Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 minute)

Hello everyone! Today is the second lesson of our Superbook story, “Revelation.” Jesus is coming back to Earth someday—and until then, we must help others and show them God’s love! When we do this, we are following Jesus’ example, so we’re going to sing a song about that. Let’s stand up and do the motions as we sing Put Your Faith In Jesus.

Play Video 11: (Song) Put Your Faith In Jesus (3 minutes)

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

Put Your Faith in Jesus

SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)

Our SuperTruth for today says, “I will help others and show them God’s love.” Can you quickly give me some ideas of how we can show God’s love?

Yes, those are great ideas!

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.

Does anyone remember why Chris thought His parents would not forgive him in our video last time? He accidentally burned down his family’s house.

Now, for the children who haven’t seen our Bible story yet, we are going to watch a short version to see how Jesus defeats Satan at the end of the world as revealed to John in the book of Revelation. For those of you who have seen the full video, watching this short version will help remind you that Jesus is the King of kings!

Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story* (11 minutes)

*Note: Be sure to preview the video, as it contains intense imagery that may be disturbing for some children.

Condensed Bible Story

Superbook takes Joy and Gizmo to meet the Apostle John in heaven, while Chris encounters Satan in the desert just before the Lord vanquishes His enemies in a final battle. The children learn that all who ask God’s forgiveness in Jesus’ name are granted eternal life with Him.

Discussion (1 minute)

Is there anything so bad we can do that Jesus wouldn’t love us or forgive us? No!

Why can we never trust what Satan says? He is a liar and will not tell us the truth. He wants to trick and deceive us, so we will feel separated from God.

Introduce Bible Background Video (1 minute)

Now let’s watch our Bible Background Video and learn more about the book of Revelation. 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 (9.5 minutes)

Bible Background

Play Video 10B: SuperVerse Graphic 2

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

SuperVerse Graphic 2

SuperVerse Discussion (1 minute)

Our SuperVerse from Revelation 21:4 says:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

I don’t like to be sad or to cry, do you?

The world we live in is filled with sorrow and pain. We can help others, like our SuperTruth says, by showing God’s love and sharing that Jesus will remove these things forever when He comes again. Let’s say our SuperVerse together.

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

Prayer and Send-Off (1 minute)

Dear God, Thank You for giving us the promise that You will remove death, sorrow, crying, and pain. Help us to share that promise with others who need to be comforted. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today in Small Group, you’ll play a game about showing others God’s love. Have a great time.

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

Our SuperTruth says: “I will help others and show them God’s love.” We are called to show God’s love and light in the midst of the darkness! God did not give us His love to hide it inside. No, Jesus tells us to share it with others!

Read Matthew 5:14–15:

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

Who is the light of the world? Jesus.

The best way we can show God’s light and love on Earth is to help others with our words and actions. Let’s play a game about sharing God’s light and love with others.

Divide the class into two equal teams. You or an assistant may play if teams are uneven. Have the members of each team stand side-by-side in a line, about 6 feet away from one another. Give a balloon to the first player of each team. They must pass the balloon to the player directly beside them by tapping or volleying the balloon into the air. Each player does this until the balloon reaches the end of the line, then reverses direction to volley the balloon back to the first player. The first team to do so without stopping wins. Be prepared to help children with special needs. Remind the class that they cannot just hold onto God’s love and keep it to themselves—so, no grabbing or holding onto the balloon during the game! If someone grabs the balloon or it hits the ground, the team must start over again.

Good job, everyone! Just like we couldn’t hold on to the balloon and keep it to ourselves, we must look for ways to show or pass on God’s love to others! Our SuperTruth says: “I will help others and show them God’s love.”

Teaching

Our video today showed the dark and evil plans of Satan. During trials and difficult times, Satan tries to isolate us and lead us to believe that we are separated from God’s love. He wants us to think there is no hope!

Choose two children to stand beside you.

Let’s imagine that our first actor is God and our other actor is called “The Child.”

Have “God” and “The Child” stand close together.

Now, The Child really loves God and wants to stay close to Him! Even so, The Child is human, and not perfect! One day, The Child gives in to a temptation and does something wrong.

Wedge the chair in between God and The Child. 

