Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 minute)

Hello everyone, and welcome! I am excited to start our new Superbook adventure today about how King Solomon built the Temple. Solomon is famous for his wisdom. He is also known for building a magnificent structure to honor God. We’ll learn more about this, and also find out what Chris, Joy and Gizmo are doing.

Play Video 2: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma(5 minutes)

Chris and Joy's Dilemma

Chris is excited that his team will compete in a championship using the robot he designed—until he learns that he can’t go.

SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)

What was Solomon going to build that God would not allow his father, King David, to build? A Temple.

The SuperTruth today is: “God’s ways are above our ways.” Let’s say that together. “God’s ways are above our ways.”

His ways are always right and just. He acts according to His Word and His holy nature—every time. He is forever faithful. His heart and His will is for everyone to be saved. People can be unwise and act selfishly and sinfully—but God always does the right thing.

What kind of competition is Chris involved in? Robot battle.

Chris’s team was selected to go to the finals, so why was he upset? Only three people from each team could go, and his team didn’t select him.

Chris had designed the robot—yet the other team members had the skills needed for the actual competition. Who thinks Chris deserves to go? Children raise hands.

Who thinks the other three team members should go? Children raise hands.

This is a very tough decision. Let’s watch the rest of the video to see how it all plays out!

Play Video 3: Bible Story and Resolution (20 minutes)

Bible Story and Resolution

Superbook takes Chris, Joy and Gizmo to meet young Solomon, who will soon become Israel’s king. His father, King David, has designed and gathered materials for the Temple. David isn’t allowed by God to build it, so he gives Solomon instructions on how to do it. Chris learns that being part of God’s plan is best of all.

Play Video 10A: SuperVerse Graphic

SuperVerse Graphic 1

Graphic loops 2.5 minutes without audio; turn off or freeze video after children repeat the verse.

SuperVerse Discussion (1 minute)

Our SuperVerse today is Isaiah 55:9:

Let’s say that together. Isaiah 55:9:

Stand on your toes and reach up as high as you can. Can anyone touch the sky? No.

Just like we cannot touch the heavens, God’s ways and thoughts are far beyond our reach!

Let’s say the SuperVerse again; this time, each time we say “higher,” lift your hands as high as you can and raise your voice as loud as you can. Ready? Isaiah 55:9:

Children will have more time to learn the SuperVerse in Small Group. If younger children are not able to memorize the entire verse, be sure they understand its meaning.

Prayer and Send-Off (1 minute)

Dear God, even though You are far above us in heaven, You come and live in our hearts when we trust in Your Son, Jesus. Your ways are perfect and just. Your thoughts toward us are full of love, compassion, and mercy. Your ways are too deep and wonderful for us to understand. We praise You for who You are. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

It took Solomon 7 years to build the Temple according to God’s plan. In Small Group, you are going to construct a building following a plan. The good news is that it won’t take you 7 years. Let’s get to work!

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.

Game

Chris designed a robot that Team Quantum built according to his plan. Solomon built the Temple according to God’s building plan and specifications. He may not have understood why God chose certain designs and materials, yet he chose to obey and not take any shortcuts!

Stand at the block pile and hold up a blueprint. 

Today, when architects design buildings, they create something called blueprints for the construction workers to follow. In this activity, you will work in pairs to build a temple according to a blueprint. This is the quarry with all of the building blocks. When it’s your turn, take the blocks from your team’s storage pile to your table to build a temple. You may need to make more than one trip! Then follow the blueprint carefully to build your structure.

Divide the children into two even teams. One child may need to play twice.

The children on each team will work in pairs. Try to pair children with someone they don’t know well, and put older children with younger ones.

Have the teams make two separate lines behind the mark.

Say “Go”; the first pair of workers for each team will walk quickly to a pile and carry all 30 blocks to their team’s table. Then, the workers will construct a building according to the plan.

When a pair finishes, a leader will verify that the building is built according to the blueprint or identify what needs to be corrected. Once the building is accepted, that pair carries the 30 blocks back to the middle position on the floor, returns to the team line, and the next pair of workers takes their turn. Continue this way until all the pairs of workers for a team have successfully built a temple. That team is the winner. Play another round if time allows.

Conclusion: Like Solomon, we must obey God and trust that He always does what is best, according to His purpose. 

Teaching

King David loved God and wanted to build a Temple to worship and honor the Lord. At first, God’s prophet Nathan agreed.

