Peter means "the rock"
Children's sermon
Object:
a fairly good-sized rock
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you remember a few weeks ago when we were talking about the meaning of names? (let them answer) Some names mean "beautiful" or "bright as the morning sun." Almost every name has a special meaning.
There is a wonderful story from Saint John about the beginning of Jesus' ministry. John the Baptist remembered the experience of when Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit came to Jesus like a dove and the Spirit remained on him. This was very special. Did you know that John the Baptist had disciples? (let them answer) He did, and they were very loyal to him. But on that day, when Jesus walked by, John called him the Son of God.
Two of John's disciples began to follow Jesus. After a little while Jesus turned around and asked the two men why they were following him. The disciples were kind of surprised that Jesus spoke to them and they said they wanted to know where he was staying. Jesus told them to come along and see!
They stayed with Jesus the whole day. One of the disciples of John who followed Jesus was a man named Andrew and he wanted his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus. He told Simon that he had found the Messiah. Simon was very interested and went back with Andrew to meet Jesus and introduce himself. But Jesus already knew who he was and he said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas, which means Peter."
Jesus just met him and changed his name. It was Simon all of his life but now it was going to be Peter. Isn't that surprising? (let them answer) Suppose I saw you one day and I said to you, "You are Jane but you are to be called Rebecca." How would you feel? (let them answer)
Of course Jesus had a reason for doing this. Do you know what Peter means? (let them answer) Peter means "rock." What does a rock mean to you? (let them answer) Why do you think Jesus wanted to call Simon "Rock?" (let them answer)
Peter was strong and was well-respected. He was the leader of the disciples and they all felt they could count on Peter. Later on we'll learn that Jesus told Peter that he would build his church on Peter's faith.
So the next time you see a real rock remember that Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter. And if you hear the name Peter you can remember that it means "the rock."
There is a wonderful story from Saint John about the beginning of Jesus' ministry. John the Baptist remembered the experience of when Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit came to Jesus like a dove and the Spirit remained on him. This was very special. Did you know that John the Baptist had disciples? (let them answer) He did, and they were very loyal to him. But on that day, when Jesus walked by, John called him the Son of God.
Two of John's disciples began to follow Jesus. After a little while Jesus turned around and asked the two men why they were following him. The disciples were kind of surprised that Jesus spoke to them and they said they wanted to know where he was staying. Jesus told them to come along and see!
They stayed with Jesus the whole day. One of the disciples of John who followed Jesus was a man named Andrew and he wanted his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus. He told Simon that he had found the Messiah. Simon was very interested and went back with Andrew to meet Jesus and introduce himself. But Jesus already knew who he was and he said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas, which means Peter."
Jesus just met him and changed his name. It was Simon all of his life but now it was going to be Peter. Isn't that surprising? (let them answer) Suppose I saw you one day and I said to you, "You are Jane but you are to be called Rebecca." How would you feel? (let them answer)
Of course Jesus had a reason for doing this. Do you know what Peter means? (let them answer) Peter means "rock." What does a rock mean to you? (let them answer) Why do you think Jesus wanted to call Simon "Rock?" (let them answer)
Peter was strong and was well-respected. He was the leader of the disciples and they all felt they could count on Peter. Later on we'll learn that Jesus told Peter that he would build his church on Peter's faith.
So the next time you see a real rock remember that Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter. And if you hear the name Peter you can remember that it means "the rock."