The enemy, Satan, immediately tries to separate The Child from God. Satan wants The Child to feel guilty, ashamed and unworthy. Satan’s goal is to make The Child feel condemned and completely alone.

Slowly but firmly pull The Child further from God as you talk.

Satan wants to convince The Child that God is angry and will not forgive what The Child did. Do you remember in our video from last time, how Chris felt hopeless and separated after he disobeyed?

Satan is called the accuser and the father of lies. Can we believe anything that he tells us? No!

Jesus is called “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Can we trust what He tells us? Yes!

The Bible promises that nothing can separate us from God’s love! Read Romans 8:37-39 nkjv:

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The truth is that we will all fail; and as we try to follow Jesus, we will face trials, temptations, testing, and struggles while on Earth, but none of these things affect God’s love for us. This is called “unconditional love”—and it is what we need to show others. Our SuperTruth says: “I will help others and show them God’s love.”

Now, back to our little skit. What could you do to help The Child? Show you care by talking, praying, sharing a scripture verse, saying that God forgives everything if we ask Him, etc.

Helping others and showing God’s love does not have to be difficult. Listen to God’s quiet voice in your heart. He can show you what is needed in different circumstances. Showing His love can be as simple as taking the time to listen to someone who is having a hard time. Do you remember when Gizmo and Joy continued to search for Chris so that they could support and help him?

Chris was relieved and strengthened when he saw his friends had not abandoned him! By our words and actions today, here on Earth, we can shine God’s light in the darkness and show His love to others when they need it most. When Jesus sent His disciples out to share the Gospel, He told them this: Read Matthew 10:8:

“Give as freely as you have received!”

God has freely given us His forgiveness, love and blessings—and this is what God sends us out to give to others.

Hold up the tube and tilt it slightly toward the floor holding your hand over the lower end to close it. As you speak, put the marbles/balls in the tube, one by one.

This tube represents us as followers of Jesus. These marbles/balls represent God’s love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace that we freely receive every day. Now, do you think God is pleased if we are like a container and just store these blessings up for ourselves?

Remove your hand from the end and allow the marbles/balls to flow out onto the floor.

No, instead of a closed container, He wants us to be an open channel for His blessings to freely flow through to help others and show His love! This reminds me of our Discipleship Challenge that we began last time.

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Display the God’s Plan Revealed Craft. Hand out Craft Patterns to any children who were not present for Lesson 1, plus extras to children who wish to show them to their friends.

How many were able to learn the verses for first two sections—The Problem and The Plan?

Were any of you able to share your craft with friends—and what happened when you did?

We will continue our Discipleship Challenge by learning the verses for the other sections. Are you up to the challenge? Let’s go over the verses for those sections now.

Read the verses on the pattern. You may take extra copies of the craft home to show your friends God’s plan of salvation. Also, remember to invite your friends to come to church with you! Next time, I’ll ask what happened when you did.

SuperVerse

Our SuperVerse today is Revelation 21:4:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Have children look up and read Revelation 21:3-4 in their Bibles:

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Our SuperVerse today was written by the Apostle John. God gave him a revelation—revealing things not previously known about heaven and the events at the end of time. This is the meaning of the book of Revelation. We read the verse just before our SuperVerse to gain a better understanding of what was happening. John heard a shout from God’s throne declaring that God now was among His people. This reminds me of the very beginning of the Bible, when God had created a perfect world with no sin and suffering, where Adam and Eve enjoyed living in His presence! In God’s presence there is only love, goodness, and perfect peace.

What does our SuperVerse say will happen when God dwells with His people?

Are these things just removed for a short time? No, they are gone forever.

Let’s do an activity to learn our SuperVerse today.

Have children pair up in twos. Give each pair an envelope containing the SuperVerse Scramble cards. Have the pairs find a spot at a table or on the floor.

I will begin the activity by saying “GO!” Each pair will try to be the first to assemble the cards in the proper order to form the SuperVerse. When your group finishes, yell, “Revelation 21:4.”

Allow enough time for all pairs to complete the activity.

The verse we read earlier said that John heard a loud voice from the throne shout! Let’s read our cards in order and shout the SuperVerse together!

