WEEK 1 : Called Out

Warm-Up Question: What’s the best letter, card, or message you’ve ever gotten? Who was it from and why did it make you happy?

Opening

We’re starting a new book of the Bible together, 1 Peter. It’s a letter written by one of King Jesus’ closest friends, a guy named Peter. Right at the start, Peter tells his readers something important… they’ve been called out. That means God picked them out of their ordinary lives to be a part of something far bigger and greater, His family. 

Before we dig into this letter, though, let’s remember how Peter himself got called out to KNOW Jesus. Because before he was writing letters about Jesus’ Kingdom, he was just a fisherman.

Read Luke 5:1-11

Peter was a professional fisherman. He knew boats, nets, and fish better than most people. Jesus? Not so much. Jesus was a carpenter’s son, not a fisherman. But one day, Jesus told people to throw his nets into the water, even though Peter had already fished all night and caught nothing.

Question 1: Why do you think Peter listened to Jesus, even though fishing wasn't Jesus' job?

Question 2: Have you ever tried really hard at something and it didn’t work out, but then you tried it a different way (maybe somebody else’s idea) and it worked? Tell that story!

Question 3: Peter left his boat, his nets, and his job to follow King Jesus without knowing what would happen next. Is there anything in your life King Jesus might be asking you to set aside so you can KNOW Him more closely?

Read Matthew 14:22-33

This is probably Peter’s most famous moment of all time. In the middle of a storm, Peter saw Jesus walking on water and asked if he could try it too.

Question 4: Why do you think Peter wanted to get out of the boat and walk on water?

Question 5: What do you think he learned by walking on water… and from sinking into the sea?

Read Luke 22:54-60

This part of the story isn’t Peter’s proudest moment. While King Jesus was being wrongfully arrested, Peter got scared. Three different times, strangers asked if Peter knew Jesus. And three times, Peter lied and said no.

Take a minute in silence and think… Has there ever been a time I acted like I didn’t KNOW Jesus? This doesn’t always have to be something you said out loud. It could be a choice you made or something you did (or didn’t) do. If you feel comfortable, share with your family (parents/guardians lead the way by sharing first). Then take a moment to tell God about it and ask Him for His help next time.

Jesus called Peter out of a normal life into an extraordinary one. Although Peter never became rich or famous by our world’s standards, he got to spend three whole years walking, talking, and eating middle-eastern flatbread with the literal Savior of the world.

Question 6: In what ways does your everyday life look normal?

Question 7: Has there ever been a moment where you saw the Holy Spirit working in you, through you, or around you?

Family Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for calling us out of everyday life into something extraordinary with You. Give us the courage to step out in faith like Peter did even when life is hard or scary. Help us to leave behind anything that gets in the way of following You closely. Show us what You want us to do and give us the courage to do it. Amen.