Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 minute)

Hello, everyone! The title of our new Superbook adventure has a very interesting name: “Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream.” This is the story of a king in the Old Testament named Nebuchadnezzar and a man named Daniel. Does anyone remember another Bible story about someone named Daniel? Daniel and the lions’ den.

Yes; this is the same Daniel!

Have you ever had a strange dream?

Well, this video begins with a strange dream that King Nebuchadnezzar is having. When he wakes up, he wants to know the meaning—now! Then we will see what is going on with Chris, Joy and Gizmo.

Play Video 2: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma (4.5 minutes)

Chris and Joy's Dilemma

Joy has too many responsibilities and is stressed because she doesn’t know how to handle them all.

SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)

The SuperTruth today is: “God reveals things when we ask.” Let’s say that together. “God reveals things when we ask.”

What does God do when we ask? He reveals things.

What are some things that God can reveal? Truth; wisdom; a reason or meaning for something; something about who He is; His character or nature.

Why wasn’t Joy interested in Chris’ new Holo 9 game? She didn’t have time for games; she had too much to do in a short time.

Yes, Joy was overwhelmed. She named five things that she had to do. Let’s see if we can name them all. Put flyers up, homework, chores, science project, cello practice.

Raise your hand if you think Joy discovers how to find a solution to her problems.

Let’s watch the video and find out!

Play Video 3: Bible Story and Resolution (19 minutes)

Bible Story and Resolution

Superbook takes Chris, Joy and Gizmo to meet Daniel, who as a young man serves King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. Frightened by a nightmare, the king orders his wise men to tell him his dream and explain its meaning — or be killed. When Daniel asks his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to pray, God reveals the dream. Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that it foretells the fall of his empire and the destruction of several others before all are replaced by God's enduring kingdom.

Play Video 10A: SuperVerse Graphic 1

SuperVerse Graphic 1

Graphic loops3 minutes without audio; turn off or freeze video after children repeat the verse.

SuperVerse Discussion (1 minute)

Our SuperVerse today is Jeremiah 33:3:

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Which two people in the video called out to God and asked for help? Joy and Daniel.

Have you ever called out to someone who heard you yet didn’t answer? If so, how did it make you feel? Frustrated, hurt, disappointed, angry.

God always hears us when we pray, and He promises that when we call, He will answer!

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)

Heavenly Father, there are no mysteries or secrets to You. From the smallest detail to the biggest event in the world, nothing escapes Your vision. When we need wisdom or knowledge, You will show us great and mighty things if we will only ask. Thank You for hearing our cries for help, just as you heard Daniel’s prayer. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Does anyone like to bowl?

Have you ever played with a flying disc?

In our game today in Small Group, you’ll have a chance to do both as you protect yourself from the palace guards of the king!

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

Why did the wise men run away and hide from the king’s guards? The king ordered them all to be killed because they said it was impossible to tell him the dream and its meaning.

Why was Daniel not afraid? He knew God would protect him and give him the answers to the king’s request.

What did Chris roll down the palace hallway to distract the guards? A disc.

Chris thought his intergalactic bowling experience would help him roll the disc. We are going to play a game called Disc Bowling. You will roll a disc like Chris did, with one small difference. You won’t roll it past the guards; you will roll it at the guards—to try to knock them over! The water bottles represent the palace guards who have come to arrest you. Your job is to knock over as many guards as you can. All players roll two discs on their turns.

Divide the children into two even teams. One child may need to play twice. Each team forms a separate line behind the mark, opposite their team’s set of water bottles.

Demonstrate how to roll the disc properly by placing the disc on its edge on the floor, then giving it a guided push. This works better than dropping it onto the floor with an underhand toss.

Give two discs to each team. Teams will play at the same time.

A player rolls a disc toward the bottles. Sixth grade helpers or other volunteers clear away any bottles that are knocked over before the same player rolls the second disc.

One point is scored for each bottle knocked over. If a player knocks over all six bottles on their turn, they score double (12) points.

After rolling two discs, the player takes a turn resetting the bottles in a triangle pattern for the next student.

Play until each child has a turn to bowl. Tally the points. The team with the most points wins.

Conclusion: How did you like bowling with a disc instead of a ball? You really knocked over a lot of guards! Let’s learn more about King Nebuchadnezzar and his wise men.

Teaching

Let’s look at the board and say today’s SuperVerse together. Jeremiah 33:3:

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Has someone ever shared some exciting news with you, but told you to keep it secret for a little while?

Hold up the closed box with the Bible in it. I’ve got something secret in this box, and I am the only person who knows what it is. Continue with the teaching and put the box aside.

God heard and answered Daniel’s call for help. The meaning of the dream wasn’t revealed to the prideful and powerful king or his wise men. God revealed it to His humble servant, Daniel.

In the SuperVerse, the word “and” appears three times. There is another word that appears three times—a very small but important word. Can you find it? You.

