Free2ShareVBS-Year 1-Day 3 Curriculum

Day 3

Peter’s Denial

[This is while the priests and rulers were questioning Christ before they condemned Him.]

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.

But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.

When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”

Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown Me three times.” And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:66-72 NIV®

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Memory Verse: Jesus replied; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 NIV®

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Discussion Example:

After reading the lesson, ask the children, “At the last supper, Jesus had told the disciples that He would be betrayed. Peter loved Jesus so much that he told Jesus he would never ever betray Him. Jesus told him that before the rooster would crow the next morning, Peter would betray Him three times. Peter thought that would never happen, but Jesus knows all and it did happen. How do you think that Peter felt after he betrayed his best friend and Savior?(Examples might be: Peter felt terrible, sad, etc.)

"As you may know, Peter saw Jesus again after He had arisen from the grave. In one of those times, it says in John 21:16-Again Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love Me?' 
He answered, 'Yes, Lord, You know that I love You."
Jesus said, 'Take care of My sheep."

Say, "Jesus was telling Peter to take care of His followers. That means that Jesus had forgiven Peter for saying that he didn't know Jesus. If Jesus can forgive Peter for betraying Him, that means Jesus will forgive us, too, when we ask Him to forgive us when we've done or thought things that we aren't proud of."

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Arts and Crafts Example:

Say, “Jesus later forgave Peter, even though he lied to the people who asked if he knew Jesus. Do you know that Jesus forgives us if we ask Him, even when we lie or do terrible things?”

Explain; “God created us and we are all Thumbody Special. Even though, we all do things that make God sad, just like when Peter denied knowing Jesus Christ, our Savior. Fortunately for us, Christ gave His life for our sins and if we ask Him, He will forgive us. He forgave Peter’s denying Him, just like He forgives us if we ask Him to forgive the things we do.”

You will need an washable ink pad/s for kids to share. Explain that they are to lightly touch their thumb on the pad and put it on the paper. (They may need tissues to wipe of their thumbs afterward.) They are to use a colored pencil or fine tipped marker to decorate the thumbprint to represent themselves or their interests. If they have enough time, they can even make thumbprint pets. Think about having them write on their paper:

    

Science Example:

Class Leader can demonstrate and explain. Each child or small group will be given a water bottle to fill ¾ with water. (They can be filled ahead of time. You may want to have the kids wear something to protect their clothes, depending on the age and abilities of the kids.) Students put a drop or two of food coloring in the bottle and shake it. “This represents how our lives are affected by our love of Christ and are much calmer.” Then have them put oil in the bottle. “This represents our human nature and lies, terrible things we do, say, and think.” “When you shake it, the bottle shows the chaos that happens when Christians get caught up in lying, in hating others, saying and doing mean things, etc. When we ask Jesus to forgive us, our lives go back to being much calmer (shown by the water and oil separating), but our human nature gets stirred up (shake the bottle again) when we go back to our worldly way of lies and hate.” “I don’t know about you, but my life seems to be much calmer when I ask Jesus to forgive the mean and evil things I do and think.”

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Example of a Game:

Give the kids lots of strips of paper, so they can write down times they lied and times they have done terrible things that they are embarrassed about. Tell them to wad the strips up right after they write them, without sharing them with anyone else.

Next, put the garbage can some distance away. Each student is going to get a chance to toss their wad of lies and terrible actions in the can, if they get it in the can they say, Jesus forgives all our sins if we ask Him." (If their wad doesn't get into the can, they can get it and try again until it gets into the can.)