Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome(1 minutes)

Welcome everyone; today is the last lesson of our Superbook adventure, “Joshua and Caleb.” These two men lived by faith and believed the promises God had given His people about the land of Canaan. When others were afraid and began to doubt, Joshua and Caleb stood firm on God’s promises. Now let’s stand and praise Jesus as we sing The Salvation Poem!

Play Video 7: (Song) The Salvation Poem! (3 minutes)

Be sure to preview the song so you can sing along and do the motions with the children.

7 The Salvation Poem

SuperTruth and Discussion (3 minutes)

Our SuperTruth today is, “God is faithful to keep His promises.” Let’s say it together. “God is faithful to keep His promises.”

Raise your hands if you have ever made a promise to someone. 

Now, raise your hands if you have ever made a promise that you weren’t able to keep.

Sometimes, we can’t keep a promise because something happens that is out of our control. For example, we promise to meet someone at the playground, but a big storm comes up so we can’t go. Other times, we may simply forget until someone reminds us. That isn’t a good feeling is it?

This will not happen with God. He has never made a promise that He hasn’t kept—and He never will! 2 Timothy 2:13 says, 

We may break a promise, but God never will. His promises are completely true and trustworthy. He cannot and will not change who He is. Every promise in the Bible is still as powerful today as the moment it was spoken by God.

Introduce Condensed Bible Story Video (1 minutes)

If most or all children watched the Bible story video in a previous lesson, omit it here and go straight to the SuperVerse.   

Let’s watch a short version of the video titled “Joshua and Caleb.” If you’ve already seen it, notice what was so big that the spies had to carry it on a pole as they returned to camp.                    

Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story (7 minutes)

Superbook takes Chris, Joy and Gizmo to meet Joshua, Caleb, and 10 other spies sent by Moses to explore the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb are amazed by Canaan’s abundance—yet their good report is undermined by the other spies, who fear giants in the land. The children learn that God blesses faithfulness, while the Israelites are punished for their lack of trust.

4 Condensed Bible Story

Play Video 10C: Superverse Graphic

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

10C: SuperVerse Graphic

SuperVerse Discussion (2 minute)

Our SuperVerse today is from Joshua 23:14: 

Joshua said this to encourage and strengthen the Israelites. They had seen countless promises from God fulfilled. He had rescued them from Egypt and provided food, water and protection for them as they traveled through the wilderness.

Where can we find promises that God has made to us? In the Bible.  

The more we read God’s Word, the more promises we will discover to hold onto and trust!

Let’s say the SuperVerse together. Joshua 23:14:

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

Introduce Signposts Video (1 minutes)

God has made many promises to His children—that means us! Let’s watch the Signposts video to learn how these promises are made available to us through Christ and how we can take hold of them in our own lives.    

Play Video 6: Signposts Video (4 minutes)

6 Signposts Video

Prayer and Send-Off (2 minute)

Heavenly Father, the Bible tells us that You have given us great and precious promises. Help us to grab hold of these promises by faith and trust that in Your perfect timing, You will bring them to pass in our lives. In the faithful name of Jesus we pray, Amen. 

In Small Group today, you will be spies in the Promised Land as you search for the samples Moses said to bring back. Let’s go find out how to play!   

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

The Spies Return: Play a game to possess God’s promised blessings.

In Large Group you were asked to notice what the spies carried on a pole when they returned to camp. What is the answer? Grapes or grape clusters. 

The Israelites had finally arrived at the land of Canaan that God promised many years before to Abraham and his descendants. (See Deuteronomy 1:8.) Now it was time for the Israelites to possess the land that God promised. The spies returned with samples to show Moses. It was truly a land abundantly filled with blessings as God had promised.    

Let’s say today’s SuperTruth together: “God is faithful to keep His promises.” 

Deuteronomy 8:7–8, names several of the items found in the Promised Land:

1. Grains such as wheat and barley.

2. Fruits such as grapes, figs, pomegranates, and olives.    

3. Dates and honey made from bees.   

Stand near the plates and turn over a few to show the children. These plates represent the Promised Land. We will play a relay game to bring back samples from the Promised Land like the spies did, as evidence that the land was just as God had promised.

Hold up a pool noodle. This represents the pole the spies needed to carry the clusters of grapes. You will use it to carry every type of fruit and grain—not just grapes. Each pair of spies will find two items assigned from the list. Hold up a bag and demonstrate how to carry it on the pole with a volunteer. Place the items in the bag, insert the pole though the handles, and carry it back with one spy in front and one in back. Each pair of spies must decide whether to skip, jump, or hop on one foot back to camp. The first team to have all of their spies return with the correct samples wins! As Caleb said, “Let’s go!” (See Numbers 13:30.)