On the board, underline “you” in the verse. He speaks to you! When you call, He will answer. He will show you great and mighty things which you don’t know! God speaks personally to you as He did with Daniel. Isn’t that wonderful to know that you can call directly to God and He will answer you?

The king’s magicians, astrologers and sorcerers were called wise men; but they weren’t truly wise! Read Proverbs 9:10 (nkjv):

“The fear of the is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy Oneisunderstanding.”

The king’s wise men did not know God or seek understanding from Him. So when the king demanded to know what his dream was, what did they tell the king?

Read Daniel 2:11:

“The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people.”

The wise men were helpless. Their gods were not real. They could not have a personal relationship with them. False gods cannot answer when people call on them!

Daniel agreed that no human could possibly know the king’s secret. However, he knew who could! Let’s read what Daniel said. Read Daniel 2:28:

“But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.”

Daniel prayed, and God revealed the secret dream of the king. Hold up the box. Would anyone like me to reveal the secret item in the box? Yes.

Do you know that I would have revealed it earlier if only youhad asked?

Open the box and take out the Bible. The secret item is revealed! I am the one who placed the Bible in the box, so only I knew what was in it. God gave King Nebuchadnezzar the dream, and God was the only one who knew what was in it and what it meant. Only He could reveal it to Daniel. All Daniel needed to do was ask God!

The wise men said their gods did not live among them; is that true about our God? No!

Here is what the Lord tells us. Read Ezekiel 37:27:

“I will make My home among them. I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Isn’t that wonderful? God makes His home with us. And listen to this scripture about Jesus, which we often hear at Christmastime. Read Matthew 1:23:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a Son, and they will call HimImmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

What does Immanuel mean? God is with us!

Yes, God is with us. That’s very different than all the false gods of the world! God sent His Son Jesus as a human being to live among us on theearth. He died on the cross to pay the price for our sins, and rose again to give us new life. What more could anyone do to show us His love! When we ask Jesus to be our Savior, His Spirit comes into our hearts. He is Immanuel—God with us—always ready to give us His wisdom and guidance. God cares about our needs, He answers us when we call, and He reveals wonderful things to us.

Hold up the Bible. This was my secret in the box, and it actually contains secrets! As we read and meditate on His Word, the Holy Spirit can open up our understanding and reveal new things to us. His Spirit can speak to our hearts through reading the Bible, prayer, a sermon, a word of wisdom or knowledge from someone we trust, and from experience when we trust Him and stand in faith. We can learn something we didn’t know about God. Or, we can discover a promise or blessing from God that we never knew existed! As we pray and ask for revelation, God will answer. The important thing is to make sure we listen after we ask!

Unlike the false gods of the world, our God lives among us and answers when we call. He wants to reveal things to us, and this is what our Discipleship Challenge is all about!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Display the model craft. Give each child a Journal Scroll Pattern, a pencil, and a piece of twine, ribbon or yarn. Have children write their names on the backs of their scrolls, then show them how to roll and secure them with twine, ribbon or yarn. Assist any children with special needs.

In our video, who was reading and writing on scrolls? Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Yes, they served the king by translating important documents and records from clay tablets onto scrolls. You are going to use your scrolls to write your thoughts and things that God may reveal to you when you ask!

Dreams are one way that God can speak to us. The Apostle Peter talked about this in Acts 2:17:

“‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’”

Have you ever thought and dreamed about what you would do for God? Have you ever wondered what His plans are for your life? Since we are talking about dreams, let’s close our eyes and say the SuperTruth together: “God reveals things when we ask.”

Have children unroll their scrolls. The challenge for Lesson 1 is to read Jeremiah 29:11 and discuss the meaning with your family if possible. Then, every day, until we meet again, pray and ask God to reveal His plans for you! Use the lines on your scroll to write down any thoughts you sense that God is givingyou. Next time, I’ll give you a chance to share these things with the class, if you’d like. Remember, when you ask, God will reveal great and mighty things you don’t know!

SuperVerse

Let’s read the SuperVerse on the board together: Jeremiah 33:3:

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Our SuperVerse is from the book of Jeremiah. He was a prophet in the Old Testament who had been thrown into prison for telling people to repent. The religious leaders did not like being told that they needed to repent for their sins! And while Jeremiah was in prison,the Lord reminded him that He created the world. Then God spoke to Jeremiah.

Read Jeremiah 33:3:

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

God created the entire universe, and He knows how everything in it works. And when we call upon Him, He will show us great and mighty things! No matter where we are, Almighty God hears us and speaks to us. God spoke to Jeremiah in prison! No one can stop God from speaking to us and revealing things which can encourage, help and strengthen us.