Now shuffle your cards again, turn them over, and work together to put the picture together as fast as you can! Ready? Go!

Prayer

Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “I will help others and show them God’s love.”

Have children remain paired up as they were for the SuperVerse activity. Read Matthew 18:19-20: Jesus said:

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as My followers, I am there among them.”

As we look forward to Jesus’ return, it’s important to have fellow believers we can talk to and pray with, especially when going through trials and temptations. According to the Bible verses I just read, Jesus’ presence is here with us now! I would like each of you to think of someone who may be going through a difficult time and needs God’s help and love. Share that need with your partner. Then, I would like you to agree in prayer together and pray for these people. Ask God to show you how you might show His love to them. Then, encourage and pray for strength for one another. There is power when you agree with a prayer partner!

Allow time for the pairs of children to agree and pray together, then close with a group prayer.

Dear God, thank You for Your presence as we gather in Your name. Lead us to people in need, and help us show them Your love. Thank You for the promise that we can look forward to when all pain, tears, sorrow, and even death will be gone forever! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Word Game

Let’s say our SuperVerse, Revelation 21:4 together:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

How do you think it would feel to live in a world like this with no evil, pain, sorrow, or sickness?

It would be amazing! Only the things consistent with God’s character would remain; things like love, peace, joy, hope, perfection, goodness, and God’s glory. The SuperVerse says that all the bad and evil things will be wiped away—gone forever! Today, we are going to play a game where we wipe away those things and keep only the good things that represent God’s character. This game is a little tricky. The good and bad words are connected and you must figure out what letters to wipe away, so you remove only the bad and keep the good. Just like John heard a shout from heaven—your teammates may shout instructions to you if you need help choosing which letter to wipe away!

Divide the class into two teams. Have the teams form two lines about 15-20 feet from the boards. Give the first player for each team an eraser. Say “Go” to begin the game. The first player from each team quickly walks to the team’s board and wipes away ONE letter only from a “bad” word. The team may shout directions, which will help children with special needs or those who cannot read well. They then return to their lines and hand the eraser to the next player on their teams. Continue in this fashion until one team wipes away all the “bad” words and only the things of God remain. That team wins the game. If more than one “bad” letter is erased, or if a “good” letter is accidentally wiped away, the child can use the marker to re-write it.

Brainstorming

Have children look up James 2:14-17. Divide the passage between four older children to read aloud to the class.

¹⁴What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? ¹⁷So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Our love for God should create a desire to share His love and help others in a practical way. This is what our SuperTruth is talking about—Active Faith! Practical, active faith produces good deeds, like helping others. What is more effective—telling people that God loves them, or telling them and offering them a cold drink of water when they are thirsty?

Why do you think that?

Yes, love with action sends a powerful message to others!

Let’s bring our SuperTruth to life with an activity. Who can say our SuperTruth by heart? “I will help others and show them God’s love.”

I will read different, practical, everyday scenarios or situations that we may face at school, home, on the playground, or even at church. I will then ask for your ideas on how you might be able to help this person and show God’s love. Now, there won’t be just one correct answer, so don’t be afraid to share your ideas! God has given us all different gifts to help one another, and we won’t always respond the same way—that’s good!

Read each scenario below and ask children to “brainstorm” ways they could help.

Ready?

• Your little sister just spilled her drink on the table and floor. Your mom is busy cooking and cleaning.
• New children are visiting your Sunday School class, and you notice that they are very nervous and quiet while everyone else in the class is talking and having fun.
• A new child at school does not know anyone and doesn’t know where to sit in the lunch room.
• The older lady next door is struggling to rake the leaves in her yard.
• You see a child being bullied on the playground at school.
• The child sitting next to you at school breaks a pencil during class.
• You find out that a classmate’s pet died over the weekend. You notice the child has been crying at times during the school day.
• Your younger sister or brother is scared about something during the night while your parents are asleep.
• A substitute teacher is having difficulty finding needed supplies for an activity in the classroom.
• Your brother or sister tried out for a sport at school and did not make the team.

Add or substitute scenarios that would apply to your class as time permits. Be sure to remind children to always get permission from a parent or supervising adult before assisting an adult or stranger alone.

