Peter gets it Wrong (Matthew 16) | Craft 1

As we journey through Peter’s ups and downs, it’s clear that his bravery to speak from the heart both earns his accolades and dumps him in hot water, too. Here Peter gets it very wrong. This passage is one that really seems odd until you consider the background. Peter knew what a messiah looked like – he’d be a king, a warrior, a savour to his people with the power of God behind him – Jesus decimates that idea pretty quickly. This isn’t a complex craft and lends itself well to groups who like the colouring process or those who want a craft in a hurry.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, scissors, and some paper glue.

If you are using the template without colour, it’s best to add colour AFTER construction.

Cut out all the pieces.

Fold the smaller piece in half – mountain fold / print on the outside

Fold the glue tabs on each end – valley fold / print on the inside

Add glue to the oval on the bigger piece

Position the smaller pieces tabs in the oval.

Now colour it all in if you didn’t print in colour.

Fold to the left to see Peter’s idea of a Messiah.

Fold to the right to see Jesus’ idea of a Messiah.

the Milosevic Family

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A4 size
(210 x 297 mm)

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Peter gets it wrong (Matthew 16) | Story

A massive part of understanding scripture comes from understanding the context that it’s played out in. In passages like this, where Peter challenges Jesus’ planned schedule as absurd, we have to see the wider picture to understand the actions of the characters. This shift in Jesus’ teaching is totally incompatible with the expectations and teachings of a coming Messiah, and Peter putting his foot in it is a very predictable response. It’s easy to make Peter look like a fool or a man of weak faith in this conversation, but neither is true. By understanding why he had trouble grasping this concept, we also shed light on why the religious leaders lead Jesus to his death.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Matthew 16

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.



Everything seemed to change after that conversation, the one where Simon had said he thought Jesus was the messiah, the Christ, the long-awaited saviour…. and Jesus had said yes! Simon had been given a new name – Peter – because he was going to be the rock Jesus built his new church on. He walked around like he was king for a few hours with his new-found importance. Peter knew who Jesus was, even if Jesus told them to keep it a secret for now.

They had been waiting for a messiah for hundreds of years. The Messiah was going to take back the crown of David their ancestor, be the new king. He would save them from the Romans who ruled over the Israelites so they could be independent again. He would bring in a new time of peace and prosperity and worship to God. Every child, man and woman longed for the messiah to come and Peter had found him!

But the next day, Jesus started teaching the disciples something new. He started to teach them that a time was coming when Jesus would be arrested and killed. The Messiah killed? Peter was outraged. The messiah wasn’t going to be killed. He was going to be a great leader, he was going to unify the people, bring back the temple as the focus of peoples lives, make the nation strong. Not get arrested like a common rebel and die. But Jesus kept saying the same thing again and again and again.

Finally, Peter took him aside.
“No Jesus, God won’t allow this, it must never happen!”
Now Jesus looked mad, he shouted at Peter,
“Get behind me deceiver, don’t be something I’ll fall over”
Peter stepped back in amazement – what was going on?

Jesus looked deep into Peter’s eyes, he wanted to make sure Peter understood he wasn’t going to be the Messiah Peter expected, his kingdom wasn’t going to be like the one Peter wanted.

“Peter, you look through human eyes, not God’s eyes. If you want to save your life, you must be willing to lose it. If you want to follow me, you need to take up your cross.”
Peter thought about the thick wooden crosses they used to kill prisoners, they were so heavy to carry, it was a horrible way to die.

“Peter,” said Jesus softly now, “It does not work like you think. If you lose your life for me, you will gain so much more!”

Peter looked at Jesus, he didn’t fully understand, but he knew that Jesus was worth risking everything for, even dying on a cross.

Who Am I? Simon-Peter (Matthew 16) | Craft 2

The passage rotates around a simple question and answer. Jesus asks his followers, and Simon-Peter answers. This sliding mechanism is a firm favourite, once you’ve figured out how to add the tabs it’s quick and suits groups that want to colour their own well.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, scissors, and some paper glue.

Cut out all the pieces and colour them if needed.
The biggest piece goes over the instruction boxes, follow the black lines.

Fold the two tabs on the speech bubbles, so the ink is on the inside (valley folds)

Fold the long piece along every dotted line, keeping the ink on the outside (mountain folds)

Turn your long strip over and locate the middle section. We’ll add Simon-Peter’s words here. Add glue just to the triangle tab and make sure it goes parallel to the fold on the right.

