Leader Guide

Bible Study

Jesus and Peter had already had another encounter in a fishing boat. Let’s take a deeper look at the miracles Jesus performed and His conversations with Peter by the Sea of Galilee.

Have the children look up the passages and divide the verses between them to read aloud. Lead a discussion of the passages using the questions and suggested answers below. 

Read Luke 5:1–5 (niv):

¹ One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret the people were crowding around Him and listening to the word of God. ² He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat. ⁴ When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

• Why do you think Jesus sat in Peter’s boat to teach? The crowd was large and He needed more room, so the people could see and hear Him better. Possible deeper symbolism: Jesus used Peter’s boat to “catch people” as He taught—represented how Jesus would send them out to be fishers of people.
• Peter and his companions had just finished fishing. Were they having success catching fish in that particular spot? What was their “net” result? They had fished all night and caught nothing.
• Why do you think Peter did as Jesus said? Master means teacher—maybe out of respect for Him and His position.
• Why was this such a great act of obedience? They were expert fisherman and had fished for a living. They knew fish weren’t biting. They had no reason to believe Jesus knew a thing about fishing. They were tired and had just finished cleaning their nets. He asked them to go out in the deep water again which took effort.

Read Luke 5:6–11 (niv):

⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. ⁸When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰  and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.

• What was the miracle that Jesus performed here? In a location where they had just caught nothing, they now caught so many fish their nets were began to break. The boats actually started to sink from the weight of their catch.
• Compare verse 5 and verse 8; by Peter’s response, what changed in how he viewed Jesus? Master to Lord. From just a great teacher to much more—Peter became aware of his sinful condition and did not feel Jesus should be close to him, since he was so unworthy.
• Jesus told them not to be afraid and to follow Him. Did the men take a long time to think and talk about Jesus’ command? No, they immediately followed Him.
• Why is this such a great act of obedience; what did it show about the men? They had faith and believed and trusted in Jesus to be more than just another man. They left all, their families, possessions, their occupation, and just went!

Read John 21:1–6;15–17;19b:

¹ Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. ² Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. ³ Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. ⁴  At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who He was. ⁵ He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. ⁶ Then He said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 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. ^19b Then Jesus told him, “Follow Me.” 

• How is this story similar to the first story we just read? It took place on the shore, disciples were fishing and caught nothing.
• How do you think it is different? Hint—think of when this took place. Disciples were already in the boat fishing. This took place after Jesus’ death and resurrection rather than the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on Earth.
• Peter had denied Jesus, then Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Why do you think Peter went back to fishing? Perhaps Peter was confused and had lost hope. Peter was ashamed for what he had done. He was not confident in doing anything now for Jesus. Maybe he felt that Jesus could not count on him, now. He went back to what he was familiar with doing.
• Why do you think Jesus talked to Peter alone after they ate together?Peter had denied Jesus in his own strength even though he loved Jesus. Jesus wanted Peter to rely on Him.
• What do you think Peter felt when Jesus gave him an assignment, a job to do again for Him?
• How do you think Peter felt to hear Jesus once again tell him to follow Him?

Jesus came to Peter to restore him. Through Jesus’ three questions, Peter realized that in his own natural strength he could not follow Jesus as he thought he could. Jesus loved Peter through everything and would now use Peter powerfully to proclaim the Gospel. No matter what we’ve done, Jesus loves us, forgives us, and wants us to follow Him.