You thought of some wonderful ways to help others and show them God’s love! Continue to make yourself available to God, and ask Him to lead you to others who need His love and help. Remember, God has given each of us a unique gift to share!

Discussion

Our SuperVerse tells us that when Jesus comes again, the world will change. The things that cause sickness and death, pain and suffering will be gone forever! Let me read the words that come after our SuperVerse. Read Revelation 21:4b–5a nkjv:

“for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

“Former things” means that the world full of evil and suffering will be gone. Instead, there will be a perfect new world filled with God’s presence.

For this activity, you will pull out a card from this bag, read it aloud, then decide if it will go or stay when Jesus comes again!

Have one child at a time pull a card from the bag or pillowcase and read it aloud. Ask the child if what was read will stay or go when Jesus comes again. Ask the rest of the children if they agree and why. Then discuss what it would be like if that item went away or stayed forever.

Word key:

• “Stay”: Peace, Health, Love, Joy, Praise and Worship, God’s Glory, Heaven, Light, Sinless, Whole and Complete.
• “Go”: Pain, Suffering, Jealousy, Fighting, Sickness, Death, Bullying, Crying, Hatred, Darkness.

This world is filled with pain and suffering now, but we have faith and excitement for what is coming in the future when Jesus returns! God has given us His love and His Spirit while we are here on Earth, so we must share our faith and help others whenever we can. 

Bible Study

Have children look up each Bible passage, then lead a discussion using the questions below. The passages do not have to be done in order. Choose as many as time allows.

1.  Colossians 4:5-6

⁵Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. ⁶Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Ask:

• What does verse 5 mean to you?
• Give some practical examples of how you think this might look in everyday life.
• Considering our SuperVerse, why is verse 5 important? How does this relate to the SuperVerse?
• What does verse 6 mean to you in regard to people who don’t know Jesus?
• Relate verse 6 to our SuperVerse for today.

2.  Hebrews 13:1-3

¹Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. ²Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! ³Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Ask:

• Why is it important to love each other, especially as the second coming of Jesus draws nearer?
• Mark your place in Hebrews 13 and look up John 13:35. Compare this to Hebrews 13:1. Why is this important to do? What difference might this make to people who see us and don’t know Jesus?

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”

• What do you think verse 2 means? Do you think this still happens today, or just back in Bible times?
• What does this tell us about how we should live our life each day? Relate this to Colossians 4:5, which we just discussed.
• In Hebrews 13:3, what is our responsibility to others in this life?
• How can this help us to pray more effectively?
• Relate this verse to our SuperVerse. Do you see the importance for showing God’s love to others?

3.  1 Peter 4:8–10

⁸Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. ¹⁰God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

Ask:

• What do you think verse 8 means, to cover a multitude of sins? Gives us the ability to not focus on the sin but to show love and mercy toward others and to pray for them and help them regardless of their sin. Look past the sin and focus on helping to bring others to a place of forgiveness and restoration.
• What are we to do with the things we have? Share—use them as a tool to show love.
• Have you ever considered what gifts God has given you? Can you name one or two?
• Does God give everyone the same gift? What does that say about the power and importance of the church, when we all use our different gifts in regard to our SuperTruth? Much more effective and powerful, stronger to evangelize and represent God’s love and to help others.
• Look at verse 10; what is the purpose of God’s gifts? What responsibility do we have with what we are given? To use them to serve others.

Paper Craft

Remember when God revealed hidden things to the Apostle John? Today, we are making a craft that will reveal a hidden picture when we complete it!

Distribute one copy of the Super Mat Pattern to each child and give them these instructions:

1. Carefully fold the Super Mat in half on the dotted line.
2. Carefully cut along the solid lines from the fold to the marked border, being careful not to cut past the border to the outside edge.
3. Carefully cut apart the second-page pattern.
4. Weave the strips of paper through the Super Mat, alternating strips under and over, to reveal the hidden picture.
5. Write your name on the frame.
6. Optional: when your picture is complete, use the hole punch to add holes on the edge of each strip, then weave raffia, string or yarn through the holes and tie the ends.

Be prepared to help younger children or those with special needs.

Can everyone see what was revealed now that your Super Mat is completed?

Take the mat home as a reminder of our SuperVerse, Revelation 21:4.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”