Jesus and the Disciples for Kids Unit Study
Learning about the twelve disciples of Jesus gives children a unique way to study the life of Jesus through the eyes of his closest friends and followers.
Jesus called each of these men to believe in him as their Lord and Savior and to follow him throughout his three year ministry. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, eleven of the twelve disciples became apostles, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ around the world. Through their salvation and sanctification, eleven of the disciples changed and grew to become more like Jesus.
One of Jesus’ disciples betrayed him, but even this was not a mistake. Jesus chose Judas Iscariot to follow him, knowing the man would deliver Jesus over to the religious officials. Our children need to know that Jesus planned his work on the Cross, knowing he would lay down his life for his friends.
Ultimately, the story of Jesus’ disciples forces each of us to consider how we will follow Jesus, and how we will invest our lives in the kingdom of God.
The Disciples Unit Study
Our children may often hear stories and teachings from the life of Jesus. Looking at his life from the viewpoint of the twelve men he called to become his closest followers gives our children another perspective through which to view Jesus.
Jesus called twelve ordinary men to repent and believe in him. The Twelve were called to follow Jesus and become fishers of men. That is exactly what our children become when they, too, repent of their sins and believe in Jesus.
Your unit study on the Disciples, Jesus’ twelve specially chosen followers, includes a fun, 95-page biography, Who Were the Disciples?. Your children will learn about the life, times, and impact of twelve ordinary men–and the extraordinary Savior they followed.
- Who Were the Disciples? by Danika Cooley | Who Were the Disciples? (Christian Focus Publications, 2025) is a fun way for kids to learn about the twelve men Jesus called to be his special disciples. Your kids will learn about each many’s personality, his interactions with Jesus, and about how of the eleven faithful disciples shared the gospel as apostles after the death and Resurrection of Jesus.
- You can also purchase Who Were the Disciples? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Resurrection books.
- You can also purchase Who Were the Disciples? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Resurrection books.
- Jesus’ 12 Disciples Craft | Your children will create toilet paper roll busts to represent each of the twelve disciples. They’ll be sure to recall the lessons they’ve learned about the disciples in Who Were the Disciples?.
- Fishing for Men Matthew 4:19 Craft | Your kids will create an underwater fishing scene to remind them of Matthew 4:19.
- Fishers of Men Copywork Craft | This fun quilling crafts will give kids a fun way to copy and remember Mark 1:17
- Who Were the Disciples? Lapbook | The lapbook completes your unit study of the disciples, allowing your kids to record what they’ve learned about:
- The impact of the disciples on the New Testament world, on the Church, and on your child’s world.
- The New Testament world. Your child will learn about what it was like to live during the time of Jesus.
- The people involved in Jesus’ biblical, historical story.
- Vocabulary from the story of the disciples.
- The timeline of each story.
- The geography of each Resurrection story.
- Theology: Luke 5:10b.
This hands-on study of how Jesus called twelve ordinary men to follow him is one your kids will remember for a lifetime.
Every Who What Why Christian history book has a timeline with relevant dates. Your kids can keep track of dates from their studies in history with the My Timeline Journal!
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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