Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 minute)

Welcome everyone! Today is the second lesson of our Superbook adventure, “Rahab and the Walls of Jericho.” I would like to have one girl and one boy tell me something about Rahab or Joshua from the previous lesson.

Good job! God gives us the victory in Christ. Through Him we can overcome anything! Let’s sing praises to God now and thank Him for our victory in Christ! Let’s sing and do the motions to “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho.”

Play Video 11: (Song) Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho* (3 minutes)

*Be sure to preview the song so you can sing along and do the motions with the children. They may clap and do freestyle movements during the animation sections.

Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho

SuperTruth and Discussion (1 minute)

Our SuperTruth today says: “With Christ I can overcome all obstacles.” Who can tell me what an obstacle is?

An obstacle is something that stands in your way and stops you. And what does the word overcome mean?

It means to defeat or be victorious over someone or something. As followers of Christ, we can overcome or defeat all obstacles. Let’s say our SuperTruth together. “With Christ I can overcome all obstacles.”

Have you ever run into an obstacle that kept you from accomplishing something?

Yes, we all have. Yet when we have faith in Christ, we can overcome anything!

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.

In our previous lesson, does anyone remember what problem Joy was facing? She was supposed to work on a project with another girl, but both girls thought the other one didn’t want to work together.

For those of us who have seen the full video, be on the lookout for the answer to this bonus question as you watch this video: Joshua’s spies promised Rahab that she and her family would be safe when Joshua’s army attacked Jericho if she followed their instructions. Where was this place of safety?

Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story (10 minutes)

Condensed Bible Story

Superbooktakes Joy, Chris and Gizmo to Jericho as Joshua and the Israelite army are preparing to attack the walled city. They meet Rahab, who risks her life to hide the Hebrew spies. The children discover that even the highest walls are no match for faith in God!

Discussion (2 minutes)

What do you think Rahab was feeling as the soldiers looked through her house for the spies?

Why do you think God chose to use someone like Rahab, who others might look down on or reject, to help Joshua overcome the obstacle of the walls of Jericho?

Introduce Bible Background Video (1 minute)

Now let’s watch our Bible Background Video and learn more about the story of Joshua, Rahab, and the walls of Jericho. When Gizmo asks a question in the video, wait for him to suggest some 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 3

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

SuperVerse Graphic 2

SuperVerse (1 minute)

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Hebrews 11:30:

It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

God instructed Joshua to have the people do a very unusual thing for seven days. It would have been difficult to remain totally silent and to march while the enemy soldiers watched above them. But the Israelites were obedient, and God performed a miracle! When we trust the Lord, He gives us the power to overcome any obstacles we may face!    

Children will have more time to learn the SuperVerse in Small Group.

Prayer and Send-Off (1 minute)

Let’s pray: Dear God, whenever we feel weak and discouraged, remind us to turn to You in faith. Thank You for giving us everything we need to overcome any obstacle. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Let’s go to our Small Groups and play a game where you will have to overcome some obstacles! Are you ready to see what the game is about? Go have some fun!

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

Let’s play a game where you will go through the course laid out to overcome all the obstacles! But first, does anyone know the answer to the bonus question? Joshua’s spies promised Rahab that she and her family would be safe when Joshua’s army attacked Jericho if she followed their instructions. Where was this place of safety? In Rahab’s house.

Have a child, a fifth or sixth grader if possible, walk through the course as you give instructions to demonstrate the flow of the course and how to perform the activities/obstacles properly. During the activity, have assistants walk through the course to help younger children or those with disabilities. As children participate, have the rest of the children cheer them on and encourage them by shouting things like, “You can overcome it!” “Don’t give up.” etc. Begin the activity and allow each child to have at least one turn through the course.

Options:

• If you have a large group, allow the next player to begin the obstacle course as soon as the previous player finishes the first obstacle.
• Time individuals as they go through the course and write the times on a board.  
• Play as a large group and add times up to get a total time. Run through the course a second time if time permits to try and beat that time.
• If you have extra time at the end of the lesson, you may have children do the obstacle course again for fun.

What obstacle was the most difficult for you?

How can this compare to what we face each day in our lives?

The game today was fun. We used lots of different obstacles that you had to overcome before you could move on to complete the course. The obstacles in life aren’t usually fun; in fact, they can be very difficult and sometimes even scary. However, with Christ, we can overcome them all. Now, let’s learn some more about how Christ helps us overcome obstacles in our lives.

