Free Bible lesson for kids · He Is Risen
Feed My Sheep
Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou me?” Three times Peter said yes, and Jesus told him to feed His sheep and follow Him.
- Bible passage
- John 21:15–19
- Big idea
- Jesus forgives and gives us work to do for Him.
- Memory verse
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21:17 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter said three times that he was not one of Jesus’ disciples (John 18:17, 25–27). Now, after breakfast by the sea, Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Peter answered, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee” (John 21:15). Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15).
Jesus asked a second time, and Peter gave the same answer. Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:16). When Jesus asked the third time, Peter was sad. He said, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee” (John 21:17). Three times Peter had denied Jesus, and three times he said he loved Him. Jesus still gave Peter the work of caring for His people (John 21:17). Jesus told him how he would one day glorify God, and then said, “Follow me” (John 21:18–19).
Read it in the Bible: John 21:15–19 (KJV)
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Questions to ask
How many times did Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him?
Three times.
What did Jesus tell Peter to do?
Feed My sheep.
What does this show about Jesus?
He forgave Peter and still had work for him.
What this story teaches
- Jesus forgives us even after we fail Him (John 21:15–17).
- Loving Jesus is the heart of serving Jesus (John 21:15–17).
- Jesus knows everything, even what is in our hearts (John 21:17).
- Jesus gives forgiven people important work to do (John 21:16).
- Jesus calls each of us to follow Him (John 21:19).
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for His sheep.
John 10:11
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank Jesus that He forgives us. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus forgives and gives us work to do for Him.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say John 21:17 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
Peter, Lovest Thou Me?
You need: Chairs in a circle
- One child goes up to another and asks, in the silliest voice they can, “Peter, lovest thou me?”
- The other must answer, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee,” without smiling.
- Smile, and you’re the next asker. Each asker gets three tries, like Jesus asked three times.
Three times Peter said he loved Jesus, and Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Love for Jesus shows in caring for others.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 45 minutes
Feed the Flock
You need: A church meal, a shelter kitchen or snack bags to pack
- Serve a meal at church or a shelter, or pack snack bags for kids in your town.
- Everyone gets a job: setting up, serving, cleaning up, greeting.
- Talk afterward about who you served and how it felt.
Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou me?” and then, “Feed my sheep.” Loving Jesus means serving His people.
Pray
Thank Jesus that He forgives us.