FAMILY ADVENTURE GUIDE UNEARTHING UNDISCOVERED GREATNESS THROUGH THE LIFE OF PETER
AS YOU NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS ADVENTURE GUIDE, BE SURE TO LOOK FOR WAYS YOU CAN DISCOVER HOW TO:
BE A P.I.L.O.T. P I
PREPARED I WILL ALWAYS BE READY TO SERVE GOD
INVOLVED I WILL GIVE GOD MY BEST
L
LOVING
O
OPEN TO GOD
T
TEAM PLAYER
I WILL PUT GOD AND OTHERS FIRST
GOD’S WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN MY WAYS
GOD WORKS THROUGH US
SKYLAND
FROZONE
THE BADLANDS
THE RAINFOREST
METRO
OCEANIA
YOU ARE HERE
THE UNDERGROUNDS
THE PLATEAUS
MEET ADI MOLE Adi Mole is the voice of reason amongst the other Go Kids crew. When arguments arise, Adi brings his wisdom and resourcefulness to help out his friends. Adi is super adventurous and great at tracking. You’ll find Adi spending most of his time in The Undergrounds. He uses his ability to track and keen sense of awareness to make his way around the lands deep beneath the earth. His faith in Jesus is high and his understanding of God’s Word pierces through the darkness. Join Adi Mole on his adventures as he travels through Under City discovering purpose and potential through the life of Peter.
UNEARTHING UNDISCOVERED GREATNESS THROUGH THE LIFE OF PETER Peter is perhaps one of the most well-known and beloved disciples of Jesus. We think of Peter as being this amazing figure through whom God did miracles—and no doubt God used him. We can read the highlight of Peter’s life and become discouraged because we think there’s no way God can use me like that. What we forget is that Peter was an ordinary human like you and me. In fact, when you read about Peter’s life, you should be encouraged because you read about all the mistakes he made and despite those mistakes, God still used him in extraordinary ways. Peter had so much unrealized potential living inside of him. It took a lifetime of mistakes, learning and faith for him to uncover all that God had planned. As we dig into Peter, take time to reflect on your life and the desires of your heart. There’s greatness inside each of us!
GO VERSE THIS SCRIPTURE IS OUR THEME VERSE AS WE VENTURE THROUGH UNDER CITY! “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 1:9, NLT
WEEK ONE:
FISHER OF MEN GO ANSWER
Jesus in me makes me extraordinary
As you read Luke 5:1-11 you’ll notice that this is where Jesus calls the first of His disciples. They were fishermen and understood what it meant to fish. They had no idea that their world was about to be completely turned upside down as they began their journey to become fishers of people.
Discussion questions for younger children • What makes you extraordinary? • What did the disciples catch in the water? • What was Peter’s job before he left to follow Jesus? • Why did Peter become extraordinary? • Would you leave everything you had to follow Jesus if he asked you? Why or why not? • How can we remember that Jesus makes us extraordinary? • How does Jesus make us extraordinary? Discussion questions for older children • • • • • • •
What was Peter doing before Jesus found him? What miracle did Jesus perform to show his disciples who he was? How did Peter know that Jesus was someone special? What did Jesus mean when He told Peter He would make him a Fisher of Men? Would you leave everything you had if Jesus asked you to follow Him? Why or why not? How does Jesus make you extraordinary? How can we remember that Jesus is the one who makes us extraordinary?
Draw what you think Peter looked like fishing for fish in box 1 and then draw what you think Peter looked like fishing for people in box 2.
SOAP: S cripture | O bservation | A pplication | P rayer Grab your SOAP journal and follow along with this week’s Bible reading.
MON
TUE
WED
THUR
FRI
Philippians 1:6
Psalm 139:13-16
Ephesians 2:10
Isaiah 65:8
Jeremiah 1:5
WEEK TWO:
PETER’ S DECLARATION ABOUT JESUS GO ANSWER
What Jesus thinks of me is greater than what I think of myself
Matthew 16:13-19 gives the account of Jesus changing Simon’s name to Peter, which means ‘Rock.’ Simon was the only one of the disciples who had a revelation of who Jesus really was.
Discussion questions for younger children •
What was Peter’s name before Jesus changed it?
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What name would you want Jesus to give you? Why?
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How does Jesus know you better than anyone else?
