Lesson

Peter Denies Jesus Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free Peter denies Jesus Sunday school lesson (Luke 22:54–62) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions and take-home.

Preschool–Grade 6

Peter Denies Jesus Sunday School Lesson for Kids

📌 Save to Pinterest

Download

Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages: Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
Time: 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
Scripture: Luke 22:54–62
Bible story: Peter Denies Jesus

What you need

A Bible (mark Luke 22:32 and Luke 22:61)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
6 paper strips, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
Red, orange and yellow paper, or a few paper flames, for a pretend fire (preschool and kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (preteens)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed Peter denies Jesus word search and crayons for early finishers

This free Peter denies Jesus Sunday school lesson teaches kids to stand up for Jesus, and to turn back to Him when they fail. Peter said, "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death" (Luke 22:33), but by the fire in the high priest's hall he said three times that he did not know Jesus. The cock crew, "the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter," and Peter "went out, and wept bitterly" (22:60–62). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a Rooster Wake-Up game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines around a pretend fire, three simple questions, a short memory verse ("I have prayed for thee," Luke 22:32) with motions, and a drawing activity.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: a Stand Up If… game, the story in simple words around a pretend fire, five recall questions with answers, the Rooster Crow memory verse game, and a Brave Answers game.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a what-would-you-say game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (Peter's promise, "followed afar off," the three denials written on the board, the cock crowing and the Lord's look), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a pressure-line opener, students read Luke 22:31–34 and 22:54–62 out loud themselves, then look closer at Jesus' prayer, Peter's slide, the look and the way back. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Luke 22:32 and 1 John 1:9).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: Luke 22:54–62, with Luke 22:31–34
Main point: Stand up for Jesus. When we fail, we can be truly sorry and turn back to Him.
Memory verse: Luke 22:32 (KJV), with 1 John 1:9 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about standing up for Jesus when it's hard.
Bible story: Jesus prays for Peter (Luke 22:32), Peter's promise (22:33), Peter by the fire in the hall (22:55), the three denials (22:57–60), the cock crowing, the Lord's look and Peter weeping bitterly (22:60–62), and the way back (Luke 24:34; Acts 2:14). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Luke 22:32.
What this means for us: stand up for Jesus, turn back when we fail, the gospel Peter himself preached (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Peter denies Jesus craft, a brave-answers game, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching Peter denies Jesus

Read Luke 22:61 straight from your Bible. Peter "remembered the word of the Lord": God's Word brought him to repentance.
Don't end with Peter crying. Jesus had prayed for him (Luke 22:32), appeared to him after He rose (Luke 24:34), and Peter later preached at Pentecost (Acts 2:14).
Luke doesn't describe Jesus' look, and the passage names no soldiers and no count of people at the fire. Don't add them.
Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this Peter denies Jesus lesson take?

It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.

What is the main point of Peter denying Jesus for kids?

Stand up for Jesus, and when you fail, turn back to Him. Peter said he would go with Jesus to prison and to death (Luke 22:33), but by the fire he said three times that he did not know Him. When the cock crew, Peter remembered Jesus' word and wept bitterly (Luke 22:60–62). Jesus had already prayed for him (Luke 22:32).

How many times did Peter deny Jesus?

Three times, just as Jesus had said: "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice" (Luke 22:61). First to a maid, then to another man, and about an hour later to another who said he was a Galilaean (Luke 22:56–60).

Did Jesus forgive Peter?

Yes. Jesus had prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail (Luke 22:32). After He rose, "the Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon" (Luke 24:34), and Jesus asked Peter three times, "lovest thou me?" (John 21:15–17). Peter later stood up and preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14).