In this lesson, children learn that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that they can trust him even when they don’t understand everything. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Jesus is God’s Son, and we can trust him with our questions, our worries and our whole lives, even when we don’t yet understand what he is doing.
Memory Verse
Matthew 16:16
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
(WEB)
Put your hands on your heart as you say the words slowly, then point up toward the sky on the word “Son.” Ask the children to do the same, so the motion helps them hold on to the words all week.
The Story: Matthew 16 for Kids
One day some religious leaders came to Jesus and asked him to show them a sign from heaven, something big to prove who he was. Jesus was not impressed by their pride. He said they could read the sky and know when rain was coming, but they could not see what God was doing right in front of them. Then he walked away from them.
Later, Jesus and his friends got into a boat, and the friends realized they had forgotten to bring bread. They started worrying about being hungry. Jesus gently said, “Be careful of the yeast of the leaders.” The friends thought he was talking about bread, so they argued about who had forgotten it. Jesus asked them why they were worried about bread when they had already seen him feed thousands of people.
Then Jesus and his friends traveled to a town called Caesarea Philippi. Jesus asked them a question: “Who do people say that I am?” The friends answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, and some say a prophet.” Then Jesus looked at them and asked, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter spoke up first. He said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus was so happy with Peter’s answer. He told Peter that God the Father had shown him this truth, and that Jesus would build his church on this truth. Jesus also told his friends to keep this news quiet for a while.
Soon after, Jesus began to tell his friends a hard thing. He said he would have to go to Jerusalem, suffer, and be killed, but that he would rise again on the third day. Peter did not like hearing this, and he told Jesus it would never happen. Jesus told Peter that he must think about God’s ways, not just people’s ways. Then Jesus taught everyone that following him means loving him more than anything, even when it is hard.
Read It Together
Matthew 16:13-16
13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus asked a question and then listened carefully before anyone answered. Explain that the friends gave guesses about who Jesus might be, but Peter was the one who said the true answer out loud.
Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
(WEB)
Show the children that following Jesus means choosing him first, even when it costs us something. Explain that losing something for Jesus’s sake helps us find what truly matters, and that Jesus is always worth it.
Matthew 16:2-3
2 But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times!
(WEB)
Talk about how the leaders could predict the weather but could not see what God was doing. Help the children notice that we can sometimes miss what God is showing us, so it is good to pay attention and ask him to open our eyes.
Talk About It
- What do you think Peter felt when Jesus asked him who he was?
- Why do you think Jesus wanted his friends to really think about who he is?
- What is one thing that might be hard to give up to follow Jesus?
- How did the friends get confused when Jesus talked about yeast, and what helped them understand?
- How can you show your friends and family that Jesus is important to you?
Activity Ideas
Peter’s Answer Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a picture of Jesus and write or draw one thing that shows he is the Son of God. Hang the pictures on the wall where the children can see them during the week as a reminder of Peter’s answer.
Follow the Leader Game
You will need an open space and a few cones, shoes, or stacks of books to use as landmarks. One child is Jesus and leads the group in simple movements like hopping, stretching, or walking backward. The others copy the leader, and then switch roles so each child gets a turn. Stop to talk about how we follow Jesus by listening and copying his way of living.
Take-Home Question Jar
You will need an empty jar or box, slips of paper, and a pen. Ask each child to write a question they have about Jesus on a slip of paper and drop it in the jar. Encourage families to pull out one question each evening and talk about it together, or pray together about what the child wants to know.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that Jesus is more than a teacher or prophet. Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the central claim of the Gospel. Jesus also reveals that he will suffer and die before rising again, and that following him means taking up our own cross and putting him first.
With children, avoid overstating the idea that Peter’s name or role means something it does not say, or getting caught up in debates about the meaning of “the keys” or “the gates of Hades.” Keep the focus on the simple truth that Jesus is God’s Son and that he invites us to follow him.
A Prayer to Close
Lord Jesus, we believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Help us to trust you with our questions and to follow you even when it is hard. Help us to put you first in everything we do and say. Thank you for loving us and for always being with us. Amen.