• Divide children into two equal teams—if unequal, one child on a team may play twice.
• Have teams stand in single-file lines at the end of the room opposite the “Promised Land.”
• Appoint an older child from each team to be a captain: Joshua and Caleb. 
• Give each leader a Sample List and a pencil to check off the assignments given.   
• Children will work in pairs of two from each team.
• Start the game by shouting, “Let’s Go!”
• The team captains begin at the top of the list and assign two items to the first pair of players on their team to find and bring back to camp.
• Those pairs take a bag and a “pole” and sneak like spies to the “Promised Land” (the opposite end of the room where the plates are face down). Then they must skip, jump, or hop on one foot as they happily return, carrying the bag with the two plates between them on the pole.
• Repeat this process until all pairs on a team have returned with the correct items. This first team to do this wins.
• If time permits, scatter the plates and play again.       

Conclusion: God kept His promise and brought His people to the land of milk and honey. As we trust God, He will keep His promises in our lives too, every single one! Now, let’s learn more about God’s promises that we receive through Christ.

Teaching

The Battle Is the Lord’s: Trust in God’s Promises through any circumstance.

Have a child select the first Signpost card and read it aloud. Tape the card to the wall or prop it up so children can see it. Lead a discussion with the information below. Repeat for the two remaining Signpost cards. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Signpost 1   Don’t Be Discouraged           

What scene from the video is shown on this sign? A spy talks about the giants in the land.   

How did the people feel when they heard the ten spies’ bad report? Discouraged and afraid.

The people had been delivered from slavery in Egypt through amazing miracles. God took care of them as they walked through the wilderness. Now they stood on the edge of the land God had promised them. All they had to do was believe the report from Joshua and Caleb and act by faith. Joshua and Caleb showed them samples of food from the land and said it was just like God had promised. It was truly a land flowing with milk and honey. Instead of trusting Joshua and Caleb’s report, who did the Israelites choose to believe? The ten fearful spies.

The people were afraid and discouraged. Instead of keeping their eyes on God and His promises, they lost hope. At times, we may feel discouraged, afraid or alone. We may feel pressure to act or speak in ways that don’t please God. Other times, we may feel hurt, unimportant, or like we don’t belong. In times like these, life seems unfair and can cause us to lose hope. This is not unusual. You might be surprised to know that many heroes of the Bible also felt this way at times. In Psalm 22, King David asked why God had abandoned him and seemed so far away when he groaned for help. Even though we may feel discouraged, remember there is always a path forward. God will help us move from discouragement and hopelessness to joy!  

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6   

Numbers 13:27:

Deuteronomy 1:28 (CEV): 

Psalm 22:1:

Signpost 2   Remember God’s Promises      

Can you name the four men in this image?

If necessary: Here is a hint: It is the Israelites’ leader, his brother, and the two faithful spies. Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb.

Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb were full of faith and tried to rally the Israelites to take possession of the Promised Land.

When we face difficult situations, God promises that He will cause everything to work together for our good. All we have to do is love Him and obediently live by faith and trust in His promises. Years later, when Joshua was about to die, he encouraged the people to remember all of God’s promises that had come to pass—not one had failed! It is important to remember God’s promises to encourage ourselves to press on! 

Remembering God’s promises helps us battle discouragement. When King David was writing Psalm 22, he did not stay discouraged. He went on to praise God! David encouraged himself by praising the Lord and tells us to trust in God, too. As followers of Christ, we are not to live by sight—meaning what we see around us. Instead, what are we to live by? Faith.

Can someone share about a time when you trusted in a promise from God? Children answer.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6 

Romans 8:28:

Joshua 23:14: 

Psalm 22:23–24: 

Signpost 3   The Battle Is the Lord’s

Did you know that the struggles we face are not our own? God fights our battles for us if we trust Him. We are not alone because He is always with us. He strengthens and holds us up with His mighty hand. Joshua said, “The battle is the Lord’s!” We do not need to be discouraged for He will help us! When we are down, always remember that God keeps His promises and will fight for us. Jesus came to earth and won the battle over the enemy so we can live victorious lives in Him. All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ. The Israelites were set free from slavery in Egypt and stood at the border of the Promised Land—but they did not trust in God’s promises! Jesus has set us free from sin and death to love and serve Him. We simply need to believe and take hold of the promises of God by faith. Are you ready to do that?    