Teaching

Have the class stand at one end of the room in rows of about six children across, about an arm’s length apart in all directions. Stand in the middle of the first row so you can move forward with the children when indicated. When you are talking, turn around to face the class.

Our SuperVerse in Hebrews 11:30 says:

It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

Joshua and the Israelites faced stone walls that stopped them as they traveled into the land God had promised them. Are the walls we face in our lives always going to be made of stone that we can see with our eyes?

In our Large Group time, we talked about how Joy faced an obstacle in a relationship during the Superbook adventure in our previous lesson. What was that obstacle? She and her class partner didn’t get along.

Let’s think of that obstacle as an invisible wall between the two girls. 

Walk two steps forward with the children following your example, then pretend to crash into an invisible wall. You may say, “Ouch! That hurt!”

Invisible walls can stop us from walking out God’s plan, just like Jericho’s walls seemed to stop the Israelites from going deeper into the Promised Land. How did Joy break through the invisible wall between herself and the other girl? Joy complimented Becky’s bracelet that Becky’s mom had made.

Joy’s kind words helped to remove the invisible obstacle in their relationship.

Read Proverbs 15:1:

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

What do you think that verse means? If we speak kindly, we can help make peace; but if we speak in a mean way, people will get mad.

Have everyone put their hands out as if to feel for the invisible wall you ran into earlier, then take a big jump over it together. When Jesus went up to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside all of His followers—like you and me! We can ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom about what we can say or do to help us overcome obstacles. Let’s say the SuperTruth together. “With Christ I can overcome all obstacles.”

Let’s take a deeper look at some invisible obstacles that we may find as we walk the path of God’s will for our lives.

The Bible says some people in the world will try to stop us from believing the truth of God’s Word and following His will. Have you ever heard someone say something like that, and where did you hear it? TV, Internet, school, popular songs, etc.

Let’s say that we hear a person saying that God isn’t real or that He doesn’t love us. Have everyone pretend to crash into an invisible wall again. We don’t want to be pulled off the path that God has for us, so how can we overcome this obstacle?

Read 1 John 4:4 (nkjv):

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Christ, who lives in us, is greater than any TV shows, or any rock stars, or any person—including anyone who says the Bible isn’t true. We may run into many types of invisible obstacles that can try to stop us from serving God. The good news is that we have a way to overcome the world.  

Say the SuperTruth together and all jump over the invisible wall. “With Christ I can overcome all obstacles.”

Read 1 John 5:4–5 (nkjv):

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is such a powerful passage for us who have been born again by believing in Jesus! If you have faith in Christ, YOU are an overcomer! So let’s pretend we are walking along in our life, then suddenly someone tries to tempt us to do something that we know is wrong. Have everyone walk two steps, then pretend to crash into an invisible wall. What are some things we can do to stay strong and overcome the situation? Say no, run from the situation, pray, read the Bible, talk to our parents or other trusted adults, etc.

Let’s shout our SuperTruth as loud as possible, because by faith we are victorious and have overcome the world! As we shout, let’s all take a huge jump over the invisible barrier of the world! Children shout the SuperTruth out and jump over the invisible obstacle.

Note: There is a more detailed discussion of the Teaching material in the Additional Activity for Grades 4–6, What Obstacle?   

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Display the model and distribute a Walls of Jericho Pattern to any children who did not receive it in lesson one.

Our Discipleship Challenge for these three lessons is to pay attention and notice situations in our lives where we need God to help us deal with a hard time or a difficult relationship. We are using this craft as a reminder to pray and ask God for His wisdom, patience, courage, and strength. Did anyone remember to ask God for help when you were facing a hard time, and what happened when you did?

Let’s continue to be alert for times that we should ask God for His help in our everyday lives. The next time we meet, I will give you another chance to share what happened. 

SuperVerse

Our SuperVerse today is Hebrews 11:30:

It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

What an awesome miracle God performed for His people! Do you know that we are God’s people, too—and He still performs miracles today?

How did this miracle happen at Jericho? God moved when the people trusted Him and did all that Joshua instructed them to do. The walls that the people of Jericho trusted were no match for the One True God! No obstacle we face is too big, too strong, or too difficult for God. Like the people of Israel, we must obey God’s instructions by faith. He may tell us to do something. He may tell us to wait on Him. He may tell us to speak or to be silent. By faith, we trust in God’s plan!

Now we are going to do an activity to learn our memory verse. The Israelites circled the walls of Jericho. I am going to circle a word and erase it. And I want you to tell me what word is missing in the circle. Are you ready?

