fish in the river is fun. But telling others about Jesus is far more important. I'm proud of you both."

Randy and Debbie were glad they had pleased their Father. Best of all, they knew that Jesus was pleased, too.

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Here is your verse to learn and keep.

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One day Jesus was standing by a large lake. He was teaching the people about God. More and more people came to listen. They crowded and pushed to get near Jesus.

Simon Peter's boat was anchored near the shore. Jesus got into the boat and asked Peter to push it out a little way into the water. Then Jesus taught the people from the boat.

When He had finished speaking to the people, Jesus said to Peter,

"Row out into the deep water and let down your fishing nets."

Peter answered, "Lord, we have worked all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."

So they let down the net. To their surprise they caught a great many fish. So many, in fact, that their net broke. They quickly called their friends in another boat to come and help them. Their friends came and soon both boats were filled with fish.

When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he fell down at Jesus' feet in fear and amazement. But Jesus told him not to be afraid. Jesus said, "From now on you will catch men."

Jesus meant that, in the days ahead, Peter would go everywhere preaching the gospel, and that he would get many people to believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

Jesus wants us to tell others about Him too. Here are three ways you can be a "fisher of men":

Invite your friends to Sunday School and Church.

Be friendly and tell others about the Lord Jesus.

Tell other boys and girls about these lessons and get them to sign up online.

(See Luke 5:1-11 for the whole story in the Bible)

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