Leader Guide

Disciple Matching Game

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Make copies of the six Baptized! Disciple Card Pages on cardstock.
Cut apart the individual cards. To save time, consider stacking two pages and cutting them together. Mix the cards in a pile.
Lay out the twenty-four cards face down on the floor in rows of four or six, leaving room to walk between the rows.

The Chosen Twelve: Play a game to learn the names of the men Jesus called to follow Him.

Read Mark 3:13–19 aloud:

13Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones He wanted to go with Him. And they came to Him. 14Then He appointed twelve of them and called them His apostles. They were to accompany Him, and He would send them out to preach, 15giving them authority to cast out demons. 16These are the twelve He chose: Simon (whom He named Peter), 17James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), 19Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Him).

Our game is based on these Bible verses. Jesus nicknamed James and John, who were brothers, the Sons of Thunder. This was because they were bold in their words and actions—sometimes a little too bold! Jesus chose twelve men, and you are going to choose them, too—two cards at a time! Some of these names are a little long and may be difficult to pronounce. Don’t worry, if you can’t read a name; we will do it together. Just try to match the number on the cards.

Divide children into two teams. They do not need to be equal. Try to mix older and younger children together on each team. On the front of each card is the name of a disciple that Jesus chose to follow Him. On their turn, each player will walk to the cards, turn one over and show it to everyone. Then, the player will choose another card to try to match the name on the first card. If they do not match, the cards are returned face down to the same spots. If the names match, have all of the children say the name of the disciple together. The player then carries the matching set back to the team. The team with the most matches after all the cards are removed wins.

Conclusion: In the verses we read, Jesus actually had many more followers. However, He only called twelve men to be His apostles. These men were Jesus’ closest disciples and traveled with Him everywhere. Remember, Jesus still calls us to be His disciples and to follow and serve Him. He will never force us; we must make the choice to follow or go our own way.

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