Read 2 Samuel 7:3:

Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”

But on that same night, God corrected Nathan and said that David would not be the one to build the Temple.

What we think is good may not be what is really best. That’s why we should seek God in everything we do.

Bring out the two balloons and place them on the floor where everyone can see them. Point to the “US” balloon. This represents our thoughts and ways. Point to the helium “GOD” balloon, held down on the floor by the weight. This represents God’s thoughts and ways.

Untie the helium balloon from the weight and let it rise to the ceiling, with its long string trailing so you can pull it down later.

Let’s say the SuperVerse together. Isaiah 55:9:

“Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, My thoughts and My ways are higher than yours.”

Whose thoughts and ways are higher? God’s!

If we were outside, what would happen to the balloon? It would rise to the sky.

When King David grew very old, Adonijah was his oldest surviving son and could have been named king. In fact, Adonijah declared himself king without David’s blessing. Yet, God had a different plan.

Point to the “US” balloon. We all think we know what we want and what is best. Yet as humans, our thinking and vision are limited. We see a very small picture—like this. Hold up the folded world map so everyone can see the Superbook children. In the Superbook video, what problem was Chris focused on? Not being chosen to attend the robot battle.

Chris felt he should attend the competition since he designed the robot. But after visiting Solomon, Chris realized that he had missed the big picture, and his thinking was not best for the team.

Unfold the map and show children the whole world. God is high above the heavens, and He sees the whole picture. He created the entire universe and knows how everything works. He is working everything for our good and according to His master plan. He alone understands what is best in every situation. He is always faithful and good.

Raise up the “US” balloon and drop it to the floor. Our thoughts and ways are up and down and inconsistent.

Point to the two balloons. So, which balloon would you rather be like? Children answer.

Read Colossians 3:1–2:

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Point to the “GOD” balloon. For us to grow spiritually, we must allow the Holy Spirit to change the way we think. When we accept Jesus, we become a new person. He washes away our sins and comes into our hearts to fill us with His love, power and wisdom. God will show us His perspective on things when we ask. The more time we spend with God, the more we can become like Christ!

Now let’s learn about a temple that is alive!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give each child a God’s Temple page. Display the model craft and have children follow the instructions to make their crafts.

Solomon built the Temple during the time of the Old Testament. The New Testament explains that God’s Spirit cannot be contained in a building.

Read Acts 7:46–50:

“David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who actually built it. However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says, ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Could you build Me a temple as good as that?’ asks the LORD. ‘Could you build Me such a resting place? Didn’t My hands make both heaven and earth?’”

God created the entire universe, and He is much too big to fit inside any building made by human hands. Yet when we accept Jesus as our Savior, His Spirit comes to live in our hearts, and we become God’s holy, living Temple!

Read 1 Corinthians 3:16 (CEV):

All of you surely know that you are God’s temple and that His Spirit lives in you.

Solomon’s Temple took 7 years to build. The Holy Spirit will continue to build our Temple for the rest of our lives! As we walk in obedience to Him, our Temple will grow more and more like Christ. That is what this Discipleship Challenge is about. In each lesson, we will learn about some items or furnishings of Solomon’s Temple and compare them to what God does in our own Temples.

Let’s look at the two pieces for Lesson 1: “My Temple Is Holy.” The Bronze Sea was a large metal basin where the priests washed before serving in the Temple. At home, read 1 John 1:9 and discuss how Jesus cleanses us. Then ask Jesus to cleanse you and forgive your sins. The Bronze Altar was where the priests offered animal sacrifices to cover the sins of the people. At home, read Hebrews 9:14 and discuss how Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Each day, thank Jesus for giving His life to pay the price for our sins so we can become right with God.

Next time we meet, we will talk about your experience with this challenge.

Optional: read 1 Peter 2:5:

And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

SuperVerse

Have children sit on the floor facing the board. 

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Isaiah 55:9:

“Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, My thoughts and My ways are higher than yours.”

Have the children turn their heads and lower 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, then have the children look at the board and raise their hands to tell you what word should be fixed. Vary the order of the list as children become familiar with the activity. Write in the correct word, then repeat the process. 

• Change “heavens” to “clouds”
• Change “higher” to “lower”
• Change “earth” to “moon”
• Change “My” to “His”
• Change “thoughts” to “voice”
• Change “ways” to “wants”
• Change “higher” to “wider”
• Change “yours” to “years”

Ask if any children can say the entire verse correctly without looking.

Conclusion: I am so glad that God’s thoughts and ways are above mine! He is filled with love and wisdom. He is faithful, all He does for us is good, and His plans for us are good! 