Have the class read the SuperVerse on the board together one more time and then erase it from the board. Choose eight children to stand side by side in the front of the room, then give each childone of the eight scrambled SuperVerse cards. Starting on the far left (from the class’s perspective), have the eight children create a “wave” by holding up and reading aloud their individual phrases (which will be out of order) and lowering their cards when done. Ask if that sounded like the correct verse. The answer will be no!

Ask the rest of the class to tell you which reader should be first, second, third, etc. Rearrange the eight children in that order and have them read their phrases again, creating a “wave” with their cards. Ask the rest of the class if the verse is now correct. If not, have the class rearrange the readers again until they can say the phrases of the verse in the proper order. Finally, have the entire class follow the “wave” to say the verse together two or three times, going faster each time.

Conclusion: Well done! Remember, God will answer us when we call to Him!

Younger children may not be able to memorize the entire SuperVerse. They may simply repeat it several times, while older children may memorize part or all of it.

Prayer

Let’s say the SuperTruth together: “God reveals things when we ask.”

Daniel had a specific and urgent need for God to reveal something to him. Only God could reveal what was impossible for human knowledge to know. God does reveal things when we ask; however, God may not always show us the answer immediately. God can reveal things to us in different ways and at different times.

In Large Group, we discussed types of things that God may reveal to us. Can you name some of them? Wisdom or knowledge to make an important choice or decision, His will for you in a particular situation, something to share with someone that will help or bless them, instructions or directions, His plan, etc.

In today’s prayer time, you will have the opportunity to ask God to show or reveal something to you. You may need understanding in a situation you face; possibly, you need God to reveal wisdom to you so you can make an important choice. Maybe, like Daniel, you have been asked a difficult question that you need help to answer. You could be struggling with a temptation and need God’s wisdom to overcome it. Whatever it is that you need God to show you, you can ask Him today. After children have prayed silently, close in prayer.

Dear God, thank You for revealing things that we need to know. Our knowledge is limited, yet Yours is unlimited! Thank You for sharing Your amazing wisdom with us when we ask. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Basketball Game

What happened in the palace library when Joy, Chris and Gizmo arrived unexpectedly? They knocked over scrolls and tablets that were stored in jars and baskets.

It was quite a mess! Now Daniel needs some help picking up the scrolls that were scattered around the palace library floor. And I think you are just the ones to help him!

Divide the class into two equal teams. One player may need to play twice.

On each team, have children choose someone they don’t know very well to be a partner.

Teams will stand behind the line.

Scatter the 50 scrolls on the floor; 25 on each side of the middle line.

Demonstrate how to quickly pick up a scroll, walk to the line, and throw it in the basket.

Two players from each team will play at the same time in a 30-second round.

Players can pick up only one scroll at a time, then move to the end line and try to throw it into the basket. Playersmay not cross the end line.

Each scroll in the basket scores five points. Each scroll that makes it over the line but does not land in the basket counts as one point.

After the round ends, the points are tallied and written on the board.

The four players who just finished their turns (twofrom each team) now scatter the scrolls on the floor for the next round.

Continue until all players have played. The team with the highest score wins.

Smaller classes may have only one player on each team play each round.

Conclusion: You did a great job cleaning up the place! I am going to suggest that Daniel give each of you a promotion! Daniel and his three friends worked very carefully and diligently to record the king’s documents and records, even as slaves in Babylon. When we do everything for God’s glory, no matter where we are or what we are doing, He will bless us. He can show us great and mighty things as we obediently serve Him and others.

Coloring Activity

What was in the king’s dream that Daniel described? A huge shining statue of a man that was crushed by a big rock.

The Bible describes it this way in Daniel 2:31–35:

³¹ “In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight. ³² The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, ³³ its legs were iron, and its feet were a combination of iron and baked clay. ³⁴ As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits. ³⁵ The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.”

We are going to color a picture of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Use the colors described in the Bible. Just follow the numbers and the matching color key that you see on the page.

You will share the crayons/colored pencils; so you may need to color your picture out of order if the crayon you need isn’t available. It would be a good idea for some of you to start with the number six instead of the number one and work backwards.

Give each child a copy of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Coloring Page and crayons or colored pencils to share in the following colors: gold, silver/gray, bronze/brown, black/dark gray, and orange. Lead a discussion using the questions below as the children color.

• Do you remember what the different parts of the body represented? Kingdoms on the earth.
• What part was king Nebuchadnezzar represented by? The head of gold.
• What did all of the kingdoms have in common? They would come to an end.
• What happened to the statue? It was crushed by a huge rock.
• What did that rock represent? God’s kingdom.
• How is God’s kingdom different fromall of the other kingdoms? It will never end. It is a spiritual kingdom, not a physical kingdom.

Have children write their names at the bottom and allow time for them to share their pictures with the class.

Conclusion: God gave the dream to Nebuchadnezzar and revealed the meaning to Daniel when he asked God. God’s kingdom is not a physical kingdom that you can see. However, it is all around us—and we can be a part of His kingdom now. Do you know how? By believing in Jesus and following Him.