Optional: if time is running short, you may use this paragraph instead of the prayer activity. Note that this scripture is written on the Necklace Craft in the Additional Activities for this lesson. This Bible story was taken from the book of Numbers. There is also a special blessing in that book that I will pray over you. Please stand, close your eyes, and hold out your hands as if to receive a wonderful gift. PRAY: May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show His favor and give you His peace.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Isaiah 41:10:

Hebrews 10:14 (CEV): 

John 3:16:

1 Samuel 17:47: 

2 Chronicles 20:15:

2 Corinthians 1:20:

Numbers 6:24–26: 

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give a Promise Pouch and Heart Promises Page to any children who missed Lessons 1 and 2.   

Hold up the challenge craft. Did anyone try to memorize Proverbs 30:5? Can you say it for us now? 

Would someone like to share a new promise you discovered when reading the Bible in the last challenge? Children answer. 

Hold up the Heart Pouch and read Heart #5: Isaiah 41:13.

If time permits, have the children look up and read the verse: 

Our final challenge is to look up and read this verse each day, and discuss it with your family if possible. You may want to carry it with you as you learn it and stand on His promise! Also, continue to read your Bible each day to discover a new promise to write on Heart #6.

Don’t stop when this challenge ends. There are so many new promises we can discover in God’s Word. Remember to keep all of His promises deep in your own heart!   

SuperVerse

Superbook Scramble: Memorize the SuperVerse with a group activity.

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Joshua 23:14:

Joshua became the leader of the Israelites when Moses died. He led them into the Promised Land and fought many battles to possess the land. The people witnessed many miracles that God performed to keep His promises to them. This included defeating the city of Jericho, one of the walled cities that had frightened ten of the spies.    

God’s promises in the Bible are still true today; not a single one has failed!    

Have the class read the SuperVerse on the board together two times, then erase it.

Divide the children into teams of 2–3 children. Give a set of SuperVerse Cards to each team. Don’t let teams open the bags or envelopes until you say, “Go!” Teams race to arrange their cards in the correct order and shout the SuperVerse aloud first.  

Conclusion: God is faithful to keep all of His promises. He will fulfill them in our lives, just as He did for people like Joshua and Caleb who dared to trust Him when others were afraid. 

Prayer

Promise Prayers: Communicate with God.

Let’s say today’s SuperTruth together: “God is faithful to keep His promises.”  

Have you ever prayed by speaking God’s promises to Him? By praying this way, we show God that we trust His Word and that we believe He can do what He says. In other words, we pray His will or what is pleasing to Him. Do you remember what Jesus said will happen when we pray in a way that pleases God? He will hear and give us what we ask for. (See 1 John 5:4–5.)

Moses prayed this way when He interceded for the people. He asked God not to destroy them for their rebellion and unbelief. Read Numbers 14:17–19:

Moses reminded God of what He had spoken about Himself in His Word. Moses prayed, “For You said …”  He also asked God to act according to who He is: loving, patient, merciful, and forgiving. God honored Moses’s prayer and pardoned the people. (See Numbers 14:20.) 

When we pray God’s promises, we ask Him to do what He already said He would do. We don’t have to wonder if it is His will! In our Discipleship Challenge, we are discovering more of God’s promises. The more we learn, the more we can pray with confidence and power. In our prayer today, we will pray one of God’s promises together. 

Read Romans 8:39: 

Let’s pray this promise back to God. I will read a phrase and then you will repeat it.

Dear God … (Children repeat)

You promise me in Your Word … (Children repeat)

That nothing in all of creation … (Children repeat)

can ever separate me … (Children repeat)

from Your love … (Children repeat)

that is revealed … (Children repeat)

in Christ Jesus my Lord ... (Children repeat)

Thank You for keeping me … (Children repeat)

safe and secure in Your love forever … (Children repeat)

In Jesus’ eternal name we pray, Amen. … (Children repeat)

Review Game

Honey-Marshmallow Review: Play a game to review the Bible story.                       

In the video, what did Gizmo use to send grapes to Chris and Joy in the Promised Land? A grape shooter or launcher attachment on his arm.

For the review game, instead of grapes, you will have a chance to shoot marshmallows at a target. What is Canaan or the Promised Land sometimes called? The land of milk and honey.

That is why the target you will shoot the marshmallows at is covered in honey. If your marshmallow sticks to the target, you will score points:

·      3 points if a marshmallow sticks to the center or bullseye of the target. 

·      1 point if a marshmallow sticks to the poster outside the target.

