Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 minute)

Hello, everyone! We have a new Superbook video for you today called “Paul and the Shipwreck.” This video starts with the Apostle Paul being arrested for something he didn’t do—we’ll also see what Chris, Joy and Gizmo are doing today in the Superbook adventure. Let’s watch the video now!

Play Video 2: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma (3.5 minutes)

Chris and Joy's Dilemma

Joy, Gizmo, Chris, and his parents are helping people in a remote village after a flood—but the work is so hard, Joy feels like quitting.

SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)

Joy was on an important mission to help people in a village that had been damaged by a terrible flood. Why was Joy so discouraged?

Have you ever had an important assignment that you thought would be fun or exciting, but it turned out to be hard? 

Who will help us finish an important job even if it is incredibly hard? Jesus. 

Yes, that is why today’s SuperTruth says: “I can accomplish God’s mission when I focus on Jesus.” Let’s say that together.

The people in that village really need help! I hope Joy doesn’t give up! Let’s watch the rest of our video and see what happens!  

Play Video 3: Bible Story and Resolution (18.5 minutes)

Bible Story and Resolution

Superbook takes Chris, Joy and Gizmo back in time to meet the Apostle Paul, who has been arrested and put aboard a prison ship to stand trial in Rome. They see how Paul has the strength to face many dangers—including a dreadful storm, a terrible shipwreck, and a poisonous snake. The children learn to look past weakness and fear to focus on the Lord and His mission for them.

Play Video 10A: SuperVerse Graphic 1

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

SuperVerse Graphic 1

SuperVerse Discussion (1 minute)

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Hebrews 12:1b–2a: 

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

We can finish the race—meaning the mission God gives us for our lives—with Jesus’ help. Our new life began with Jesus, and our goal is to become more like Him every day. From the starting line to the finish line, we need Jesus every step of the way!    

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

Prayer and Send-Off(1 minute)

Let’s pray. Dear God, You have a mission for each one of our lives. Help us to focus on Jesus, as Paul did, so that we will have Your strength to overcome any obstacles and to successfully complete whatever mission You give us. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Now it’s time for Small Group where you will have a chance to go on a mission. I am confident you will accomplish it—as long as you stay focused!    

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

What was Joy doing in our Superbook video today? Helping others after a flood.

Why was it so difficult for her? Mosquitos, mud, overwhelming needs of people, being away from comforts of home.

When she left home to go help the people in that village, she may have felt happy and excited. But sometimes a task is more difficult than we expect, and we may have to deal with a number of difficulties and hardships. That is why it is so important to keep our focus on Jesus and draw from His strength to finish the assignment. Paul encountered many challenges along the way, but they did not stop him from accomplishing his mission. Instead of being distracted by the hardships, Paul focused on the Lord and the goal of completing the work God gave him.

Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “I can accomplish God’s mission when I focus on Jesus.” 

Divide the class into two equal teams, then point to the Jesus Sign and the finish line.

The goal of this game is to travel to the Jesus Sign and the finish line. Along the way, let’s visit a few places where Paul went. That doesn’t sound like a difficult mission, does it? 

Hold up the Mission Spinners. But, there is one more thing. Like Paul, you may face some unexpected difficulties and hardships along the way. Every player will spin the spinner and find out what the challenge is before starting the mission. Hold up the balloons. You must do what the spinner says until you get the balloon to the finish line—then quickly walk back to your team and give the balloon to the next player. The next player can spin as soon as the first player leaves the start line. The first team to have all players complete their missions wins.

Hand a Mission Spinner and a balloon to the first child on each team. Be prepared to help children read the words and to assist those with special needs. Play until all children have had a turn, then discuss.

Were all of the challenges equally difficult? No!

Which one was the easiest? The one where we simply carried the balloon.

Why do you think we had different challenges? Because we will face different hardships on our missions.

Yes, sometimes our race or mission in life will be smooth; sometimes it will be more difficult. It may not seem fair that one person has an easy time while another person has a hard time. As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will accomplish His purposes! Let’s learn more about Paul’s mission—and ours, too!