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How did Peter know that Jesus was the son of God?
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What does the name “Peter” mean?
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What characteristics does a rock have?
•
Did everybody else see Peter as a rock?
Discussion questions for older children •
What was Peter’s name before Jesus changed it?
•
What name would you want Jesus to give you? Why?
•
How did Peter know that Jesus was the son of God?
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What does the name “Peter” mean?
•
What characteristics does a rock have?
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What does God think about you?
•
What are ways that we can remind ourselves about what God thinks of us instead of what we think of ourselves?
Draw what you think the church being built on Peter the Rock looked like.
SOAP: S cripture | O bservation | A pplication | P rayer Grab your SOAP journal and follow along with this week’s Bible reading.
MON
TUE
WED
THUR
FRI
Jeremiah 29:11
Psalm 139:17
1 Peter 2:9
2 Peter 1:3-4
Matthew 10:29-31
WEEK THREE:
PETER WALKS ON WATER GO ANSWER
I do not need to fear failure
Matthew 14:22-36 is perhaps one of the most popular stories of the Bible. We read of Peter’s zeal to walk on water towards Jesus only to see him begin to sink because of a lack of faith. Thankfully Jesus rescued him and thankfully we don’t need to fear anything as long as Jesus is near.
Discussion questions for younger children • • • • • • •
Who did the disciples think that Jesus was before they recognized it was Him? Why did Peter start to sink into the water? What did Jesus do after Peter started sinking? Do we have to be afraid when we are walking with Jesus? What are some ways that Jesus has saved you from failure? What should we do when we start to get afraid and doubt? How does Jesus remind us not to be afraid of failure?
Discussion questions for older children • • • • • • •
Who did the disciples think that Jesus was before they recognized it was Him? What caused Peter to start sinking into the water? What did Jesus do after Peter started sinking? Do we have to be afraid of failure? How does Jesus save us from our failures today? What should we do when we start to get afraid or doubt? How can we remind ourselves to not be afraid?
Draw what you think Peter looked like getting rescued by Jesus in the sea.
SOAP: S cripture | O bservation | A pplication | P rayer Grab your SOAP journal and follow along with this week’s Bible reading.
MON
TUE
WED
THUR
FRI
Luke 12:22-24
Isaiah 41:10
Romans 8:31-39
Luke 12:6-7
Psalm 23
WEEK FOUR:
DISCIPLES FELL ASLEEP GO ANSWER
Jesus can count on me
Matthew 26:36-46 gives the account of Jesus going to Gethsemane to pray. He asked His disciples to stay awake and wait for Him as He prayed. They couldn’t even stay awake! Not once or twice, but three times they fell asleep. Jesus wasn’t too pleased, but was gracious as He always was. Discussion questions for younger children • • • •
• •
Do you have a friend that would do anything for you? Who? Can your friends trust you to do anything for them? Tell me why they can trust you. Peter and the disciples fell asleep after Jesus told them to stay awake. Do you think you would’ve fallen asleep as well? Why or why not? If your parents said, “I need you to pick up your toys after dinner.” And you say, “Okay”, but you don’t, do you think your parents can trust you? Why? What do you think you can do to show your parents that they can trust you? What do you think you can do to show Jesus that He can trust you?
Discussion questions for older children • • • • • •
Do you have a friend that you can count on no matter what? Why can you count on him/her? What does it feel like when someone can count on you? What are some things that keep us from being dependable? Why do they keep us from being dependable? Why or why can’t Jesus count on you? What’s the toughest thing about Jesus depending on you? How can you show Jesus that He can depend on you this week?
Draw what you think it looked like when all the disciples fell asleep.
SOAP: S cripture | O bservation | A pplication | P rayer Grab your SOAP journal and follow along with this week’s Bible reading.
MON
TUE
WED
THUR
FRI
1 John 2:5-6
Hebrews 6:19-20
Psalm 138:2
2 Timothy 2:13
Psalm 89:34
WEEK FIVE:
PETER CUTS OFF AN EAR GO ANSWER
I should trust Jesus even when I don’t understand
Luke 22:47-51 gives the account of Jesus being arrested. Peter wanted to protect Jesus not understanding that this was supposed to happen. And, in reaction to the soldiers arresting Jesus, Peter takes a sword and actually cuts off a soldier’s ear that Jesus ended up healing. Discussion questions for younger children • • • • • • •
What did Judas do to Jesus? Would you want to fight someone who is hurting your friend? Why or why not? Do you think it hurt the soldier when Peter cut his ear? Tell me why it was so cool that Jesus healed the soldier’s ear. Do your parents ever tell you to do something that you don’t understand? What? Do you think we should trust our parents, teacher and pastors even if we don’t understand? Why or why not? Tell me why you can trust Jesus.
