Single lesson
1 Peter 5: Instructions to Elders
1 Peter 5:1–4; 1 Peter 5:5–9; 1 Peter 5:10–14
In 1 Peter 5, Peter speaks to elders, to younger people, and then to everyone. This lesson helps children trace the chapter’s flow from caring leadership, to humility and trust, to watchfulness, grace and peace.
Before you teach
The passage has three linked parts. Peter urges elders to shepherd God’s flock willingly and as examples. He then tells younger people and all believers to be humble, to cast their worries on God, and to stay watchful. The chapter closes with prayer, testimony about God’s grace, and greetings of peace.
Students will be able to name three main instructions from 1 Peter 5 and explain how the chapter moves from leadership, to humility and watchfulness, to prayer and peace.
Welcome: Shepherding God’s flock
5 minIntroduce the chapter’s picture of leadership. Peter urges elders to shepherd the flock of God among them and to exercise oversight willingly. They are not to act for dishonest gain or to lord it over others. Instead, they are to be examples, remembering the chief Shepherd and the crown of glory that does not fade away.
1 Peter 5:1, 1 Peter 5:2, 1 Peter 5:3, 1 Peter 5:4
Read and explain: Clothed with humility
7 minRead verses 5 to 7 aloud. Peter first addresses younger people, then says all of you should clothe yourselves with humility and be subject to one another. The passage gives clear reasons: God gives grace to the humble, and believers can cast all their worries on him because he cares for them.
1 Peter 5:5, 1 Peter 5:6, 1 Peter 5:7
Discuss: Watchful and steadfast
6 minExplain that Peter tells believers to be sober, self-controlled and watchful. He says the devil is an adversary who walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Peter’s response is to withstand him, remain steadfast in faith, and remember that other believers in the world undergo the same sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8, 1 Peter 5:9
Make and respond: Reminder card from the chapter
8 minChildren choose one short line from the chapter, such as ‘clothe yourselves with humility’, ‘casting all your worries on him’, or ‘be watchful’. They make a card with words and a matching symbol, then add one realistic response, such as asking for help, praying about a worry, or choosing to be an example.
1 Peter 5:3, 1 Peter 5:5, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Peter 5:8
Closing: Grace, strength and peace
4 minFinish with the chapter’s ending. Peter prays to the God of all grace, who called believers to eternal glory by Christ Jesus, asking that after suffering a little while he will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle them. Peter says this is the true grace of God in which they stand, and he closes with peace.
1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 5:11, 1 Peter 5:12, 1 Peter 5:14
Questions to explore
According to the chapter, what kind of leader should an elder be?
Look for the contrasts in the text: willingly, not for dishonest gain, not lording it over others, and being an example to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2, 1 Peter 5:3
What reasons does Peter give for humility and for casting worries on God?
Use the reasons Peter gives: God gives grace to the humble, he may exalt in due time, and he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:5, 1 Peter 5:6, 1 Peter 5:7
How does the end of the chapter encourage believers who suffer?
Notice Peter’s prayer that God will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle them, his statement about the true grace of God, and his closing word of peace.
1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 5:12, 1 Peter 5:14
Make, think or respond
1 Peter 5 Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- index cards or paper
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or markers
- Bible text
Try it together
- Ask each child to choose one key line from 1 Peter 5, such as words from verse 3, verse 5, verse 7 or verse 8.
- Write the chosen words on one side of a card and decorate it with a simple matching symbol, such as a staff for shepherding, open hands for casting worries, or clothing for humility.
- On the other side, write one realistic response, such as ‘I will pray about my worry’ or ‘I will be an example’.
- Invite children to share how their verse connects to the chapter’s teaching about leadership, humility, watchfulness, or God’s grace and peace.
This activity helps children keep one clear instruction or comfort from 1 Peter 5 in view and connect it to the chapter’s main teaching.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two or three short phrase choices from the passage and let them draw the meaning instead of writing a full response.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to explain how their chosen verse connects with the elders’ instructions, the warning to be watchful, or Peter’s prayer and testimony at the end of the chapter.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: ‘God of all grace, please help us be humble, trust your care, stay watchful, and be good examples to others. Please strengthen us and give us peace in Christ Jesus. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Peter 5
1 Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed:
2 shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly;
3 not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
4 When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.
5 Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
8 Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11 To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you. So does Mark, my son.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.