Have children stand for this activity. Say the SuperVerse two times together as children look at the board. Now have children turn their backs to the wall and erase one or two words from the SuperVerse on the board and place a circle in place of two words. Have the children face the board and raise their hands if they think they know what should go in one of the circles. Erase the circle and fill in the word. Ask the class if they agree that it is the correct word. If it is correct, move on to the second word. If it is incorrect, ask another child for the word. Do this a few more times with two different words. If time permits, circle and erase four or more words each time.

You all did a very good job! Now let’s shout the verse together! Children shout the SuperVerse.

Prayer

Read Joshua 6:10:

“Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!”

The Israelites faithfully obeyed their leader, Joshua, who had given them instructions from God. They remained silent until the proper time, then they shouted—and God caused the walls to come crashing down! Let’s take a few minutes now to find a place in the room to pray silently to God, alone. Ask Him to help you overcome any obstacle or difficulty you are facing. What do you need Him to help you with? It could be a bully or a subject you are having difficulty learning at school. Maybe it is a temptation you are facing. It can be anything that you need to overcome. Tell God that you are willing to do anything He instructs you to do.

Give children time to pray alone. Bring children together to stand as a group; then, on the count of three, have everyone shout together, “Praise God for the victory!”

Close in prayer: Dear God, with Christ I can overcome all obstacles. By faith, I believe that You have already given me the victory that I need today. I will continue to praise You for what You have done! In Jesus’ name we all pray, Amen.  

Balloon Game

We are going to work as a team to overcome the obstacles. Obstacles may be caused by people, too! People can cause doubt or fear in our lives, and we must have faith in God’s Word and trust what He says about us and what we are to do!  

Choose eight children to form pairs to be “human obstacles.” Place the pairs in a course similar to the one shown, a course of your own design, or simply one obstacle after another in a straight line. The four pairs of children will stand and face each other and each hold an arm out, fist to fist, to form an “H.” Divide the rest of the class into pairs of children. The pairs will each take a turn to tap or volley the balloon back and forth as they approach each obstacle. One player will then quickly move to the other side of the obstacle so the partner can bat the balloon over the obstacle to overcome it. Players cannot tap the balloon twice in a row; players must alternate as they tap the balloon while moving through the course. Players may tap or bounce the balloon over the obstacles with any part of their body. The balloon cannot be caught, trapped or carried. The balloon is allowed to touch the ground only once during a pair’s turn. If the balloon touches the ground a second time, the team must go to the end of the line and wait to take a turn again.

Demonstrate how to do the game by moving through the course with a child volunteer—a fifth or sixth grader, if possible. Start the game. As a pair completes the course, have them replace a pair that is acting as a “human obstacle” to allow everyone to play the game.  

Options:

• Play the game as a challenge to complete the course, or use a timer to see which pair finishes in the fastest time.
• Lessen the number of obstacles if you choose to use time limitations.
• To make the game easier, allow players to touch the balloon twice in a row.

That looked like a fun challenge for you. Let’s say the SuperTruth again! “With Christ I can overcome all obstacles.”

Drawing Activity

In this activity we are going to create two large murals of the obstacles that God helped Joshua overcome. You will work together in two groups.  

Divide the children into Group One and Group Two. Both groups should have a mixture of boys and girls. Within each group, the girls will work together and the boys will work together. If you have a small group or not many girls or boys, just divide into two main groups. Give a Bible to each group to use. 

Have a sixth grade helper or another volunteer read Joshua 5:1:

When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them. 

Group One. On side one: the girls will draw the obstacle of the Jordan River with the Israelites on one side of the river and the walls of Jericho on the other side. On side two: the boys will draw the Jordan River with the water held back and a path dried up by God and the Israelites crossing over to dry land. Have a group member look up Joshua 3:14–17 to reference for their drawing.

Have a sixth grade helper or another volunteer read Joshua 6:4b–5:

“On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”

Group Two. On side one: the girls will draw the armies marching around the walls of Jericho with the soldiers of Jericho watching. On side two: the boys will draw the Israelites shouting and the walls crashing down. Have a group member look up Joshua 6:20 to reference for their drawing.   

Move between the two groups to assist and help as necessary, especially in the beginning with the initial design. After a set amount of time, advise the groups that they have one more minute to complete their murals. Allow each group to share their murals with the class. If possible, attach the murals to the wall for the remainder of the module lessons.

Those murals are really colorful and full of details about the story. Great work, all of you! Let’s shout our SuperTruth together: “With Christ I can overcome all obstacles.”