Discussion questions for older children • • • • • •
What did Judas do to Jesus? How would you feel if a friend betrayed you? If you had a chance to protect a friend from harm and your friend told you not to, would that be confusing? Why or why not? Did you like Peter’s response? Why or why not? Why is it so hard to trust someone when you don’t understand? Name a situation where you had to trust Jesus even though you didn’t understand.
Draw what you think the soldier looked like with both ears in box 1 and then in box 2 draw what you think the soldier looked like with one ear after Peter cut it off.
SOAP: S cripture | O bservation | A pplication | P rayer Grab your SOAP journal and follow along with this week’s Bible reading.
MON
TUE
WED
THUR
FRI
Isaiah 55:8-9
1 Corinthians 1:21
Psalm 139
Psalm 147:4-5
Hebrews 4:13
WEEK SIX:
DENIAL OF JESUS THREE TIMES GO ANSWER
Jesus teaches me through my mistakes
Peter made quite a few mistakes up to this point, however denying His Savior even after he said he never would ranks pretty high up there in mistakes as you read in Luke 22:54-62.
Discussion questions for younger children •
Have you ever made a mistake before?
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What’s a funny mistake you can share?
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Do you think Peter felt bad for denying Jesus three times? Why or why not?
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Do you think you would have denied Jesus? Why or why not?
•
Are you glad you get more than one chance to do the right thing?
Discussion questions for older children •
Have you ever made a mistake before?
•
What’s a funny mistake you can share?
•
What do you think Peter felt like after he realized he denied Jesus three times?
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Why do you think Jesus continues to forgive and help us when we make mistake after mistake?
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Why is it so easy to make mistakes?
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Why are you glad Jesus gives us as many opportunities as we need to be obedient to Him?
Draw what you think Peter’s facial expression was after each time he denied Jesus.
SOAP: S cripture | O bservation | A pplication | P rayer Grab your SOAP journal and follow along with this week’s Bible reading.
MON
TUE
WED
THUR
FRI
Jonah 2:1-3
Lamentations 3:21-23
John 1:9
2 Peter 3:9
Matthew 18:21-22
WEEK SEVEN:
FILLED WITH POWER GO ANSWER
The Holy Spirit gives me the power to be who He created me to be.
The New Testament and especially throughout the book of Acts gives many examples of how the Holy Spirit fills us with power to do His work. Acts 2:1-14, 3:2-8, 4:8-13 gives just a few accounts of Peter’s experiences.
Discussion questions for younger children •
Describe what you think the room was like after the Holy Spirit came.
•
Do you think the Holy Spirit still heals and does miracles today? Why or why not?
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If you could ask for any miracle, what would you ask for?
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God made you unique. What do you think you’ll do for Him?
Discussion questions for older children •
Can the Holy Spirit fill you with power? Why or why not?
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Describe what you think the room must have been like after the Holy Spirit came.
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If you could ask for any miracle, what would you ask for?
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God made you unique. What do you think He’s given you the power to do?
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What do you think it was like for Peter when, through the Holy Spirit, he began healing people?
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Peter spoke about Jesus with boldness after the Holy Spirit filled him. How would that help you?
Draw what you think the Holy Spirit looked like when He filled Peter and the other disciples.
SOAP: S cripture | O bservation | A pplication | P rayer Grab your SOAP journal and follow along with this week’s Bible reading.
MON
TUE
WED
THUR
FRI
Acts 1:8
Romans 8:11
Acts 2
Acts 4:31
Romans 8:26
THE EVENTS OF PETER’S LIFE Without looking in the Bible or looking in your Adventure Guide, can you place the events of Peter’s life in the correct order? Disciples and Peter fall asleep Peter and the disciples called to be fishers of men Peter and the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit’s power Peter cuts off a soldier’s ear Peter walks on water Peter denies Jesus three times Peter’s name is changed to ‘Rock’
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
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