Teaching

The Apostle Paul was a man of determination and strength. It seemed that nothing could stop him from accomplishing the mission God gave him. But where did that strength come from? Do you think he just had an amazing amount of will power?

Do you remember what Paul told Joy was the source of his strength? Let’s read what God told Paul, and how Paul responded. 

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9:

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.

Paul told Joy that his weakness was replaced by Jesus’ strength. Paul even said that he would gladly boast about his weakness so Jesus’ strength would work through him. Paul gave all the credit to Jesus for everything he accomplished!      

Let’s take a closer look at what Paul’s mission was and how it began. In the book of Acts, we read how Paul—then known as Saul—was on his way to capture and persecute the Christians in the city of Damascus. He may have thought that was his mission from God—but he was wrong! Jesus appeared to him in a light so bright that it blinded him. Paul came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior. God sent a man named Ananias to pray for his healing and tell him what his true mission was. 

Read Acts 9:15b:

“Go, for Saul is My chosen instrument to take My message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.”

Paul’s mission was totally changed! Hold up the Jesus sign. Paul went from persecuting Jesus’ followers to preaching the Gospel so that more people would become believers in Jesus! Paul encountered many hardships on his mission. Hold up the Hardship sign beside the Jesus sign. Paul was attacked by an angry mob and thrown into prison on false charges! Yet Paul never lost sight of the mission Jesus gave him to do! Place the Jesus sign over the Hardship sign to cover it up. 

Read Acts 23:11:

That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to Me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”

Jesus appeared and gave Paul encouragement and instructions for his mission! Paul was a prisoner in chains when he set sail to stand before Caesar in Rome. A storm came up that lasted for many days! Hold up the Hardship sign. But even then, Paul kept his focus on the Lord. Place the Jesus sign over the Hardship sign. Paul’s faith was rewarded. An angel appeared to Paul and confirmed that he would still accomplish his mission in Rome! Paul told the ship’s crew not to be afraid even though the ship would sink! 

Optional: Read Acts 27:22–26:

“But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in His goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

Paul and the crew made it safely to land, just as God promised! Yet even on the island of Malta, Paul’s hardships were not over! Hold up the Hardship sign. Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake and the people expected him to die! Place the Jesus sign over the Hardship sign. But Paul simply shook the snake off and was not harmed! Paul kept his eyes on the Lord. The people were amazed and knew that Paul’s God was real and powerful! Paul also displayed God’s power by praying for the sick father of Malta’s leader. God miraculously healed the man. Paul then prayed for all of the people of Malta who had diseases, and they were healed by God, too! Paul was focused on what God wanted him to do! Hold up the Jesus sign. 

Eventually, Paul made it to Rome, where he was under house arrest for 2 years. This meant that he was not allowed to leave the house to go anywhere. Hold up the Hardship sign. Even so, Paul continued his mission. Place the Jesus sign over the Hardship sign. He shared the Gospel with the people who visited him—and he also wrote letters about the Christian faith to believers in other places. Many of these letters, called epistles, became books of the Bible that we can read today!  

We just talked about a few of Paul’s journeys and hardships that he encountered on his mission. Paul was faithful to accomplish his mission. Did you know that God has given us the same mission? He wants us to live as Jesus did and to share the Gospel wherever we go. Hold up the Hardship sign. We can accomplish our mission as long as we don’t focus on the hardships and difficulties, but instead focus on Jesus and ask Him for His power, wisdom and guidance. Place the Jesus sign over the Hardship sign. We cannot do God’s will in our own strength; He gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to obey Him in whatever He asks us to do.

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Now it is time for our Discipleship Challenge! Hand out a New Testament Books Pattern to each child. Have them assemble and put their names on their crafts. Display the model you made for the class to see, and assist the children as necessary.

Let’s look at our crafts. What are the names of the first four books of the New Testament? Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.

Those are called the four Gospels, which are about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. What is the name of the next book? Acts.

The full name of that book is actually “The Acts of the Apostles.” It tells what happened when Jesus went up to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit, empowering the apostles to go out into the world and preach the Gospel. Next come the letters, or epistles, that Paul wrote—some from prison! Let’s read the list. Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon.