Here is how the game is played: I will ask the same question to a player for each team. You will answer by standing on either the True or False Sign. When both players are standing on their sign choice, I will reveal the answer. You score five points for a correct answer. You will then have three shots with the launcher to hit the target. The first shot is a practice shot. The next two shots will count to score points. Demonstrate how to use the launcher.

There is one more way to score a point. When the correct answer is false, the current players can talk with their teammates to determine the correct answer. Then the current player on both teams will whisper the answer to me. If it is correct, you score one more point! Let’s play!

Divide the children into two teams. If they are unequal, a player may take two turns.

Craft

Divine Favor: Make a necklace of God’s blessing.

In a video from the previous lesson, who did we learn was the author of the first five books of the Bible? Moses.

Have you ever heard of a shape called a pentagon? Children respond.

How many sides does a pentagon have? Five.

“Penta” means five. The first five books are called the Pentateuch. This means “five books” or “five scrolls.” Have any of you memorized the names of the first five books of the Bible? Children respond.

What are they? Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.       

The story of the spies and the Promised Land is told in Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Display the finished craft. Give each child a craft page and string or yarn.

Provide silver or gray crayons, colored pencils, or washable markers for children to color if your copies are in black and white.

Show children how to carefully punch out the holes in their necklaces, if not already punched out.

Have children insert their strings into the necklace holes and tie it. Assist children as needed.  

Let’s learn more about the Scripture that is written on your necklace.

Read Numbers 6:22–27: 

This is called a benediction. A benediction is a declaration of blessings from God upon His people. Often, pastors say a benediction over the congregation near the end of the worship service. Aaron and his sons were Jewish priests. That is why this passage is sometimes called the “Priestly” or “Aaronic” Benediction.

Display the Silver Amulet image. In 1979, in a burial site just south of Jerusalem, an important discovery was made: two small, rolled sheets of thin, pliable silver called amulets. When they were unrolled, etched inscriptions of a shortened version of Numbers 6:24–26 were revealed. Show image.

These may have been worn as reminders of God’s blessings. This discovery is exciting and significant because the amulets are so old—even older than the Dead Sea Scrolls—and also because they contain a portion of Scripture.

Conclusion: Take your necklace home today. You can wear it or hang it up in your room as a reminder that you are blessed by God in Jesus Christ. Be encouraged and confident as you walk in His divine favor and protection every day.

Optional: Read Ephesians 1:3:

Coloring Activity

Promise Kept: Color a picture about the land of milk and honey.

Give a coloring page to each child along with crayons, colored pencils, or washable markers to share. Lead a discussion using these questions as children color their pages.

Many times, God referred to the land He was giving to the Israelites as the land of milk and honey. This is because the soil was rich and fertile, meaning it was capable of producing abundant crops. It would also provide good pastures for animals. Joshua and Caleb’s description of the land shows us that this is a promise God fulfilled. (See Exodus 3:8, Leviticus 20:24, Numbers 13:27.)

• What is happening in this picture from the video? The spies are returning with samples of the fruit and grain from the Promised Land.  
• Why were two men needed to carry the grapes? The clusters of grapes were so large; one man could not carry them alone.
• How many spies did not trust that God would give them the Promised Land? Ten.  
• Why were they afraid? They were afraid of giants in the land.
• If you had been one of the spies, would you have been tempted to fear the giants? Children answer.
• Can you share a favorite promise in the Bible? Children answer. 

Give children an opportunity to share their coloring pages with the class.   

Conclusion: God’s promises are given to us through Jesus Christ. Read Galatians 3:29 (CEV):

Word Search

Words of Promise: Look up verses to complete the puzzle.

For this activity you will work in teams to look up Bible verses to find the missing word from a promise of God. Then you will find and circle the word in the word search puzzle.

Divide the children into pairs. If there is an odd number of children, form a team of three children. Try to place one child who is experienced with using the Bible on each team.

Give a pencil and a word search page to each child.

Give the teams about 10 minutes to look up each verse containing a promise from God. Have them fill in the blanks with the answers.

Older students can probably find the words in the puzzle without your help.

For younger students, go over each sentence quickly and have the teams say their answers aloud.

Write each missing word on the board as it is revealed.

Give the teams a few minutes to find the words in the puzzle and circle them. The words can be formed in any direction: frontward, backward, diagonally, or up or down. 

If time is short, give each child a page. Have them start working on it in class, then finish it at home.

Conclusion: The Bible is full of God’s promises for any situation we may face! Let’s keep learning more about the Lord and His promises as we study His Word!