1 Peter 5
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Listen. Peter is writing a letter. Peter was a friend of Jesus. Now Peter is old. He has white hair maybe. And he wants to tell the church something important.
Peter writes: take good care of each other. Like a shepherd takes care of his sheep. A shepherd loves his sheep. He knows every sheep by name. He looks for the little lamb when it gets lost. That is how you must be for each other, says Peter.
And listen to the older people, he writes. They know a lot. And be kind. Be very kind to each other.
Then Peter says something important. Very important. He says: God cares for you. God really cares for you. Are you worried? Are you a little scared sometimes? Then give it to God. Just like this. Hand it over. God will carry it.
What Does This Mean?
God sees you. Yes, really. God sees you when you play. God sees you when you sleep. God sees you when you cry. And God says: come to Me. Give Me your worries. I will hold them.
That is a wonderful gift. You do not have to carry heavy things alone. God is bigger. God is stronger. And God loves you.
The Common Thread
Do you know who else was a shepherd? Jesus. Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. Jesus goes looking for every little sheep. Jesus knows your name. He really does. He knows exactly who you are.
And Peter learned this from Jesus. Long ago, Jesus said to Peter: take care of My sheep. And now Peter says it too. Take care of each other. Because that is how Jesus does it.
For You
Sometimes you have a knot in your tummy. Do you know that feeling? A little scared. Or sad. Or worried about something. Maybe about the dark. Maybe about tomorrow.
You can whisper to God. Very softly. You can say: God, here is my worry. Will You hold it? And then God does. He really does. God has big, strong hands. Your worry fits in there easily.
And you? You can be a little shepherd too. For your brother or sister. For your friend at school. Give a hug. Share your cookie. Say something kind. That is how God does it. And you may do it too.
Talk About It
What are you a little scared of sometimes? Shall we tell God about it together?
Who can you be kind to tomorrow? Like a little shepherd?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Thank You that You see me.
Thank You that You are so big and strong.
Here are my worries.
Will You hold them?
Help me to be kind.
Just like Jesus.
Amen.
Questions about 1 Peter 5
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is 1 Peter 5 about?
What does 1 Peter 5 say?
What does 1 Peter 5 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from 1 Peter 5?
Why is 1 Peter 5 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Clothe yourselves with humility, to serve one another." The word Peter uses is the picture of tying on a servant's apron. He had watched Jesus do it, wrapping a towel around his waist to wash feet, including Peter's protesting ones. Humility is something you put on each morning, deliberately. What will you wear today?
Peter writes this to people being hunted, and still he says, "To him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." Not to Rome. Not to the roaring lion prowling a few verses earlier. The power belongs to God, and it always will. Whatever is loud in your life right now, it does not hold the dominion. Say the amen anyway.
Notice the order: "after you have suffered a little while," then God will "perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." Peter does not promise an escape from the fire. He promises what the fire produces. The suffering you are walking through right now is not the end of your story. It is the making of you. And the God of all grace is doing the work Himself.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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