Object Lesson

Let’s look at another way to illustrate overcoming something. Overcoming is overpowering something. You may have heard of the expression, “getting the upper hand.” When you have the upper hand, you have gained control and you have power over a situation. Let’s see what this looks like!

Have the two volunteers sit in the chairs and assume the starting position for an arm wrestling match. They act out your presentation as you talk. Direct them as necessary and call out their individual names as you teach so they will know who is doing what at the time.

How many of you have arm wrestled someone?

How did you do?

Name and Name have volunteered to help us today. They are going to participate in an arm wrestling match.

Have the two children do a mock match, struggle a bit, but then have one person take control and overpower the other person.

Who won our match?

Yes, Name got the upper hand and overcame opponent Name’s strength.

This wrestling match can help us understand the obstacles and struggles we face—and with Christ’s help, we can overcome and defeat every single one! Can you name some struggles or obstacles that we may face in our lives? A bad habit, not getting along with someone, selfishness, etc.

Now have volunteers mirror your presentation with accompanying motions. Direct them as necessary. Call out the individual names as you talk so they will know who is doing what at the time.

Similar to the wrestling match, we will face many obstacles that we will struggle to defeat. The battle may go back and forth. Have volunteers go back and forth in their arm wrestling match. It isn’t always going to be easy; however we must not give up! Have one volunteer look exhausted, but not give up. If we trust in Christ, we will become stronger as we defeat every obstacle!

Read James 1:3:

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

When we hold onto Christ by faith, we will gain the upper hand and experience the victory as Joshua did when the walls came crashing down. By Christ’s strength, we will overcome any obstacle! 

Have the volunteer who lost the first match win this time.

Who remembers our SuperTruth? “With Christ I can overcome all obstacles.”

Good! Now let’s shout it as we do an arm wrestling move. As you do the motion, imagine an obstacle you are facing, then see yourself overcoming it by faith in Christ!

Lead the children in saying the SuperTruth as they act out the arm wrestling move. 

Bible Study

Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “With Christ I can overcome all obstacles.”

In this activity we are going to identify and discuss a few of the obstacles that we overcome in Christ.   

Have the children look up and read the verses aloud. Lead a discussion with the questions listed below.

Read Hebrews 4:14–16:

¹⁴ So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

• What are the obstacles this passage talks about? Testing or trials, weaknesses, sinning, needing help with anything.
• How can Jesus understand what help we need to overcome obstacles like temptations, testing, and human weakness? While He was on Earth as a human, He faced everything that we do.
• In verse 16, what can we do when we face these obstacles and need help? Come boldly to God’s throne in prayer.
• In verse 16, what can we count on to help us endure and overcome? Mercy and help.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:5–10:

⁵ That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.⁶ If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,⁷ even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. ⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.⁹ Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter describing an obstacle that he dealt with in his life. We are not sure what he meant by a thorn in the flesh, but he prayed to the Lord for relief from it.  

• What was the Lord’s answer to Paul’s prayer? His grace - His help was sufficient to overcome.
• What did Paul feel was the purpose of the obstacle in his life and why Christ didn’t completely remove or destroy it? To keep him from being proud; to keep him humble and needing help from Christ to have victory over the obstacle.
• Why would Paul want to be weak in his own ability? To have Christ’s strength and power work in him.
• Do you think it would be difficult to have the attitude of Paul in verse 10 about the obstacles that you will face in life? Why or why not?
• Deeper discussion: Discuss how Paul had victory or overcame the obstacle in his life even though it wasn’t completely removed. Are there some things we must pray to overcome daily?

Read John 14:27–28a: 

²⁷ “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.²⁸ Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.

• What do you think the obstacle Jesus was talking about that the disciples would face? Anxiety, fear, disappointment, being alone.
• What did Christ give them as a gift to help them overcome the obstacle? His peace in their hearts and minds.
• How do you think the peace of Christ is different from the peace of the world? Not based on outside things or feelings, it never ends, and no one can take it away.
• Have you ever felt alone, troubled or fearful? How can Jesus’ peace help us when we feel that way?
• How can knowing that Jesus is coming back to Earth again comfort us in the midst of any problems we may face?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:56–57:

⁵⁶ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

• What are the obstacles this passage talks about? Sin and death.
• What is the result of sin? Death.
• How do we overcome or have victory over sin and death? Faith in Christ Jesus who overcame or defeated sin and death on the cross.

Close in prayer: Thank You Jesus for making us overcomers, no matter what obstacles we face, even sin and death! In Your name we pray, Amen.