Repeat with Jesus’ words piece. This gets attached to the final section without people on it.

Now we need to make the long strip into a tube. Fold Jesus’ words down and add glue to the other side of that section of the strip.

Attach the two ends together so you have an open tube / box.

Finally add glue to the characters of Jesus and Simon-Peter and stick in place.

Flatten the box to the left to see Jesus’ words pop up, flatten the box to the right to see Simon-Peter’s words appear.

the Milosevic Family

Help keep the free items on this site free by donating. This site supports my family as we live by God's great economy.

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A4 size
(210 x 297 mm)

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Who Am I? Simon-Peter (Matthew 16) | Craft 1

This small but important conversation transforms Simon-Peter’s purpose and future. He is to be much more than Simon the fisherman, he will be Peter the rock, the foundation of the church, the holder of the keys to the kingdom of heaven. This simple 3D image shows the changes and is a great conversation piece.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, scissors, and some foam spacers.
If you can’t get foam spacers, using pieces of thick card and a glue stick works just as well.

Cut out all the pieces and colour them if needed.

Add spacers to the outline of Simon, you may need to split some to support the arm that is in the air. Add spacers before adding each subsequent piece.

Place Simon in position.
Talk about how this represents how the story started.

Place the new name in position.
Talk about why Jesus gave Simon a new name and what it means.

Place the top hand with the building in
Talk about what this building represents and why Jesus called people to be its foundation.

Place the lower hand with the keys
Talk about the kingdom of heaven. Is it a place? Is it now, or will it be one day?

Your image is now complete.

the Milosevic Family

Help keep the free items on this site free by donating. This site supports my family as we live by God's great economy.

Donate in UK pounds
Donate in US dollars
Donate in euros

A4 size
(210 x 297 mm)

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Who Am I? Simon-Peter (Matthew 16) | Games

Jesus asks a seemingly simple question, and suddenly the slow meander to find food for Jesus’ friends becomes a pivotal moment. There are so many symbols and ideas packed into these few verses, identity, naming, foundations, kingdoms, keys… here are just a few games to get you started.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

Incomplete 

Age group recommendation icon

Under 7’s

Smaller groups icon

Small group

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Requires setup time

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Quiet game

Suitable for seated groups icon

Can be seated

Using the jigsaws PDF, give each child 12 pieces with only one complete picture. Have the build the one possible character. Talk about how God knows us completely and wants us to know him. The PDF is accessible by clicking on the picture.

The key relay

Age group recommendation icon

Ages 7+

Any sized group icon

Any size group

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Requires setup time

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Noisy game

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Space needed

This is best played with a bowl full of keys and just one padlock per team/child, but if you don’t have that then you can use envelopes of key alternatives inside. Place the bowl of keys or alternatives at one side of the room, have the child run and collect a key and bring it back to their lock – repeat, returning keys, until you open your lock.

Who am I?

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All Ages

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Any size group

No setup-time required icon

No Setup time

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Noisy game

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Can be seated

This is a well-known game, sometimes called the post-it notes game. Write the name of someone the child will know and stick it to their forehead. The child then has to guess ‘who they are’ by asking questions that can only be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no.’

Supporting limbs

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All Ages

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Any size group

No setup-time required icon

No Setup time

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Noisy game

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Space needed

Have the youngsters get into small groups of 3–4 people. The idea of the game is for the group to support each other so that not everyone has to stand on the floor. Nobody is allowed to sit on the floor. Roll 2 dice, one for the number of feet that can be touching the floor, the second for the number of hands that can be touching the floor. (Hints : just pick numbers if you don’t have dice, and try balancing on knees) Talk about how sometimes we need the support of those around us.

Name scramble

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All Ages

Smaller groups icon

Small group

No setup-time required icon

No Setup time

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Noisy game

Suitable for seated groups icon

Can be seated

In this game, you try to build a name by searching for letters. When the children arrive, write their names on small squares of paper, one letter at a time. Drop the letters into a large tub filled with rice or some other filling material like shredded paper. Have the kids dig out the letters until you build a name. Substitute the paper for fridge magnet letters or similar if you are sure of your kids in advance.

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