Leader Guide

Teaching

Have a different child select a Signpost Card in order, from 1 to 3, and read it aloud. Discuss the information below. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Let’s discuss the Signposts we saw in our video.

Signpost 1 Rooster—Denied

Peter was a close friend and follower of Jesus. Yet, in a time of fear and weakness, Peter denied knowing his dear friend. Jesus had predicted Peter would do this three times before something would happen. What was it? The rooster crowed.

Peter was broken and ashamed because of what he had done! Yet he was not the only one to abandon Jesus. All the other disciples had vowed that they would never leave Jesus, yet they also deserted Him because of fear!

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4–6

Have five children each read one verse of Matthew 26:31–35:

³¹ On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert Me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³² But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” ³³ Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts You, I will never desert You.” ³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know Me.” ³⁵ “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Have a child read Mark 14:50:

Then all His disciples deserted Him and ran away.

Signpost 2 Fish—Restored

Why do you think the fish is the next Signpost symbol? Do you remember where Jesus first called Simon Peter and some other disciples to follow Him? It was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus called the fishermen to be fishers of men! Now, in the same place, He called to them again; being here would help remind them of the purpose Jesus had for their lives—He was not finished with them! 

Peter had denied Jesus while he warmed himself by a fire in the courtyard after Jesus’ arrest. Jesus is the One who has power over the seen and unseen, the One who has power to heal the broken and find the lost, and He is the Son of God. He came to the disciples and called out to them. He prepared a meal of fish to share with them around a fire! In this setting, Jesus restored Peter and sent Him out again with a renewed purpose and calling to care for and feed His sheep and lambs. 

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4–6

Have five children each read one verse of Matthew 4:18–22:

¹⁸ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁹ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ²⁰ And they left their nets at once and followed Him. ²¹ A little farther up the shore He saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And He called them to come, too. ²² They immediately followed Him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

Have four children each read one verse of John 21:1,12–14:

¹ Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. ¹² “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. ¹⁴ This was the third time Jesus had appeared to His disciples since He had been raised from the dead. 

Have three children each read one verse of John 21:15–17:

¹⁵ After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “You know I love You.” “Then feed My lambs,” Jesus told him. ¹⁶ Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “You know I love You.” “Then take care of My sheep,” Jesus said. ¹⁷ A third time He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep.

Signpost 3 Cross—Forgiven and Filled

During the last meal Jesus shared with His disciples before He was arrested, Jesus talked about how He would sacrifice Himself for our sins. Jesus had the first communion service with the disciples. He told them to drink from the cup, which represented His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. In doing this, Jesus predicted His own death on the cross. His death paid the price for Peter’s sin—and our sins, too! 

When Jesus predicted Peter would deny Him, He also told Peter that he would return to Jesus and then strengthen others!

Not long after Peter was forgiven and restored, he and the other disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. There in Jerusalem—the same city where Jesus had recently been put to death—Peter fearlessly preached to the crowd, which included some of the same people who called for Jesus to be crucified! 

Peter said in Acts 2:22–24:

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through Him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and His prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed Him to a cross and killed Him. But God released Him from the horrors of death and raised Him back to life, for death could not keep Him in its grip.

In front of all those people, Peter boldly declared that Jesus was raised from the dead and is Lord. Peter was a changed man—no longer full of fear and shame, but full of the Spirit of God and His power!

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, our sin is forgiven and removed from us. We can be filled with the Holy Spirit and be strong in His might. We can tell others the Good News of Jesus and boldly stand up for Him!   

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4–6

Have two children each read one verse of Romans 7:18–19:

¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

Have a child read Acts 1:8:  

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Have a child read Philippians 4:13:

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Have two children each read one verse of Acts 2:14a, 40: 

¹⁴ Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd … ⁴⁰ Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Have four children each read one verse of Psalm 103:10–13:

¹⁰ He does not punish us for all our sins; He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. ¹¹ For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. ¹² He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. ¹³ The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. 

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Hand out the craft supplies to any children who were not present for the previous lessons. Display the sample craft for children to see.

Our challenge is based on James 1:19b:

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 

We are asking God to help us listen, think and pray before we answer someone too quickly out of anger, disrespect or impatience. Would anyone like to share what happened when you did this? 

Let’s continue to use our crafts as a reminder to stop, pray and think so we know what God wants us to do.