LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In John 21:1-17, the risen Jesus appears to His disciples beside the Sea of Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee. Peter and six other disciples had spent an entire night fishing without catching a single fish. As the sun rose, a figure appeared on the shore and called out to them, telling them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. When they obeyed, the net filled with so many fish they could not haul it in. It was then that John recognized the stranger as Jesus. Peter, overwhelmed with excitement, jumped into the water and swam to shore while the others followed by boat, dragging the heavy net behind them.
When the disciples reached the shore, they found Jesus had already built a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it and bread beside it. He invited them to bring some of their fish and come eat breakfast. After the meal, Jesus turned to Peter and asked him three times, “Do you love me?” Each time Peter answered yes, Jesus gave him a commission: feed my lambs, tend my sheep, and feed my sheep. This was deeply personal. Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times before the crucifixion, and now Jesus gave him three opportunities to reaffirm his love. Jesus did not bring up Peter’s failure to shame him. Instead, He restored Peter with grace and gave him a new purpose. This story shows us that Jesus forgives those who have failed Him and gives them a fresh beginning.
PLAY ROOM 8:45–9:00
Children will be dropped off in the playroom between 8:45–9:00 a.m. Allow them to play freely as they arrive. Transition them to the classroom at 9:00 a.m.
OPENING ACTIVITY 9:00–9:15 | Fish Game
Items Needed
- Let’s Go Fishing Game
- Go Fish Card Game (Optional)
Let children play the “Let’s Go Fishing” game and talk about how in our story today, Jesus’ disciples were fishing. You can also have a game of “Go Fish” cards if there are too many kids for the number of Let’s Go Fishing Games available.
BIBLE STORY 9:15–9:25
Object Lesson Setup: Before storytime, bring a small bowl of goldfish crackers, a piece of bread, and a battery-operated tea light and the blow-up “campfire.” Set them in front of you where kids can see them but cannot reach them yet.
Question 1: Where is this story found in the Bible? The book of John.
Question 2: Is the book of John in the Old Testament or the New Testament? The New Testament.
Today we are going to hear about a morning when Jesus cooked breakfast for His friends right on the beach!
Now, before we start, I need your help. Every time I say the word “fish,” I want you to make a fish face like this. \
[Demonstrate puckering lips like a fish.]
Can you practice?
[Wait for kids to make fish faces.]
One day, Peter and some of his friends decided to go fishing. Peter was one of Jesus’s very best friends. Now let’s all pretend to row a boat.
[Demonstrate rowing arms.]
Row, row, row!
They rowed their big boat out onto the water. It was nighttime and the sky was dark and full of stars.
It was so quiet out on that dark water. Can you be very quiet with me for just a second?
[Pause and put fingers to your lips; have kids repeat.]
Now rock back and forth like you are in a boat on the waves.
[Sway gently with the kids.]
Peter and his friends threw their big fishing net into the water. They waited. And waited. And waited some more.
Did they catch any fish? Nope! Not one single fish! They tried again. Still no fish. They threw that net in over and over all night long. No fish. No fish. No fish.
Then the sun started to come up. The sky turned pink and orange. Morning was here, and someone was standing way down on the beach.
[Shield your eyes and look far away.]
Who is that? Can you look with me? [Wait for kids to shield their eyes and look.] The man on the beach called out to them. He said, “Friends! Have you caught any fish?”
And Peter and his friends said… NO!
[Let kids shout “NO!”]
Then the man called out again. He said, “Throw your net on the OTHER side of the boat!” When they did, oh my goodness. That net started filling up with fish! [Make fish faces with the kids.] So many fish! The net was SO full and SO heavy they could not even pull it up!
Pull! Pull! It is so heavy! Can you pull the heavy net with me? [Wait for response.] All those fish!
Then John looked at the man on the beach and said, “It is Jesus!”
Do you know what Peter did when he heard that? He jumped right out of that boat and into the water. He did not want to wait one more second! Can you pretend to swim to shore? [Do swimming arms with the kids.] Peter swam as fast as he could right to Jesus!
When Peter got to the shore, he saw something wonderful. Jesus had already made a little fire.
[Hold up the campfire.]
Can you see the fire? And do you know what was cooking on that fire? FISH! [Make fish faces together.] And bread!
Jesus made breakfast for His tired, hungry friends. Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast.” And they all sat down right there on the beach together and ate.
[Hold up the goldfish crackers.] These goldfish crackers kind of remind me of the fish they ate that morning. [Handout a few goldfish crackers to each kid to eat]
Now, here is the most important part of our story. Peter had a secret in his heart that was making him feel sad inside. Peter had done something that hurt Jesus. When Jesus needed a friend the most, Peter had told people he did not even know Jesus. He said it three times.
