This lesson teaches children that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that we can trust him even when we don’t understand everything. It is written for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Jesus is God’s Son, and we can always trust him, even when we feel worried or confused.
Memory Verse
Matthew 16:16
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
(WEB)
Have children place both hands on their heart, then lift them up toward the ceiling as they say the words together. Repeat it three times, getting a little quieter each time, until they can say it from memory.
The Story: Matthew 16 for Kids
One day some religious leaders came to Jesus. They wanted him to show them a big sign from heaven, so they could decide for themselves who he was. Jesus looked at them and talked about the sky. He said people can tell when the weather will be nice or stormy by looking at the clouds, but they still missed the signs that God was sending them. Then he left them and walked away.
Jesus and his friends, the disciples, got into a boat to cross to the other side of the lake. Nobody had remembered to bring any bread. The disciples started whispering to each other, worried they would be hungry. Jesus knew what they were thinking. He asked them, “Why are you worried about bread? Don’t you remember how I fed five thousand people with just a few loaves?” The disciples remembered, and they felt a little silly for worrying.
Later, Jesus went to a region called Caesarea Philippi. He asked his friends, “Who do people say that I am?” They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, some say you are Elijah, and some say you are one of the prophets.” Then Jesus looked right at them and asked, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter spoke up first. He said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Jesus was very pleased. He told Peter that God the Father had shown him this truth. Jesus said that he would build his church on this truth, and that nothing could stop it.
Then Jesus began to tell his friends something sad. He said he would go to Jerusalem, suffer, and be killed, but that he would rise again on the third day. Peter did not like hearing this. He pulled Jesus aside and told him it would never happen. Jesus gently but firmly told Peter that he was thinking like people do, not like God does.
Jesus then told everyone that following him means saying no to selfish wants, carrying our own cross, and walking with him every day. He said that whoever tries to hold on to their life will lose it, but whoever gives their life for Jesus will find real life. Jesus promised that he would come back in his Father’s glory one day.
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 his friends a question, and Peter answered with the right words. Ask the children what they would say if Jesus asked them the same question today. Let them know it is a good question to think about all week.
Matthew 16:8-9
8 Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, ‘because you have brought no bread?’ 9 Don’t you yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
(WEB)
Show children that Jesus noticed the disciples were worried about bread and gently reminded them of the big meal he had provided before. Explain that remembering what God has already done helps us trust him with what comes next.
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)
Help children see that following Jesus is a choice we make each day, not just once. Point out that Jesus is describing a life that is full and real, even though it asks us to put our own wants second.
Talk About It
- What did the disciples forget to bring, and how did Jesus help them remember what God could do?
- What did Peter say about who Jesus is, and why do you think that answer was so important?
- Why do you think Peter was upset when Jesus talked about being killed, and what might Jesus have wanted him to understand?
- What is one thing you can do this week to trust Jesus when you feel worried?
- What does it look like to follow Jesus in your everyday life at school or at home?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Cloud Sky
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and cotton balls. Have each child draw a blue sky, then glue cotton balls on it to make clouds. On the back, have them write or draw one way Jesus has been faithful to them. Explain that just as the sky tells us about the weather, the way we see Jesus shows what we believe about him.
Peter Says Who Jesus Is
Gather the children in a circle. One child stands in the middle and asks, “Who am I?” Others take turns answering with a true word about Jesus, such as “You are the Son of God” or “You are our Savior.” Keep the game fun and loud, then close by reminding them that Peter’s answer was the most important one.
Carry Your Cross Bookmark
You will need cardstock, scissors, a hole punch, and yarn. Let children cut a rectangle, decorate it, and draw a small cross on one side. Punch a hole at the top and tie yarn through it. Encourage them to keep it in their Bible or book as a reminder to follow Jesus each day, even when it is hard.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that the core question of faith is “Who is Jesus?” Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the foundation the church is built on. It also shows that following Jesus means trusting his purposes, even when they include suffering, and that real life comes through giving ourselves to him.
Avoid overstating the meaning of Peter’s name or the “keys” with children. Keep the focus on Peter’s honest answer and Jesus’s love for his friends, without making claims about church structure or authority that go beyond what young children can understand.
A Prayer to Close
Jesus, we know you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Help us trust you when we feel worried, like the disciples did with the bread. Teach us to follow you each day, even when it is hard. Thank you for loving us and for giving us real life. Amen.
