Leader Guide
Object Lesson
- Bible or the Superbook Bible App
- Two small disposable cups
- String—10 feet or longer
- Marker
- Sharp pencil
- Table—8 feet long, if possible
- Child helper
- Optional: tape
Use the marker to write “Me” on one cup and “Jesus” on the other—see illustration.
Carefully poke a small hole with the pencil near the top, to the left of Me on the “Me” cup. Carefully poke a small hole with the pencil near the top, to the right of Jesus on the “Jesus” cup.
Insert one end of the string through the outside of each cup and tie a knot inside each cup. The knot must be large enough to prevent the string from pulling through the cup when tugged. You may tape the ends.
Loosely gather the excess string, being careful not to knot it, and place it under the “Jesus” cup.
Turn the cups upside down at the left end of the table, from the children’s perspective, so the top rims rest on the table. Place the cups side by side with the writing facing the children.
Let’s say our SuperVerse, Romans 8:39:
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Peter allowed fear to come into his life when Jesus was arrested. He followed Jesus from a distance and eventually denied knowing Him at all! Peter was heartbroken and believed that he was separated from Jesus’ love—maybe forever! Was this the truth?
Jesus’ love for Peter had not changed. After Peter was fishing with the disciples, Jesus came to him on the shore. Jesus let Peter know that He still loved him and wanted him to be a fisher of men!
Our SuperTruth says: “Jesus loves me no matter what I’ve done.” We must be on the alert for Satan, because He will try to convince us that we have done something bad enough for Jesus to stop loving us! We may feel unlovable at times, but the truth is, Jesus’ love never stops!
Stand behind the table with the child helper. Have the child place a hand on top of the “Jesus” cup so it doesn’t move.
As you can see, these cups represent Jesus and us. Let’s say that we make a bad choice; we do something that we know is wrong. Like Peter, we may feel ashamed and separated from Jesus. Slide the “Me” cup a foot or two away from the “Jesus” cup. The string should follow automatically. Then lift up the string slightly.
Can you see the string? This string represents God’s love for us, revealed through Jesus. We may feel separated from God’s love, but are we really?
We are still connected!
Continue to slowly slide the “Me” cup away from the “Jesus” cup as you talk. You may carry it past the edge of the table if the string allows. The truth is, no matter what we do, Jesus still loves us. We cannot be separated from that love!
Peter felt separated from Jesus, but that was not the truth. Jesus came to find Peter and called out to him. He assured Peter that He was still a part of God’s plan, and then He gave him an important job—to care for His lambs and sheep. Jesus never stopped loving Peter!
No matter what we do or how far away we feel from God’s love—the fact is that we can never be separated from God’s love!
Put the “Me” cup on the table, let it go, and have the child helper gently pull the string to reel it in until it touches the “Jesus” cup.
Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “Jesus loves me no matter what I’ve done.”