Faith Foundation: Jesus is the ROCK
Bible Lesson and Craft - ROCK Necklace
From Lesson Nine of, Tell Me The Story of
Jesus.
Read Matthew 16:17-18 from a child-friendly Bible.
Peter's name in Greek is "Petros," which means small stone. "Petros" sounds very similar to another Greek word, "Petra," which means rock or boulder. Jesus used these two Greek words, "Petros," small stone, and "Petra,"
boulder, when speaking to Peter.*
If we could understand Greek, Jesus' statement would have sounded something like this:
"Jesus, replied, 'Blessed are you "Petros" or "Small Stone," for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my heavenly Father. And I tell you that you are "Petros," "Small Stone," and on this "Petra" or "Boulder" I will build my church."
Jesus did not say on this "Petros" or small stone I will build my church. He said, "On this rock or boulder, on this
"Petra," I will build my church." Jesus was referring to Peter's boulder
statement, and not to Peter. And what was Peter's boulder statement? He said, "You (Jesus) are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." His statement concerning Jesus, is the boulder, the "Petra," or the foundation of our Christian faith. The church must be built on Jesus and no one else.
If we do not build our lives on Jesus and his teachings, if we trust in anyone or anything else, we will crumble and fall like a house that
isn't built on a strong foundation. To remember this important message we will make "ROCK" Necklaces.
ROCK Necklace
What You Need: Flat, polished river rocks or colored landscape rocks (Approximately 1" in diameter, available in craft or garden stores. Polished rocks are more difficult to work with.), 20 gauge copper or brass wire, scissors, needle nose pliers, hole punch,
Peter's confession (in the patterns section of the book), 2-1/2' jute or strips of rawhide, hot glue.
What You Do: Cut out pattern, from book, and punch hole. Beginning at the back of the stone, wrap wire tightly around rock so as to encase it (see
above). Twist ends of wire shut with needle nose pliers. Turn ends of wire under. String jute through top of wire. Cut out Bible verse, punch hole and slide onto jute. Adjust necklace length to fit over
child's head and tie shut.
Copyright 2005 Sarah Keith
sarah@SundaySchoolNetwork.com
* Strong's Exhaustive Concordance - Greek Bible Dictionary states:
4073. Petra; fem. of the same as 4074; (a mass of) rock (lit. or fig.):-rock.
4074. Petros; appar. a prim. word; a (piece of) rock (larger than 3037); as a name, Petrus, an apostle:- Peter, rock.
3037. lithos; appar. a prim. word; a stone (lit. or fig.):- (mill-, stumbling-) stone.
Peter understood that Jesus, not himself, was the boulder-foundation of the church. (See 1 Peter 2:4-10, Acts 10:25-26; also Revelation: 21:14.)
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