[Have kids count to three on their fingers]
But Jesus still loved Peter. And after breakfast, Jesus looked at Peter and asked him a question.
Jesus said, “Peter, do you love me?”
And Peter said, “Yes, Lord. You know I love you.”
Jesus asked him again. “Peter, do you love me?”
And Peter said yes again.
Then Jesus asked one more time. “Peter, do you love me?”
Three times Jesus asked. And three times Peter said yes.
Can you hold up three fingers with me? [Wait.] Three times.
And each time Peter said yes, Jesus said something kind back to him. He said, “Take care of my people. Take care of my lambs. Feed my sheep.”
Jesus was giving Peter a brand new job. He was forgiving Peter and saying, “I still trust you. I still love you. Go and take care of others.” Peter had made a mistake. A big one. But Jesus did not stay mad. Jesus forgave Peter.
[Place both hands over your heart.]
Have you ever made a mistake? [Wait for response.] Me too. Has anyone ever done something wrong and felt sad about it? [Wait.] Jesus loves us just the same way He loved Peter. When we do something wrong, we can tell Jesus we are sorry, and He will always forgive us.
Can you point to yourself and say, “Jesus forgives ME”?
Theological Questions:
- Who made breakfast for Peter and his friends on the beach? (Jesus did! He made fish and bread right on the shore.)
- Jesus forgave Peter even after Peter had let Him down. What does it tell us about Jesus that He forgives us when we do wrong things? (Guide children toward: Jesus is kind, Jesus loves us no matter what, Jesus always forgives us when we ask for forgiveness.)
Life Application Questions:
- Have you ever done something wrong and felt sad inside, like Peter did? What can you do when that happens? (We can tell Jesus we are sorry and He will forgive us!)
- Jesus told Peter to take care of others. Who is someone you can be kind to and take care of this week?
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank You that You always forgive us when we do something wrong, just like You forgave Peter. Help us to love You with our whole heart and to be kind and take care of the people around us. Amen!
[Have all children say “Amen!” together out loud.]
WORSHIP IN SONG 9:25–9:35
PRAYER 9:35–9:45 a.m.
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Pray for hearts that are sorry for sin, thankful for forgiveness, and ready to follow Jesus.
BIBLE STORY GAME 9:45–9:55 | Fish in a Net
Items Needed
Use a parachute as a fishing net. Adults and children hold the edges while beanbag fish are placed in the middle. On go, everyone works together to move the fish toward a marked side.
BIBLE CRAFT 9:55–10:10 | Campfire on the Beach
Items Needed
- White Paper
- Brown Strips of Paper (pre-cute)
- Glue Sticks
- Orange and yellow paint
- Sponges
- Fish stickers
Give each kid a piece of white paper and two strips of brown paper. Have them glue down the wood. Then allow them to use sponges to create fire with orange and yellow paint. Finally, give them a few fish stickers each to put on the camp fire. Remind them that Jesus cooked fish over the campfire on the beach for his friends and then he forgave Peter.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 10:10–10:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks while watching the Bible story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY
1. Sink or Float Boat Time
Use a tub of water with small items like corks, toy fish, plastic spoons, and small blocks. Let children guess whether each item will sink or float, then connect it back to the boat on the water.
2. Big Catch Parachute Game
Use a parachute or sheet with fish cutouts on top. Children and leaders shake it gently, then lift together to gather all the fish in the middle.
3. Sheep Follow the Shepherd
One leader is the shepherd and children are the sheep. Children follow the shepherd around the room doing simple motions like walking, tiptoeing, and clapping.
4. Wash Away the Marker
Draw a washable marker scribble on a white plate or laminated heart. Spray or wipe it clean while explaining that Jesus forgives sin and makes us clean.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards[a] off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway:
Jesus Forgives
What I learned today:
Today we learned that Jesus met His disciples by the water and helped them catch many fish. We learned that Jesus made breakfast for His friends and showed them love and care. We also learned that Jesus forgave Peter and helps us follow Him too.
Questions to ask me:
- Who did the disciples see on the shore? (Jesus)
- What happened when the disciples obeyed Jesus and threw the net again? (They caught many fish)
- What did Jesus make for the disciples? (Breakfast with fish and bread)
- Who did Jesus speak to after breakfast? (Peter)
- What does this story teach us about Jesus? (Jesus forgives us and helps us follow Him)
- What should you remember when you make a wrong choice? (Jesus forgives me when I repent)
- How can you obey Jesus this week? (By listening, obeying, and following His ways)
- How can you care for others like Jesus told Peter to do? (By helping, loving, and being kind)
- What can you say to Jesus when you sin? (I am sorry, please forgive me)
- How does it make you feel to know Jesus still loved Peter? (Loved, thankful, and hopeful)
Memory Verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9