Peter's Denial

Holy-wood Video

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Children will view the video Larry-Boy! & the Fib from Outer Space and will discuss what makes someone not want to tell the truth, what happens when we lie, how to recover from lying, and compare two instances of this from the Bible story and from the video.

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 26:31-35 and 57-75

Memory Verse:

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of the God’s glory.”  Romans 3:23 (CEV)

Concepts:    

• Jesus’ prophecies always come true.
• We may deny our faith in Jesus, but Jesus is always faithful to us.
• Like Peter, we can recognize our mistakes.
• It is better to be a follower who fails than one who fails to follow.
• Even though we all make mistakes, we can still do great things to honor God.

Leader Preparation:

• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Gather the materials.
• Preview the video.

Supplies List:

• Popcorn supplies
• Larry-Boy! & the Fib from Outer Space

Presentation

Opening-Welcome and Introductions:

1. Greet the children and introduce yourself.  Wear your nametag. Make sure the children are wearing nametags. If not, ask the shepherd to supply a temporary badge. Remember you are interacting with a different group of students each week that may not know you.
2. Explain to the children that the purpose of this workshop is to understand that Peter learned to tell the truth even when he was scared and that we can too.

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

Scripture/Bible Story:

Read the Bible story using the CEV.  Ask whether anyone knows what a “denial” is.  In Peter’s case, he denied he knew Jesus.  This means that Peter lied and said he did not know Jesus.  Tell them to focus on Peter as you read the story.  Encourage the children to open their Bibles to Matthew 26:31 and follow along.  Tell them when you are moving to Matthew 26:57.  In weeks 3-5 when the children are more familiar with the story, you can just summarize the story or read the passage as you did in the early weeks.

Application:

1. Show the video. It’s 22 minutes long if cued to after Bob and Larry (Tomato and Cucumber) talk and the real story begins and stopped after this story but before Bob and Larry come back on.
2. When the video is over, turn the lights on.

Discussion: (feel free to add any questions you may think of)

• Why do you think Junior Asparagus decided to lie about how the plate was broken?  May be lots of different answers, but     try to leave the conclusion that Junior Asparagus was afraid of what might happen to him if his father knew he broke the plate.
• Why do you think Peter lied about knowing Jesus? He also was afraid of people finding out the truth that he was with Jesus—he was afraid he might be hurt or killed.   Why do people lie?
• Did anyone count the  number of times Junior Asparagus was asked about the plate—and the number  of times he lied?  It was three times—just like Peter’s three denials of knowing Jesus.  The first time he said his friend Laura broke the plate; the second time he said Laura’s brother Lenny broke  the plate; the third time he said aliens from outer space broke the plate.
• How do you think Junior Asparagus felt about lying?  At first he seemed relieved that it was so easy to cover up for breaking the plate, but then he started to feel badly because the lie was out of control.
• How did Peter feel about lying about Jesus?  He initially felt OK because he continued to lie two more times.  Then when he realized what he had done, he wept bitterly, which shows how badly he felt.
• How did Junior Asparagus make everything better?  He  told his father the truth and said he was sorry.
• How do you think Peter made everything better?  This  wasn’t part of our Bible story, but maybe Peter prayed and told God he was  sorry while he was crying and asked to be forgiven. Peter also went on to become the leader of the Disciples. He preached the Gospel and gave his life.
• Do you think Junior Asparagus learned that it is better to tell the truth instead of lying?  Yes
• Did you know that after Peter’s denial of Jesus that night that he NEVER lied about Jesus     again?  In fact, he told everyone he could about Jesus—who Jesus was and  what he did for us—that Jesus died to take the punishment for our sins so that God could forgive us for anything bad that we do.  Peter NEVER denied Jesus, even later in  his life when bad leaders told him to stop talking about Jesus.
• Do you think God let this happen to Peter so that he would learn a lesson to make him never  want to lie about Jesus again?  Accept reasonable answers.

Reflection Time:

After the video and the discussion, if there is time shepherds can pass out the journal pages and pencils/markers.

Suggested prompts for journal writing include asking the child to write about or draw their favorite part of the video.

At 10:45 ask the students to close their journals and sit quietly for prayer.

Closing:

Dear God, Thank you that you have always told us the truth.  Thank you that long ago you taught Peter to tell the truth about Jesus so that even today people still are telling the truth about Jesus.  We pray in the name of our savior, Jesus.  Amen.

Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help clean up popcorn before they leave Holywood.  Wait until after children leave to pile up the beanbag chairs—don’t enlist their help as they tend to throw them. Wipe out popcorn machine thoroughly, do not use water.  Feel free to clean the machine during the movie.

Resources

• VeggieTales, Vol. 8 Larry-Boy! & the Fib From Outer Space! A Lesson in Telling the Truth, Big Idea Productions.

A lesson by Lori Houck from: Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church

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Peter's Denial Movie Workshop

(We call it "Holy-word & Vine Workshop")

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Students will watch clips from "The Gospel of John" DVD (Visual Bible), then watch "The Very First Easter" (an animated short bonus found on the "Children's Heroes of the Bible" DVD.
[Editor notes that an alternative to the animated short above would be to show Saddleback's animated short.]

