Free Bible lesson for kids · Ministry in Galilee

Peter’s Great Confession

Jesus asked His disciples who people said He was, and then, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Matthew 16:13–20 · Mark 8:27–30 · Luke 9:18–21
Big idea: Everyone must answer: who is Jesus?
Memory verse: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16 (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

One day Jesus was praying, and His disciples were with Him (Luke 9:18). Near Caesarea Philippi, He asked them, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13). They said some people thought He was John the Baptist. Others said Elias (Elijah), Jeremias (Jeremiah), or one of the prophets (Matthew 16:14). Then Jesus asked, “But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

Simon Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus said Peter was blessed, for no person had shown him this, but “my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). Jesus said He would build His church, and the gates of hell would not win against it (Matthew 16:18). Then He told the disciples to tell no one yet that He was Jesus the Christ (Matthew 16:20).

Read it in the Bible: Matthew 16:13–20 (KJV)

¹³When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? ¹⁴And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. ¹⁵He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? ¹⁶And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. ¹⁷And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. ¹⁸And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ²⁰Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Read it in the Bible: Mark 8:27–30 (KJV)

²⁷And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? ²⁸And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. ²⁹And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. ³⁰And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

Read it in the Bible: Luke 9:18–21 (KJV)

¹⁸And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? ¹⁹They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. ²⁰He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. ²¹And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

Questions to ask

What question did Jesus ask His disciples?
“Whom say ye that I am?”
What did Peter answer?
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Who showed Peter this truth?
The Father which is in heaven.

What this story teaches

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).
Each of us must answer who Jesus really is (Matthew 16:15).
God the Father opens our eyes to know Jesus (Matthew 16:17).
Jesus builds His church, and hell cannot stop it (Matthew 16:18).

Jesus Is God’s Son

Peter said Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. The Bible tells us this so that we might believe and have life through His name.

John 20:31

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Tell God who Jesus is to 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: “Everyone must answer: who is Jesus?” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say Matthew 16:16 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

Who Am I?

You need: Cards with pictures of Bible people (Noah, Moses, David, Mary, Peter)

One child holds a card to their forehead without looking at it.
The group gives clues: “You built a big boat.”
When they guess it, pass the card on. End with the leader asking, “Who is Jesus?”

Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Who do you say Jesus is?

For youth group · game · indoors · about 10 minutes

Names of Jesus Speed Round

You need: Paper, pens, Bibles, a timer

Teams have two minutes to write as many names and titles of Jesus from the Bible as they can: the Lamb of God, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life…
Read them out. Score a point for each one no other team has.
Each person picks the name that means the most to them right now and says why.

Jesus asked, “But whom say ye that I am?” It’s the most important question you will ever answer.

Pray

Tell God who Jesus is to us.