Breakfast on the Beach
John 21:1-19 New Testament PrincipleForgiveness
Peter had said three times that he didn't know Jesus. After Jesus rose, Peter went fishing and caught nothing all night. In the morning, Jesus filled their net with fish and made them breakfast on the beach. Then He asked Peter three times, "Do you love Me?" Jesus forgave Peter and gave him a new job. Jesus forgives us and gives us a fresh start.
Jesus forgives us completely when we turn to Him, even after our worst failures. Then He welcomes us back and gives us a fresh start to love and serve Him.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”
Lamentations 3:22-23 BSB
The Big Story · Redemption
Sin breaks our friendship with God, and we can't fix it ourselves. Jesus died and rose again to bring us back. He forgives His friends who fail and makes them new.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Three strikes
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): Tie a net
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Full net
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus forgives me and loves me!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Fishing for friends, Color the fish
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Peter had said three times that he didn't know Jesus. After Jesus rose, Peter went fishing and caught nothing. In the morning, Jesus filled their net with fish and made breakfast on the beach. Then Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love Me?" Jesus forgave Peter and gave him a new job. Jesus forgives us too.
Memory verse
“His mercies never fail. They are new every morning.”
Adapted from Lamentations 3:22-23
Start here
Ask, "Have you ever done something wrong and felt sad about it for a long time?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today Peter felt very sad about something. Let's see what Jesus did."
Bible story 6 min
One night men took Jesus away. Peter was scared. He stood by a fire to get warm. Three times people asked, "Are you His friend?" Three times Peter said, "No! I don't know Him!"
Peter cried and cried.
Then Jesus rose from the dead! One night, Peter and his friends went fishing. All night, they caught nothing.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Dasch Digs Up: Did You Know?
The disciples fished all night and caught nothing!
John 21:3
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
You’ll need: A blanket
- Choose Jesus, Peter and John. Everyone else is the disciples. The blanket is the net.
- Act out the skit.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
The night Jesus was arrested, Peter denied knowing Him three times beside a charcoal fire. After the resurrection, Jesus met Peter at the Sea of Galilee, filled his empty net and cooked breakfast on another charcoal fire. Then He asked Peter three times, "Do you love Me?" and gave him the job of caring for His people. Jesus' forgiveness restores us completely.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Two fires, Full net
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Peter, who had boasted he would never fall away, denied Jesus three times beside a charcoal fire. After the resurrection, Jesus met him at the lake where He first called him, repeated the miracle of the full net and fed him at another charcoal fire. Three questions answered three denials, and "Follow Me" renewed his calling. Jesus' forgiveness doesn't just cancel failure. It restores us to serve.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Called again, By the fire
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Forgiveness
The same principle in other Bible stories.
The Church BeginsStephen ForgivesActs 6:8-8:4; Luke 23:34, 46Stephen loved Jesus and told others about Him. When angry men hurt him, Stephen saw Jesus in heaven and prayed, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them," forgiving them just as Jesus forgave.New TestamentForgiveness
In the BeginningJoseph Forgives His BrothersGenesis 41:1-45:15; Genesis 50:15-21God turned the evil Joseph's brothers did into good, and Joseph forgave them, a picture of how Jesus forgives us.Old TestamentForgiveness