St. Peter
PETER
Objectives:
- Students should know that Peter was one of Jesus’s twelve disciples.
- Students should know that Peter started the church in Rome.
3. Students should know that Peter died as a martyr, upside down on a cross in Rome.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Again, use the Scriptures to review the life of St. Peter:
Mark 1:16-18 Calling as a fisherman
Mark 3:13-19 Choosing of the twelve/ nickname Peter (the rock)
Matthew 14:22-33 Walking on water
Matthew 16:13-19 Keys to the kingdom
Matthew 17:1-6 Transfiguration
Luke 22:54-62 Denial
John 21: 1-19 Feed My Sheep
Acts 2:14-15, 37-41 Pentecost
Now for some new scenes in his life:
Acts 3:1-10 Healing the Lame Man
Acts 4:1-3, 18-22 Brought before the Sanhedrin
Acts 5:17-25 Freed from Prison, Preaching in Temple
Acts 9:36-43 Raising of Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead
Acts 10 Peter and Cornelius – review this, already read
Acts 12:3-17 Miraculous escape from prison
Acts 15 Council in Jerusalem – review this, already read
Peter finally traveled to Rome. He was the first bishop of Rome and was crucified upside down by the Emperor Nero on the same day St. Paul died.
- Peter was also one of the Lord’s greatest apostles. Work a bit on the words “disciple” and “apostle”. Say the words and have the students repeat them. Peter was both – the disciples were the original followers of Jesus who studied and lived with the Lord during His life on earth. So, a disciple is a student, a follower. How many of the original twelve can the students name? One man was chosen to take the place of the one who betrayed Jesus? Who betrayed Jesus? Who took his place? How was Matthias chosen? “Apostle” is someone sent out by the Lord to establish His Church. So, an apostle is a leader, a teacher. Peter was a disciple who, on Pentecost became an apostle. What happened on Pentecost? Paul never knew Jesus on earth but was sent by Him to establish churches all over the Mediterranean world. See if the students can land these famous people in the right category:
Disciple Disciple and Apostle Apostle Neither
Judas Iscariot Peter Paul Abraham
Thomas Silas David
Andrew Luke Daniel
John
James
Are there still apostles in modern times? Watch future lessons for the answer.
- Play a learning game: Final Jeopardy: Write answers, each on one sheet of paper. Give each student a sheet of paper. Hold up an answer and give about 1 minute to write a question. Some possible answers:
Lame Man
Tabitha (Dorcas)
Cornelius
Simon the Tanner
Angel
Rhoda
Nero
- Make a Spin-a-Story Wheel of the life of Peter: Begin with a paper plate. Divide into about 6 sections. In each section, draw a scene from the life of Peter: fisherman (or fish or fish sticker), Transfiguration (part of icon cut from old bulletin file?), denial of Jesus (rooster or rooster sticker), Pentecost (flames), Peter and Cornelius (pig?), and death upside down on a cross in Rome (upside down cross). Cut a spinner out of tagboard (or another plate). Attach with a piece of pipe cleaner bent; a round bead between spinner and plate helps it spin better. Can the students spin and tell each of the stories of this amazing apostle?
Alternatively, use a second plate with a wedge cut out over the first, fasten together with a brad, and spin the PLATE to show the stories.
6. End with prayer: Lord, make me now Your good disciple learner.