Prayer

We have been learning that God’s thoughts are so much higher than ours.

Human thinking often focuses on negative, wicked, unclean, or selfish things. For example, you may be jealous of a friend’s toy, or angry at your parents for telling you to do a chore. These thoughts are harmful to us and others and do not build up or encourage. This kind of thinking does not strengthen us spiritually. So what kind of thoughts will please God?

Read Philippians 4:8 (CEV):

Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.

This verse lists things we can fill our minds with that are pleasing to God. Thoughts like these are uplifting and encouraging. They give hope to us and those around us. These thoughts draw us closer to God.

Let’s close our eyes and ask the Holy Spirit to forgive us for thoughts that are negative, unclean, harmful, or selfish. Allow children time to pray.

Now, let’s focus on thoughts that please God. Pause for a few seconds after listing each pair of thoughts.

Things that are true and pure …

Right and holy …

Friendly and proper …

Things that are worthwhile and worthy of praising You, Lord!

Close in prayer: Dear God, Your thoughts are much higher than ours. Help us keep our minds and hearts fixed on things that please You. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Action Game

As followers of Christ, our goal is to be more like Him in the way we think and act. Several years ago, a popular item for Christians to wear was a WWJD bracelet. Does anyone know what the letters stand for? What Would Jesus Do?

The purpose was for us to consider how Jesus would think or act in situations.

Read Romans 12:2:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

The key is to allow God to change or transform our thoughts to His thoughts. When our thoughts change, our actions should follow. In this game, you will play as teams. Each team will come up with their own name based on God’s thoughts or ways. For instance; People of Patience, Joy Team, Goodness Group, Kids of Kindness, Mercy Mob, etc. I will write the team names on the board. Each balloon represents a thought; it can be a higher “God thought” or a lower “worldly thought.” When the balloon is not touching the floor—it is a higher thought of God. When a balloon is on the ground it is a lower worldly thought. The goal for each team is to have as many “God thoughts” as possible before time runs out.

• Divide the children into teams of two or three depending on the size of the class. Teams should be equal in size. If necessary, form a team or teams of two 5^th or 6^th graders to provide more of a challenge and even teams out.
• Give teams a minute to decide on their names. Write the names on the board.
• Place the ten balloons in the center of the room.
  
• Start the clock and randomly vary the time for each round, from 10–20 seconds. Don’t announce the time you choose for each round so teams can’t strategize to throw the balloons in the air just before time expires. When time is up, sound the buzzer or bell so children know they must stop instantly.
• Each team on their turn will try to keep as many balloons in the air as possible by batting or hitting the balloon with any part of their body. The only thing that is illegal is holding a balloon or trapping balloons against a body part. No point is scored for any balloon illegally kept off the floor.
• Players will attempt to keep as many balloons airborne as possible as time runs out. All players will help to count how many balloons were in the air when time expires.
• Teams receive one point for each balloon that was in the air.
• Record the points and another team takes a turn. Play as many rounds as time permits; tally the points and the team with the most points wins.

Conclusion: That looked like a fun challenge. As followers of Christ, our goal is to become more like Him; that means to allow the Holy Spirit of God to fill us with His thoughts to replace our thoughts.

Card Game

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Isaiah 55:9:

“Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, My thoughts and My ways are higher than yours.”

In this game, each pile has two kinds of cards: higher thoughts and ways that belong to God and lower thoughts and ways that belong to people. Players will walk quickly to their team’s pile of cards and select one, then quickly walk to the wall, tear off a small strip of tape, and tape the card under the Heaven sign or the Earth sign—whichever the player thinks is correct. Keep the cards on your team’s side of the dividing line. If a player reads the card and doesn’t understand the word, that card can be placed back in the pile and the player may select another card.

The player will then quickly return to their team line and the next player takes a turn. If a team believes that a sign has been placed under the wrong sign, another player may change it on his/her turn. The first team to place all of their signs correctly wins.

Divide the children into two teams. Mix older and younger children on both teams.

Have the teams stand several feet apart and in line with a pile of cards. If you prefer, a teacher and another leader or volunteers may stand near the wall and tear off strips of tape for the players.

Conclusion: As we read God’s Word and pray, we will sense God speaking to our hearts. The more we spend time with Jesus, the more we can be like Him. 

Maze

Give each child a copy of the Solomon Becomes King Maze and a pencil. Have children write their names at the bottom. Tell the brief story of Solomon’s anointing using the discussion points below as the children complete the activity. 

