Leader Guide

Bible Study

Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep—which means to help Christians grow in their faith. To help feed the sheep, Peter wrote two letters, or epistles, to the church which we can still read today. Can anyone guess what these books of the Bible are called? 1 and 2 Peter. 

We can learn a lot from Peter! Before Jesus died, Peter bragged about his commitment to the Lord. 

Read Matthew 26:35a:

“No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You!”   

Yet after Peter denied Christ and was forgiven, he talked about God’s grace—which is His constant love, mercy and forgiveness. We can never earn God’s grace; it is a free gift that we do not deserve. 

For each passage, ask a child to read the scripture, then discuss how Peter learned that lesson himself and why he wanted others to learn it, too.

Read 1 Peter 5:12b:

My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

Read 1 Peter 1:7:

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 

Read 1 Peter 4:12–13:

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world. 

Read 1 Peter 5:10:

In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.

Read 1 Peter 3:8:

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

Read 2 Peter 1:3–4:

By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.