Leader Guide
Video Leader Guide
Select a video to have playing as children enter the Large Group room. Videos are under Resources on the top menu bar.
Have Small Group leaders greet the children as they enter the Large Group room and engage them in a game or conversation until time for Large Group to begin.
Welcome (1 minute)
Welcome back, everyone! Today is the second lesson of our Superbook adventure, “Elisha and the Syrians.” Do any of you like to be treated unkindly?
No, we don’t want people to be unkind to us. Today, we will learn about showing kindness and mercy to others. God showed kindness and mercy to us when He sent His Son Jesus to die for us. Let’s stand and worship Jesus today with our music video called Celebrate Your Victory!
Play Video 11: (Song) Celebrate Your Victory! (3.5 minutes)
Be sure to preview the song so you can sing along and do the motions with the children.
Celebrate Your Victory
SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)
When someone does something mean to you, what is usually the first thing you want to do? Get even; pay them back.
Do you think that’s what God wants us to do? No.
We receive mercy and kindness from God every day, even when we don’t deserve it! That is how He wants us to respond to others—even when they don’t deserve it. When we show mercy and kindness to others, we bring glory and honor to God.
That’s why our SuperTruth for today is: “I will show mercy and kindness to all people.” Let’s say it together.
Introduce Condensed Bible Story (1 minute)
If all children watched the Bible story video in the previous lesson, you may skip it here and go straight to the Bible Background Video.
If you were here last time, what did Joy want to do when a girl posted an embarrassing video of her? She wanted to post an embarrassing video of that girl.
That’s when Superbook whisked her away, along with Chris and Gizmo. Where did they land? By the Jordan River.
What special technology did Gizmo use by the Jordan River? Sonar.
For those who haven’t seen our Superbook video yet, we are going to watch a short version of “Elisha and the Syrians.” If you have already seen it, notice all the ways that Elisha showed kindness to others.
Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story (10.5 minutes)
Condensed Bible Story
Superbook takes Chris, Joy and Gizmo to meet the prophet Elisha after his master, Elijah, has been taken up to heaven. Witness how the Syrians try to capture Elisha—and what he does after trapping their army inside an Israelite city! The children discover that mercy can accomplish much more than revenge.
Discussion (2 minutes)
What are some ways that Elisha showed kindness to people? When a man’s ax head fell into the river and was lost, Elisha threw a stick into the river and the ax head floated to the top. When Elisha’s servant was afraid of the Syrians, Elisha helped him see God’s forces that were greater. When the Syrians were trapped in the city of Samaria, Elisha told the king to feed them and let them go home instead of killing them.
Elisha sounds like a very kind person! So why was the Syrian king angry at him? Elisha warned Israel’s king about the Syrian army’s plans so they would be alert and ready for an attack.
Introduce Bible Background Video (1 minute)
Now we’ll learn more about the prophet Elisha and the Syrians who weren’t very pleased with him in our Bible Background video.
Emphasize the pronunciation of names so children understand the distinction.
We’ll also explore some important places that Elisha and his master, Elijah, visited together. When Gizmo asks a question, wait for him to give some possible answers, then call out the one you think is right!
Play Video 5: Bible Background (8.5 minutes)
Bible Background
Play Video 10B: SuperVerse Graphic 2
Graphic loops3 minutes without audio; turn off or freeze video after children repeat the verse.
SuperVerse Graphic 2
SuperVerse Discussion (1 minute)
Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Matthew 5:44:
“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”
Does anyone know who originally said these words? Jesus.
Is it easy or hard to love your enemies? Hard. Why? If someone mistreats us or makes fun of us, we don’t want to be kind to them or show them love. If we have been hurt, we would rather see them punished or avoid talking or thinking about them.
I would say this is probably one of the most difficult things that we are asked to do as followers of Christ. We will find out in Small Group how God helps us to do this!
Prayer and Send-Off (1 minute)
Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, help us to show mercy and kindness to all people. Give us Your power to love others, even our enemies, and to pray for them. We cannot do this without Your love inside us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Let’s go to Small Group where you will play a game about choosing between mercy and kindness.
Teachers take children to Small Group classes for Grades 1–3 and 4–6. If the combined group is small, all children may stay together for Small Group time.