• King David found out that his oldest son Adonijah had made himself king. David vowed to God that Solomon would be king.
• David ordered his officials to take Solomon to Gihon Spring to become king.
• David told Solomon to ride the king’s own mule. A mule was the proper animal for a king to ride on at that time. For Solomon to ride King David’s mule signified that he was laying claim to the throne and that he would sit on the throne after David died.*
• The prophet and priest anointed Solomon at Gihon Spring. As they returned to Jerusalem, they sounded the ram’s horns and the people shouted: “Long live King Solomon!” They jumped for joy and shouted so loud that the ground shook!
• At the same time, Adonijah and his guests were finishing their banquet celebrating Adonijah’s claim to be king.
• Adonijah found out that Solomon had been declared king and was sitting on the throne. Adonijah and his followers panicked and fled in fear.

Conclusion: Take your maze home and talk with your family about how God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Adonijah tried to place himself above God’s plan. He was defeated and Solomon became king. God’s plans will prevail!

* Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary page 350; The IVP Bible Background Commentary page 356.

Bible Study

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Isaiah 55:9:

“Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, My thoughts and My ways are higher than yours.”

Let’s look deeper into God’s thoughts and ways toward us.

Give each child a Bible. Have children look up the verses and take turns reading one verse at a time. Then lead a discussion with the information below.

1. Psalm 92:1–5:

¹ It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High. ² It is good to proclaim Your unfailing love in the morning, Your faithfulness in the evening, ³ accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre. ⁴ You thrill me, LORD, with all You have done for me! I sing for joy because of what You have done. ⁵ O LORD, what great works You do! And how deep are Your thoughts.

• How can we express our appreciation to God? Give thanks, sing praises.
• Looking at verse 1, why do you think God deserves our praise over others? He is the Most High God; no one compares to Him!
• What is the reason for praising God in verse 2? His unfailing love and faithfulness.
• In verse 2, what does it mean to proclaim His love? We can praise God for His love; and also proclaim His faithfulness, love, and all He has done for us, others, friends, family, all who we come in contact with.
• What do verses 4–5 tell us about God’s ways and thoughts? He has deep thoughts—planned thoughts and actions for our good. God’s ways are to bless, help and provide for us—above and beyond what is expected.

2. 1 Corinthians 2:9–12,16:

⁹ That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” ¹⁰ But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. ¹¹ No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. ¹² And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. ¹⁶ For, “Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach Him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

• In your own words, what does verse 9 say about God’s plans for us? We can’t possibly know what good things He has planned for us. They are beyond what we humanly can figure out or guess.
• According to verses 10–11, how can we know God’s ways and thoughts? By His Spirit. The Spirit knows God’s secrets that are hidden from our limited vision and understanding. The Spirit shows us what we can’t see with our natural eyes. We only know human things—we need God’s Spirit to know supernatural things of God.
• How do we receive God’s Spirit? He gives His Spirit as a free gift to us.
• In verse 12, what is something God gives us? He gives wonderful things to us as free gifts.
• What do you think verse 16 means? When the Holy Spirit replaces our thoughts with God’s thoughts, we begin to think like Christ rather than thinking worldly or human thoughts. Our thoughts are of God and doing His will and plan in stead of our own more selfish desires.

3. Ephesians 3:18–20:

¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. ²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

• Paul is praying for and blessing the people in the church at Ephesus. In verses 18–19, what is he praying for the people to know about God? How much He loves us—to try to comprehend His love for us. That they would have God’s power to understand.
• Considering verse 18–19, why do you think it is hard to fully understand God’s love? Our thoughts are limited. His loving thoughts for and ways toward us are without limit. They are so much greater and higher than we can possibly understand.
• God’s higher way is to love us, more than we can possibly love Him back or show love to others. When we experience His unconditional love, what happens to us? We are made complete, filled with power, and experience His things that we couldn’t possibly enjoy without Him. His way is to give us more than we can imagine.
• Why should verse 20 be exciting to us? His power is at work in us. We can’t possibly imagine what God has planned for us and what He will do through and in us. No matter how hard we might try to imagine what He will do, His ways and thoughts are so much beyond and higher than ours. He gives us more than we could possibly ask for.

Conclusion: As we discussed in these verses, our limited thinking and vision cannot fully understand God’s loving ways and thoughts for us. Whatever we can imagine, it is just a tiny glimpse of what our amazing God knows and does!