Follow Jesus

Step by Step in Love

Preschool Chapel, 2/3-4, 2026

Texts: Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11

Song: The Wise Men Built His House Up on the Rock (Matthew 7:24-27)

1. Opening: Something They Know (1 minute)

(Hold up a block or pretend to hold one.)  

Friends, have you ever built something with blocks?

If you build on something wobbly, it falls down.

But if you build on something strong, it stays up.

2. Sing the Song With Motions (2 minutes)

Let’s sing a song about a wise man building a house on the rock.

 Song: The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock.

(Use motions: building with hands, rain falling, house standing strong.) 

3. The Gospel Story: Jesus Calls His Disciples (3 minutes)

Now listen to the story.

One day, Jesus was walking by the water.

He saw some fishermen—Simon, Andrew, James, and John.

They were busy catching fish.

(Pretend to throw a net.)  

Jesus said something amazing:

‘Come with me. Follow me.’

And guess what?

They said yes!

They put down their nets…

(Pretend to drop a net.)  

…and they followed Jesus.

Jesus taught his disciples

how to love,

how to help,

how to share,

how to pray.

And soon there were not just four disciples,

there were twelve disciples walking with Jesus everywhere.

(Count to 12 on your fingers slowly.)  

They learned from Jesus one step at a time.

4. Jesus’ Story About the Wise Builder (2 minutes)

Jesus told them a story about two people building houses.

A wise man built on something strong—like a big rock.

A foolish man built on something wobbly—like sand.

When the rain came,

the house on the rock stayed up and stay strong,

and the house on the sand fell down.

When we listen to Jesus and follow him

—helping, loving, sharing—

we’re building our lives on something strong.

Just like the wise man.

5. Make It Concrete: Building With Jesus (2 minutes)

Do you know how we learn things?

One little step at a time.

Just like building with blocks—one block, then another, then another.

(Have them pretend to stack blocks in the air.)  

That’s how Jesus’ disciples learned.

That’s how we learn to follow Jesus too.

6. Closing Line (10 seconds)

Jesus’ disciples followed him one step at a time.

We can follow Jesus too—one loving step at a time.

Closing Prayer for Preschoolers

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for calling your disciples to follow you.

Help us follow you too,

one little step at a time.

Teach us to listen,

to help,

to share,

and to love.

Make our hearts strong like a house on a rock.

We are glad to be your disciples.

Amen.

Notes:

How to Sign “Disciple” in ASL

You can break it into two parts:

FOLLOW

Place your dominant hand in an “A” handshape (fist with thumb on the side).

Move it behind your non-dominant “A” handshape, as if one person is following another.

PERSON (optional)

Add the “person” sign by moving both flat hands down vertically in front of your body, like outlining a person’s sides.

So: FOLLOW + PERSON = DISCIPLE