Easter Week 6 - All Things New

Scripture Reading

John 21:15-19

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Big Idea (For Parents)

Jesus’ resurrection ensures that, like Jesus, his people will “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Before Jesus’ resurrection, Peter denied Jesus three times. Now the resurrected Jesus moves Peter to live in a perfectly renewed way—proclaiming Peter’s love for Jesus three times as one who will lead others to love Jesus as well.

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Family Reflection

(Read aloud or summarize)

Jesus’ resurrection makes the world new, and that begins by making his people new. Before Jesus’ resurrection, Peter denied being a follower of Jesus three times. But here, the resurrected Jesus moved Peter to do the exact opposite. Peter now proclaimed his love for Jesus three times. Jesus moved Peter to live in a new way. In fact, Jesus assured Peter that Peter would now not only be a great pastor in the church, but that Peter would continue to faithfully proclaim his love for Jesus even though people who hated God would kill Peter for it.

Resurrection meant new life for Peter, and it means new life for us too. It means full forgiveness. It means renewed purpose. It means power to live resting and satisfied in Jesus no matter what hurt and loss we face. These aren’t things we earn. They are gifts which we receive by faith. Believing this, we respond like Peter, one step a time, to Jesus’ call—“Follow me.”

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Discussion Questions

(Adjust for age)

1- New life for Peter meant he had Jesus’ full forgiveness. Jesus tells us to forgive as we’ve been forgiven. Why is it sometimes hard to fully forgive others?

2- New life for Peter meant he had special role to fill as a pastor in the church. What role has God given you in your family (father, mother, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, etc.)? How does it make you feel to know that Jesus chose you specifically for that specific role in your specific family, just like he specially chose Peter for his pastor role? How important do you think your role is in God’s plan to make all things new?

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Practice—Live into the New

(Choose one. Adjust for age.)

-Jesus fully forgives us when we confess our sin and choose to stop sinning. Our new life in Jesus means we too must fully forgive others when they confess their sin and choose to stop it. If you are wrongly still angry at someone whom you should have forgiven, confess your sin to God. Then choose one tangible way to love that person this week to live out your forgiveness.

-Identify one role (in family, church, work, school, friendship, neighborhood, etc.) where you’ve doubted that Jesus’ resurrection power is sufficient to enable you to follow him faithfully. Pray for grace and take one tangible step to follow Jesus in renewed faithfulness this week.