Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS & PETER: DO YOU LOVE ME?

MISSION WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Bible Story

John 21:1-17

Background Scripture passages for teacher preparation include:

John 13:33, 36-38

John 18:15-18, 25-27

Key/Memory Verse

John 21:15-17

PURPOSE

Objectives

Students will:

Locate the story of Peter’s denial and restoration in the Bible, learning that the story is in the New Testament Gospel of John.

Retell the story in their own words.

Contrast Jesus’ love for Peter, even after Peter denied knowing him. Jesus was giving Peter another chance.

Discover that we, too, do wrong things sometimes – but God forgives us and gives us second chances.

Explore Peter’s statement of faith – “Yes, I love you.”

Recognize that Statements of Faith are hollow words without Statements of Action.

Develop their own Statement of Faith and Action, pledging support to Jesus.

Connect Jesus’ breakfast with his disciples, and his questions to Peter with our own “breakfast with Jesus” – communion – and understand that sacrament as a pledge to Jesus that we will minister to others in Christ’s name.

PREPARATION

Read Scripture passage.

Read Bible Background.

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Computer with Internet access
  
• Containers for kits
  
• Copier or printer
  
• Paper
  
• Supplies for specific kits
  
• Supply lists from Church World Service website -- www.churchworldservice.org/kits
  

Advance Preparation

Visit the Church World Service website and review the “Gifts of the Heart” projects. Decide on a specific kit for the lesson.

Prepare a list of supplies needed for the kits and duplicate a copy for each participant.

Several weeks ahead of this lesson ask the congregation to supply items for the kits.

Spread items on tables. Group items together to make it easier for the children to find what is needed for each kit.

PRESENTATION

Open -- Introduction

Who takes care of you? Why? What are some ways we take care of each other?

Dig – Main Content

Distribute Bibles; find John 21.

Say: Our story today takes place after the Resurrection. Some of the disciples are near the lake. Peter decides to go fishing, and the others join him. Let's see what happens next. Let's read this together.

Take turns reading the Bible story or paraphrase it for younger children.

Say: Wow! That's an amazing story!

I wonder why Jesus asked Peter the same question three times?

Do you know what a lamb is? (Some may not!) Sheep need lots of care and need a good shepherd to do that.

Why was Peter hurt that Jesus kept asking the same question?

What does it mean to "tend" to something?

Jesus wanted to make sure that a “good shepherd” would lead the new believers and he wanted Peter to do that.

Sometimes people don't have enough money or resources to take care of themselves and they need help. Today we are going to "tend" to our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world who need our help. We are going to put together a "Gift of the Heart" kit.

Show supplies; explain how the kits will go together. Give each student a container and a list of supplies and help them put together the kits.

Ask: I wonder how it would feel to receive one of these kits?

Invite the children to go to the post office to help mail them and decide on a specific time to do this.

Review the key/memory verse.

Close in prayer.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations – Younger Children

Non-readers will need a helper to gather the items on their lists.

SOURCES

www.churchworldservice.com

CONTRIBUTOR: Julie Burton