Bible Study

Let’s say our SuperTruth together: God reveals things when we ask.”

God revealed the king’sdream to Daniel—and that saved all the wise men from being executed! What other mysteries and secrets has God revealed to His people? Let’s explore the Bible now to discover some examples!

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. Matthew 16:13–17:

¹³When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” ¹⁵ Then He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.”

• In verse 13, what did Jesus ask His disciples?Who did people say He was?
• According to verse 14, what did the people say? John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or another prophet.
• How is Jesus’ question different in verse 15? He asked them who they say He is, not who others say He is.
• Who did Peter say Jesus is in verse 16? The Messiah, the Son of the living God.
• According to verse 17, did Simon Peter just repeat others’ answers? No; his was different than all the others.
• Why did Jesus say Simon Peter was blessed? Because Jesus’ Father (God) revealed who Jesus was to Peter.
• Based on this, do you think someone can really know Jesus unless God reveals who He is? No, like the disciples, human knowledge can’t really comprehend Jesus; we need God’s revelation.
• How does the SuperVerse and SuperTruth apply to this passage? If people really want to know who Jesus is, God will reveal and show Himself to them. A true and accurate revelation and personal understanding of Jesus is a great and mighty thing!

2. Galatians 1:11–12:

¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. ¹² I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

• In this letter, which the Apostle Paul wrote to the early Christians, what was the message he received and preached? The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Did he receive it from another human, or was it something he just figured out? No; it was a direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
• Imagine you were Paul; why do you think it would be helpful to know you heard directly from Jesus? He knew he hadn’t been misled, tricked or persuaded by someone. He knew it was accurate coming from Jesus Himself. No one could talk him out of it,he knew that he knew; he was totally convinced. Paul would suffer a lot for Christ—he was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, stoned, and eventually beheaded—so it must have been comforting to know that he was enduring all this for the true Messiah.
• Think of how Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Based on this, why do you think Jesus spoke to him directly? Paul was a passionate Jew who wouldn't believe Jesus is God’s Son. Paul would not believe anyone else’s preaching; he believed the Christians were all preaching a lie and so he persecuted them. Paul was only converted when he had a personal revelation of Jesus.

3. Ephesians 1:9–11:

⁹ God has now revealed to us His mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill His own good plan. ¹⁰ And this is the plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. ¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan.

• The Apostle Paul wrote that God reveals something to His children; what is it? His mysterious will about Christ.
• In verse 9, why did God reveal this to us? To fulfill His good plan.
• According to verse 10, when will His plan happen? At the right time, when He decides.
• In verse 10, what will happen in God’s timing? He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ.
• Will this only be in heaven? In heaven and on the earth.
• According to verse 11, we were chosen in advance to receive something because of Christ; what is it? An inheritance from God.
• In verse 11, is there a possibility God’s plan might fail; why or why not? No, He makes everything work out according to His plan; His plan never fails; nothing can stop God from doing His will.

Conclusion: God reveals His secrets and mysteries in different ways to people as part of His plan and to accomplish His will. When we read God’s Word, God reveals more of His nature and character to us. The more we discover, the more we can trust and love Him.

Dig Deeper

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Jeremiah 33:3:

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

God reveals things when we ask Him. Unfortunately, some people don’t want to ask God for wisdom and revelation. They try to find out about things like the future by going to other sources. We saw this in the video.

Read Daniel 2:1–2a:

One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed.

The king’s advisors were men who tried to find out secret information by using magic and consulting the stars for advice. These practices are called “occult,” which comes from a Latin word for “hidden.” Should people look to the stars for guidance, when God—who made all the stars—wants to have a loving relationship with us and give us His wonderful wisdom? No.

Occult practices are strictly forbidden by God. Just before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, God gave them a very strict warning.

Read Deuteronomy 18:10b–14:

“Do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lordyour God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”

God is very clear about this! Crystal balls, tarot cards, Ouija boards, astrology, telling fortunes, and horoscopes may sound harmless or fun, but they can open the door to evil and danger.

So, if someone ever asks you to do an activity like telling fortunes or play a game that seems strange or odd, pray and ask God, “Is it wise for me to do this?” Then pause and listen for His answer in your heart. The Lord will show you what to do. If you don’t have peace in your heart about doing the game or activity, politely refuse.

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22:

But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.

This verse is specifically talking about prophecies; however, it can also apply to what we are talking about. Find out what God thinks about something before you start doing it. If it is evil according to His Word, stay away from it—even if everyone around you says it is fun!

When Daniel needed a revelation, he went straight to the Lord—the one true source of godly knowledge, wisdom and revelation. Only God can reveal everything we need to know. Only He has all true knowledge and wisdom. Only He knows the future—and we can trust Him with our lives!