Leader Guide

SuperVerse

Have the children sit on the floor facing the board. Paul and Silas were dragged before the city officials, beaten, and thrown into prison with their feet locked in stocks. And they didn’t do anything wrong! They set a girl free from an evil spirit and from her wicked masters who made money by using her and controlling her. Paul and Silas could have been angry and bitter, yet they chose to be thankful and rejoice. 

What did they have to be thankful for as they sat in that dark prison? They had Jesus as their Savior; they were directed by God’s Spirit and were in the place God wanted them to be. They were persecuted because they represented and served Christ.      

Paul and Silas knew they were in jail because God had a purpose for them. They were thankful God was using them to bring the Good News to others. They wanted other people to have salvation, hope and joy that can only come from knowing Jesus! When we belong to Christ, we have reason to be thankful, no matter what happens. This is God’s will for all believers.  

Let’s say our SuperVerse together: 1 Thessalonians 5:18: 

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

Have the children turn their heads, then lower them and/or cover their eyes so they cannot see the board. Using the list below, change one word of the SuperVerse on the board at a time to alter the meaning of the verse, then have the children look at the board and raise their hands to tell you what word should be fixed. Write in the correct word and then repeat the process. You may vary the order of the list. As they become familiar with the verse, erase more than one word at a time.

• Change “thankful” to “angry”
• Change “all” to “some”
• Change “circumstances” to “good times”
• Change “is” to “isn’t”
• Change “God’s” to “Paul’s”
• Change “you” to “others”
• Change “belong” to “object”
• Change “Christ Jesus” to “the world”
• Change “Thessalonians” to “Timothy”

You did a great job! Let’s say the SuperVerse together: 1 Thessalonians 5:18: 

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

I want to do God’s will, don’t you? One way we can do that is to always be thankful! 

Younger children may not be able to memorize the entire SuperVerse. Be sure all children understand its meaning.