Following Jesus takes sacrifice but the rewards are worth it. That’s the lesson Peter learned after Jesus rebuked him in Matthew 16:21-28. Use these free Sunday School lessons to teach kids this powerful Bible story. The downloads below include everything you need to plan and teach your class.
Our links below all lead directly to PDF downloads unless otherwise noted. Enjoy this free curriculum in yourĀ Sunday SchoolĀ this Sunday, August 30, 2020.
Sunday School Lessons on Matthew 16:21-28
More Teaching Help for Matthew 16:21-28 Jesus Rebukes Peter and Says “Take Up Your Cross”
- Watch a demonstration of thisĀ childrenās sermonĀ and theĀ playlist on Matthew 16:21-28
- Compare theĀ Rfour.org message on Matthew 16:21-28
“The Cost of Following” Bible Craft Activities for Sunday School
Use these craft ideas to help children reflect on what it costs to follow Christ. Print the directions below, gather your project supplies, and watch our demonstration video as you prepare.
Worth the Cost: Object Lesson on Following Jesus
Following Jesus isnāt always easy, but kids need to know itās worth the cost. Use this childrenās sermon and object lesson to teach Matthew 16:21-28 to children.
Coloring Page: How Do I Follow Jesus
This is the final page in our series ofĀ Gospel Coloring Sheets for children. It teaches kids how they can respond to the truth about King Jesus.
Bible Verses/story to Reference: Matthew 16:21-28
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. āNever, Lord!ā he said. āThis shall never happen to you!ā
23Ā Jesus turned and said to Peter,Ā āGet behind me, Satan!Ā You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.ā
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, āWhoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Fatherās glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28 āTruly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.ā āMatthew 16:21-28