Memory Verse:

“Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13  RSV

Scripture:

Peter denies knowing Jesus - John 13:36-38 and 18:12-27  (See also similar stories in the other Gospels: Mt 26:21-35; Mk 14:27-31; Lk 22:31-34. Denial is predicted - Mt 26:69-75; Mk 14:66-72; Lk 22:54-62 )
Jesus reconciles with Peter - John 21:1-14

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will learn that Jesus had friends
• Students will learn that Jesus friend Peter hurt Jesus very much but was forgiven.
• Students will see scripture come to life in “The Gospel of John” focusing on Peter’s denial and reconciliation.
• Students will see an animated short version of the Easter story in “The Very First Easter”

Leader Preparation:

• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Preview the videos.
• Have the beverage & popcorn ready for the students before they come.

Supplies List:·

• The Gospel of John (Visual Bible) DVD
• Children’s Heroes of the Bible New Testament,  2 Disc DVD Set, VCI Entertainment, 089859836824.  Which includes the bonus short “The Very First Easter”.
• Popcorn & beverage for each student.

USING THE VIDEOS:
The “Gospel of John” DVD is actually word for word taken from the Good News Bible.  This will be used in place of reading from the Bible.  After the students view the scripture reference from the “Gospel of John” then they can watch the Easter video “The Very First Easter”.

Lesson Plan

Opening

Introduce yourself to the students and take time greeting each one.   Remember that you interact with a different group of students each week.

Say: Have any of you ever done anything that you felt really bad about afterwards?
Today we are going to hear about one of Jesus’ very best friends, Peter.  Peter was a good man, but he sometimes said things and did things that didn’t show other people the way that Jesus teaches us to behave.  In our lesson today, he actually told three other people that he didn’t even know his best friend, Jesus.  The important thing about Jesus is that even though he was very hurt by what Peter did and said, he still forgave Peter.  We must also remember that we are going to do things that will hurt Jesus but He still forgive us.

Prayer:

Use this or one of your own: · Most Gracious God, Thank you for bringing us together today to worship you and to learn about you.   Help us to understand that you forgive us when we do things that hurt you.  In Jesus Holy Name we pray.  Amen

Dig:

Bible Verse: Let’s say our memory verse for this month together:   “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13  RSV

Pass out the beverage, popcorn, and cue “Gospel of John" (Chapter 23 - cued, ready to go).

Say:  This takes place on the night that Jesus is arrested.  Jesus was celebrating with his disciples and other friends.

Show gospel of John Chapter 23 “Jesus Predicts His Betrayal and Denial.  The Way to the Father.”  13:21-38.

Stop at verse 38 after Jesus' prediction of Peter’s denial.

Questions:

• Who did Jesus say was going to betrayed him ?  [Judas]
• Why do you think he did it?  Money, power, he was jealous of Jesus?  [We don’t really know why Judas betrayed Jesus]
• Do you think that Jesus knew what he was talking about when he told Peter that before the rooster crows Peter will say three times that he doesn’t know Jesus? [let students answer]
• Do you think that Peter believed Jesus? [let students answer]
• Say something like:  “After Jesus and his disciples finished their meal together, they went to a garden where Jesus prayed.  It was in that garden that Jesus was arrested.”
  
  

Show Chapter 28  “The Arrest of Jesus, Peter’s Denial”  18:1-27

Stop after verse 27.

Questions:

• Did Judas betray Jesus?  [Yes]
• What did Peter do to a slave?  [he cut off his ear]  “Luke says in his book that Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed him.”
• How do you think Peter felt when he heard the rooster crow and he remembered what Jesus had said?

Say:  “After Peter said three times that he didn’t even know Jesus and the rooster crowed twice, Jesus was led away to be tried and crucified.  Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb by some of his friends.  The next day, when more of his friends went to the tomb, they discovered his body was not there.  No one had stolen it, but He had been raised from the dead.The following story takes place a little while later.  The disciples decided to go fishing.”

Show Chapter 33  “Jesus & Peter, Conclusion”  21:1-25

Say:  “When Jesus first called Peter and his brother Andrew to become his disciples, they were fishing just as they were in this part of the lesson today.  They weren’t catching any fish then either and Jesus was standing on the shore and told them to try putting their nets on the other side of the boat and they caught tons of fish.”

Stop after verse 25.

Questions:

• When Jesus told Peter to “feed my sheep”  what do you think he meant?  [each will have their own opinion – let them discuss it a bit and give your own opinion.  I think that Jesus meant that Peter was to tell others about Him.]
• Why do you think Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved him?  Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times.

Say :  Now we’re going to watch the Easter Story in a short, animated video.  See if you can pick out some of the same things you learned about from the first Bible video.

Switch DVDs

Show:  Children’s Heroes of the Bible – New Testament bonus short “The Very First Easter”

• Questions: what things that you learned from the first Bible video were also shown in this animated short?

Journal Time:

Pass out the journal and pencils. · Have the students copy the memory verse into their journals.

