April 8: The Risen Lord Appears (John 21:1-14)

To begin the session:

On the board, write the following headings: Restaurant Chains that Now Longer Exist, TV Series that Lasted One Season or Less, Politicians Who Lost an Election.

Go from category to category, asking class members to add to each list. Continue until the class can come up with no more responses.

Lead into Bible study by saying, “Many people start on ventures that they believe will be great successes, only to fail in their attempts. Life does not always turn out as we would hope, often leaving us disillusioned and discouraged. Peter surely felt the same way. After boasting that he would be willing to die with Jesus, he denied him instead. But Peter’s big fail was only the beginning of his work as a minister of Christ!”

To engage the learners in a study of the Scripture text:

Download the “Tale of the Discouraged Disciple” worksheet here. Distribute copies to every class member and use it as either a small group or whole group activity.  The worksheet divides this experience of Peter into three sections, each with a visual clue to help class members understand, remember, and retell the account. You are looking for responses like these:

RESET—Stinging from his failure of denying Jesus, Peter wanted to forget it all and go back to the life he once knew. Ironically, he was no more successful as a fisherman than he was a disciple! He fished all night and caught nothing.

REMINDED—A call from the shore to cast the net on the other side of the boat and an overwhelming haul of fish was eerily familiar. It was like how Jesus called Peter to be a disciple in the beginning. Being reminded of that, Peter literally went overboard—jumping out of the boat and rushing to Jesus’ side!

RECHARGE—Over the past three years, the disciples surely shared many meals of bread and fish with Jesus. But having a meal with their Master whom they saw die yet who was now alive would have been especially remarkable—right up there with the times Jesus fed thousands with very little bread and few fish. Peter would have been recharged, knowing that the adventure with Jesus had only begun!