12 Disciples Sunday School Lesson for Kids

This free 12 disciples Sunday school lesson teaches kids that Jesus prayed all night, then chose twelve ordinary men "that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach" (Mark 3:14), and that Jesus wants us to follow Him too. It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Pick the one that fits your class. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

• Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a "Follow Me" game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("that they should be with him") with a motion, and a draw-twelve-on-the-mountain activity.
• Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the "Come and Follow" game, the story in simple words with the twelve names counted on fingers, five recall questions with answers, the Verse in Order game with five sheets of paper, and the "Twelve Steps" game.
• 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a "Pick a Team" opener, kids look up verses in their own Bibles while the story follows Jesus' night of prayer, the choosing of the twelve, why He chose them and the twelve names, five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
• Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a "Résumé" opener, students read Luke 6:12–16, Mark 3:13–19 and Matthew 10:1–4 out loud themselves, then discuss prayer before big choices, being with Jesus before being sent, and who God can use. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Mark 3:14 and John 15:16).

Lesson at a glance

• Bible passage: Mark 3:13–19 and Luke 6:12–16, with the names from Matthew 10:2–4
• Main point: Jesus chose twelve men to be with Him and follow Him. Jesus wants us to follow Him too.
• Memory verse: Mark 3:14 (KJV), with John 15:16 added for preteens
• Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

1. Opening game: a short game about following and being called, like "Come and Follow."
2. Bible story: Jesus goes into a mountain and prays all night to God, calls His disciples when it is day, chooses twelve and names them apostles, ordains them to be with Him and to be sent out to preach, and the twelve names as the KJV gives them (Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Lebbaeus Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
3. Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
4. Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Mark 3:14.
5. What this means for us: be with Jesus and follow Him, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
6. Activity: the 12 disciples word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
7. Prayer.

Tips for teaching the twelve disciples

• Read Luke 6:12 and Mark 3:14 straight from your Bible. They are the heart of the story: Jesus prayed all night, then chose the twelve to be with Him.
• The three Bible lists use more than one name for some of the men: Matthew 10:3 has "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus," while Luke 6:16 has "Judas the brother of James" in his place, and Simon the Canaanite is "Simon called Zelotes" in Luke 6:15. Teach the names as the KJV gives them.
• Each lesson has a short, gentle answer ready if a child asks why Jesus prayed, or about Judas Iscariot.
• Teaching how Jesus first called the fishermen? The free fishers of men lesson covers that story. This lesson stays with the choosing of the twelve.
• Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.