Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS AND PETER: DO YOU LOVE ME?

BANNER/TEXTILE 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

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.

Objectives for the Banner/Textile Workshop

Children will explore Peter’s statement of faith and his “pledge” to Jesus … “yes, Lord I love you.”

Children will create a banner reflecting their pledge.

PREPARATION

Read Scripture passages.

Read Bible Background..

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Dowel, 1/8” – 16” section for each child
  
• Glue, craft
  
• Foam or felt shapes, self-stick
  
• Markers, fabric-type
  
• Markers for newsprint or white board
  
• Muslin, pre-washed and pressed smooth
  
• Newsprint pad or white board
  
• Paper
  
• Pencils
  
• Pinking shears
  
• Ribbon, narrow – 18” per child
  
• Ribbon scraps
  
• Saw
  
• Scissors
  
• Sewing machine
  
• Thread
  
• Trims such as acrylic jewels, beads, or other embellishments
  

Advance Preparation

Cut muslin into 15” squares. Use pinking shears to help to prevent raveling.

Sew a 1/4-inch seam across one side of each square.

Cut dowels into 16” pieces, 1 per child.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Welcome children and begin with introductions.

Open with prayer, “Awesome God, we thank you for this day and for everyone who is here today. Thank you for the stories in the Bible that teach us about you – and about how much you love us! Give us open minds and hearts today as we learn about Peter and how you gave him a second chance.” Amen.

Dig - Main Content

In today’s story we are going to learn about the disciple Peter. Before Jesus died Peter made a promise to him. He promised to love him and follow him always. But then he messed up. He broke his promise. Does anyone remember what Peter did the night Jesus was arrested? (Peter denied Jesus three times.) Peter lied about knowing Jesus three times that night. I wonder how Peter felt? I wonder what Jesus thought about Peter’s lie?

Have you ever made a promise that you didn’t keep? What happened? Did you get a second chance to make things right? I wonder if Peter will get a chance to make things right?

After Jesus died and rose from the dead, his disciples were confused. Things certainly didn’t turn out the way they had expected. And so the disciples went back to what they knew best – fishing. Our story today starts early one morning with Peter and the disciples on a fishing boat.

Let’s find the story in our Bibles now. Where would we find a story about Jesus in the Bible? (New Testament) The first four books of the New Testament tell the stories of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. They are called the Gospels. Today’s story is found in the Gospel of John.

Help the children locate and read John 21:1-17 in their Bibles.

How many times did Peter deny knowing Jesus? (Three)

How many times did Jesus ask Peter if he loved him? (Three)

Was Jesus mad at Peter because he lied? How did Jesus act toward Peter?

Jesus gave Peter a second chance to say that he loves Jesus. And not just to say he loves Jesus but to show it. How did Jesus want Peter to show his love? (Feed/tend/take care of his sheep)

Who are Jesus’ sheep? (Everyone, the church)

How do we feed them? (Spend some time helping the children understand that this isn’t just about physical food – but about spiritual food and caring for each other. See Bible background information for a good example.)

Personal Pledges

What is a pledge? (A promise)

When we recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag what are we saying? (Promise of allegiance, to be loyal and faithful to our country.)

In the church we have similar pledges of allegiance to God. We call these statements of faith.

In our story, Peter said that he loved Jesus. This was Peter’s statement of faith, his pledge to Jesus. Peter repeated his pledge three times. Jesus wanted Peter to understand that if he really loved him, he would do more than talk about this love – he would put it into action. That’s where the feeding and caring comes in. If we really love Jesus, then we will show it by our actions.

What kinds of actions show love?

Brainstorm these actions with the children and write them down on a newsprint pad or a white board.

Sometimes it’s easy to say we will do something, but not as easy to actually do it. That’s what Peter found out! After getting a second chance, Peter went on to become a great leader in the church. He spent the rest of his life telling others about Jesus! Everyone messes up. We all make mistakes. The good news is that, just like Peter, God forgives us and gives us a second chance to show our love!

Do you love Jesus? If you do, Jesus wants you to do more than just say it or write it down. Jesus wants you to show it by the way you treat others.

Today we are going to make Personal Pledge Banners. Look at the list of ways to show we love Jesus. Are there others? You will think of one or more ways to show that love, writing it on your banner. You will then decorate your pledge banner using felt or foam shapes or pieces of ribbon. The banner can hang in your room reminding you of your pledge to love and follow Jesus.

Directions

Give each child a piece of paper and a pencil for practicing his or her design.

Have the children write one or more ways they will show their love for Jesus on the muslin using fabric markers. Be sure the seam is at the top!

Encourage them to draw pictures that correspond to their words.

Invite the children to use the ribbon scraps and other trims to embellish their banners.
Slide the dowel into the pocket at the top of the banner. Tie the ends of an 18” section of ribbon to the upper right and left edge of the dowel to create a hanger.

Reflect – Closure

When the children complete their banners, place the finished fabric pieces on a table and gather the group around it to look at their work.

Say: Jesus wanted Peter to understand that loving God is more than just saying, “I love you.” It’s about action. Our actions show just how much we love God. Review the memory verse with the children. "Do you love me? Then feed my sheep." John 21:15-17

Go around the table asking each child, “______, do you love Jesus?” Have the children respond, “Yes I love Jesus. I will feed his sheep by ________________ (filling in the blank with the actions they wrote on their banners).

Close in prayer.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Create a large banner by gluing or sewing the children’s banners onto one large piece of fabric.

Create a display with the children’s banners in a hallway or worship space. Use the story and the children’s banners as a springboard for a children’s message. Invite the congregation to create their own pledges to Jesus.

CONTRIBUTOR: Jaymie Derden