Let’s try to memorize the names of all the books of the New Testament through Philemon before we meet next time. Then after that, we’ll learn the names of the last nine books: Hebrews; James; 1 & 2 Peter; 1, 2 & 3 John; Jude; and Revelation.

Take your craft home as a reminder to learn the names of the first two sets of books. When we know the books of the Bible in order, it makes it easier to look up Scriptures and find passages in God’s Word.  

SuperVerse

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Hebrews 12:1b–2a: 

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

What kind of race is this verse talking about? Our lives, our mission in life.

What does it mean to run with endurance? To keep going through difficulty or hardship over a long period of time.

Some people can run really fast for a short distance—that’s called a sprint. Other people may run slower, but they can go for long distances—like a marathon. Raise your hand if you think life is like a quick sprint.

Raise your hand if you think life is more like a long marathon!

 

Have children form two lines perpendicular to the board so all children can see the SuperVerse. Each child faces the child directly across from them, with about 10 feet between the two lines—see illustration. Hand the ball to the first child in one line. The child shouts the first word of the SuperVerse, then tosses the ball to the child directly across, who catches the ball, shouts the next word of the verse, and tosses it to the child next to the first child. Continue this way until the entire SuperVerse is completed. Be prepared to help children with special needs or those who do not read well. Play an additional round starting with a child at the opposite end of the line, and challenge the children to do it faster this time.

That was fun! Remember, no matter how far along we are in our faith—whether we are brand-new Christians or we have been believers for 90 years—we always need to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the source of our faith and the One who perfects or completes our faith!

Note: Younger children may not be able to memorize the SuperVerse. They may simply repeat it several times, while older children may memorize part or all of it. Be sure all children understand its meaning.

Prayer

Paul did make it to Rome, just as God had revealed to him in the ship during the storm. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians—people in the church in a city called Ephesus—Paul asked for their prayers while he was in Rome. 

Read Ephesians 6:19–20: 

And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for Him, as I should.

Does this seem like an unusual prayer to you?

This prayer is unusual because it was written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome for 2 years. He was chained to a guard and lived in a rented house. If you were chained up and couldn’t leave the house, what would you ask people to pray for? To be freed!

Yet here is what Paul did. Read Acts 28:30–31: 

For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

Paul did not concentrate on his own hardship. He did not complain about being in chains, even though he had been doing good things and was arrested on false charges. Paul only wanted to complete his mission, which was to spread the Gospel boldly to the Jewish and Gentile people—whether he was a free man or a prisoner. No matter what Paul’s circumstances, he continued his mission to bring the Good News of Jesus to those around him.

Let’s take a few moments to pray for boldness to share the Gospel, no matter where we are and no matter what seems to be going wrong around us. You might find yourself in a unique situation to share the message of Jesus with someone you normally wouldn’t talk to or be around. Instead of simply praying to be removed from a situation that is not of our choosing, let’s ask God if He has sent us there on a mission!

Give children a chance to pray and focus on God’s mission for them.

Close in prayer: Dear God, thank You that You have a wonderful plan for each of our lives. We want to share the Good News of Jesus with others who don’t know You. Help us to understand Your missions for our lives, and open our eyes to the special opportunities You give us to share the Gospel with those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

Object Lesson

Place one Jesus Sign face-down at the starting line, and another one face-down at the finish line.

Who can say our SuperVerse, Hebrews 12:1b–2a? 

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Let’s dig deeper into our SuperVerse to understand the importance of Jesus on our mission.

Stand at the start line. Did you know that God gave Jesus a mission? Start walking slowly toward the finish line as you talk. Yes, Jesus was sent by God to Earth on a mission. His mission was to come to Earth as a human, live a sinless life, die on the cross to save us from our sins, and then rise again from the dead so we could have eternal life in heaven with Him! Stand at finish line. Jesus completed His mission perfectly! He now is seated beside God the Father in the place of honor by His throne in heaven! Pick up the sign, show the children and then place it face-up on the finish line. Let me read our SuperVerse and the words that directly follow it that tell us what we just learned. 