• Peter denied Jesus three times, then the rooster crowed.  Jesus asked Peter three times “do you love me?”, each time Peter said yes and Jesus told Peter to “feed my sheep”.

Come up with a drawing in your journal that will show those things.

• Hints – hearts, crosses, sheep, a rooster, etc.
  
  

Closing:

Encourage the students to come back next week when they’ll have a new room and to bring a friend with them who does not go to church or to Sunday School.  · Ask if anyone has any special prayer requests and incorporate that into the closing prayer.  Remind the children to also remember those requests during the week during their prayer time. · Use the following prayer or one of your own: · Heavenly Father, Help us to know that you are always with us, even when we are disobedient to you.  · Hear our prayers as we bring before you the needs of: . . . . . . . . . . . . · In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen

A lesson plan prepared by Diane from: Augustana Lutheran Church

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Come Follow Me

DVD - "Come Follow Me", Vision Video, 2013, 0727985015613,  Drama 30 mins.

Publisher's Description:  "From the producers of The Road to Emmaus this new video dramatizes the relationship between Jesus and the Apostle Peter. From the day Peter heard Jesus call his name to the post-resurrection conversation in which Jesus charges Peter to “feed my sheep,” illustrates Peter's transformation from fearful denier to the bold leader of the early church."

See a review of movie by Neil here (Added April 2015).

Peter's Denial

DVD - “Peter's Denial" (NEW Superbook Series)

"While hanging with the cool kids, Chris chooses to ignore his friendship with the less cool Joy. Suddenly, Superbook sends Joy, Chris, and Gizmo to a time when Peter denies Jesus three times. This helps Chris understand the value of true friendship."  (Animated - approx. 28 mins)

See Rotation.org reviews of the "New Superbook" DVD Series link.

Peter's Denial video clip

from The Passion, the live musical produced in New Orleans by FOX in 2016.

If the following youtube clips become unavailable for previewing, you can buy the full video of The Passion -the live musical (Fox, 2016) from Amazon for under $10. 

This amazing production adapted well-known contemporary songs as the music for the Passion story. Judas was played and sung by Chris Daughtry. Jesus was Jencarlos. Prince Royce played Peter.

Here's a clip on YouTube from the show:
Prince Royce "denying Jesus" on the streets of New Orleans and singing, "The Reason." You may not recognize him, but young people will. He's an American Latin star and has cut albums with JLo and Pitbull.

Undoubtedly, you've heard "The Reason" on the radio. It was super popular in the early 2000's. You probably didn't know it was written by a group named Hoobastank. Here's their original version on  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV4DiAyExN0

Here's the link to the Garden of Gethsemane scene in The Passion, where the cops come to arrest Jesus, and Peter tries to defend Jesus (Jencarlos). Great song by Daughtry in this clip too.

Here are the official lyrics. No wonder they used the song in The Passion!

"The Reason" by Hoobastank

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You

and the reason is You [x3]

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

Jesus Forgives Peter, a five-minute animated retelling of 
Matthew 26:31-35, John 18:15-27, and John 21:15-17.

The story of Peter's denial, and Jesus and Peter on the beach after the resurrection, from Saddleback Kids, posted on their free YouTube channel.

Crossroad Kids Club has a nice overview of who Peter was and what he did.

It includes references to his denial and restoration.

This video contains a very short object lesson and an animated version of Peter's Denial. Enjoy!

Bible images copyright Kirsty McAllister from Lamp Bible Pictures used with permission: lampbiblepictures.co.uk. Music is licensed by Digital Juice.

"But You Love Me Anyway" could be Peter's song, or Judas', or any one of us.

View and discuss this mashup of that song by the Sidewalk Prophets and scenes from the movie "Son of God" (2014) featuring scenes from Jesus' last days and passion. Peter is seen in several of the scenes.

Lyrics:

The question was raised as my conscience fell
A silly, little lie
It didn't mean much, but it lingers still
In the corners of my mind
Still you call me to walk on the edge of this world
To spread my dreams and fly
But the future's so far
My heart is so frail
I think I'd rather stay inside

But you love me anyway
It's like nothing in life that I've ever known
Yes, you love me anyway
Oh Lord, how you love me
How you love me

It took more than my strength to simply be still
To seek but never find
All the reasons we change
The reasons I doubt
And why do loved ones have to die?

But you love me anyway
It's like nothing in life that I've ever known
Yes, you love me anyway
Oh Lord, how you love me
I am the thorn in your crown

But you love me anyway
I am the sweat from your brow
But you love me anyway
I am the nail in your wrist
But you love me anyway
I am Judas' kiss

But you love me anyway

See now, I am the man who yelled out from the crowd
For your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground
Yes then, I turned away with the smile on my face
With this sin in my heart tried to bury your grace
And then alone in the night, I still called out for you
So ashamed of my life, my life, my life

But you love me anyway
Oh, God how you love me
Yes, you love me anyway
It's like nothin' in life that I've ever known

Yes, you love me anyway
Oh Lord, how you love me
You love me, yes, you love me
Yes, you love me, yes, you love me
How you love me
How you love me
How you love me

Songwriters: Jeromy Deibler, Brian Richard Smith. For non-commercial use only.