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Following Jesus · Part 9 of 40 · 3 min

Jesus Chooses Twelve Helpers

A story about cooperation and service

Jesus had many followers, but he was preparing a smaller group to work closely with him.

He went up a mountain to pray. He spent the night speaking with God.

Jesus spent the night speaking with God.
Jesus spent the night speaking with God.

The night passed quietly on the mountain.

When morning came, Jesus called his followers and chose twelve to be his apostles.

There were brothers, fishermen, a former tax collector, and men with different habits and ideas. They were not all alike.

  1. Simon Peter

  2. Andrew, brother of Peter

  3. James, son of Zebedee

  4. John, brother of James

  5. Philip

  6. Bartholomew

  7. Matthew

  8. Thomas

  9. James, son of Alphaeus

  10. Simon the Zealot

  11. Judas Thaddaeus

  12. Judas Iscariot

Jesus chose twelve disciples to learn and serve.
Jesus chose twelve disciples to learn and serve.

They would spend time with Jesus, hear his teaching, and watch how he cared for people.

Then they would go out to share what they had learned. Being chosen was a call to serve, not a prize for being more important than everyone else.

The disciples learned to care for people.
The disciples learned to care for people.

The disciples gathered around Jesus.

They still had much to learn. Sometimes they misunderstood him, argued, or were afraid. Jesus patiently taught them.

Working together takes more than standing in the same place. We learn to listen, share a task, and care about what another person needs.

God can work through different kinds of people. We do not need to be exactly like a friend to help alongside that friend.

We can help together even when we are different.
We can help together even when we are different.

Retelling of Luke 6:12–16.

Supporting reading: The Desire of Ages, chapter 30. Open the book

Talk about it together

  • Cooperation
  • Service

A verse to remember

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35 · excerptNKJV

  1. What did Jesus do on the mountain before choosing the twelve?
  2. How might helpers with such different ideas and jobs have felt?
  3. What small task can we share even when we are different?

Activity · 2–5 minutes

Two Different Helpers

Choose a small task, such as tidying a few books. Each person says which part they can do and listens to the other idea. Work together, then discuss how different ways of helping served the same purpose.

Try it today: We can listen and share a task so we can help together.

More stories with these values

Count and choose

Open the interactive activity or prepare a printable sheet for home, classroom, or family.

Open activity →