Read Hebrews 12:1b–2:

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Go back to the start line. You see, we cannot come to God without Jesus! Pick up and display the Jesus Sign at the starting line. Jesus is the source of our faith. That means He gives us the faith to believe in Him! Now, it does not end there! We never outgrow Jesus! Place that sign face-up on floor, then walk to the finish line as you speak. Jesus is not only the author or start of our faith, He is also the finisher—or perfecter—of our faith. Pick up the Jesus Sign at the finish line and hold it up. 

But what about in between the start and finish lines of our mission—are we on our own? No!

Pull out the folded Jesus Sign you had hidden in your pocket or hand, unfold it, and show the children. Because Jesus completed His mission perfectly, He gives us the strength and endurance to complete ours. When we ask Jesus into our hearts to be our Lord and Savior, He is with us the whole time, from start to finish, no matter what challenges we may face on our journey!

Acting Game

For this game, the class plays together as one team. For each item, ask the number of children listed in parenthesis to come up front for a turn. If your class is large, you may have more children participate in each event than the number suggested. Give the slip of paper with the event to the children to silently read and act out, or quietly read the event to the children so the class can’t hear. 

Allow children about 30 seconds to prepare what they will do, then start the timer to give them 30 seconds to silently act out the event. Children in the audience should immediately begin to describe the event they think the actors are portraying. Give hints as necessary if the volunteers are having difficulty, and be prepared to assist children with special needs. Answers do not need to be exact. Keep the game moving quickly between turns so the activity doesn’t drag. Try to give each child a chance to act at least once. You may lead a small discussion to explain or reinforce the significance of an event after it is acted out.   

Paul’s life was filled with both joy and hardship. He didn’t allow anything—good or bad—to distract him from the mission God gave him. Our missions for God will contain joys and hardships, too. But, if we focus on Jesus, we can accomplish all God has for us! Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “I can accomplish God’s mission when I focus on Jesus.”

Shipwreck Game

Read Acts 27:41–44: 

But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.

We have a fun game with a mission for you. Your mission is to help everyone get safely from the ship to the island of Malta. Point to the “ship” mat with the paper balls, then point to the other mat. Are you up for the mission?

Good! To prepare for it, let’s say our SuperTruth together. “I can accomplish God’s mission when I focus on Jesus.”

For this game, you each need to find someone you don’t know very well to be your partner! You will work as a team to score points by getting people safely to shore. 

Now, in the Bible verses we read, all who could swim jumped from the ship into the water and swam to shore. These people probably got to the island much faster. So, at the beginning of each team’s turn, each player will roll one number cube. The total number rolled for both cubes is the number of balls—people—your team can roll to the island using your hands.

The verses we read also tell us anyone who could not swim held onto wood planks and items from the ship and floated to shore. This must have taken longer for waves to carry them! So, for the rest of the balls—people—you will use these wood planks to push or scoop them up to carry them safely to Malta. Hold up cardstock pieces. Remember, you can’t use your hands—only this “plank”!  

Hand a piece of cardstock to each player of the first team.

You have 30 seconds to complete your mission and help Paul and the crew make it safely to the Island of Malta! Start the clock and say: “Abandon Ship!” Total the balls—people—on the island of Malta after each team has finished or the time has expired and then return them to the “ship” for the next team. The team that moved the most people safely onto the island wins!

When all teams have taken their turns, say: “Great job! Now, we weren’t totally sure we could move all the crew safely with the time limit of our game, but that wasn’t the case in our Bible story. God told Paul that everyone would be saved, even BEFORE the shipwreck! 

Optional: read Acts 27:21–26: 

No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in His goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as He said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

Even though things looked hopeless, Paul focused on Jesus and the mission, not on the situation! Paul was sure he would not drown and would eventually get to Rome. Why? Because God told him that he must go there to accomplish his mission!  

Bible Study

Divide the class into teams of two or three. Each child will need a Bible. Put a weaker reader on a team with a stronger reader, and be prepared to help any children with special needs. All passages are taken from the book of Acts, making it easier for children to participate. You may award points for each correct answer or not use points at all. 

In this activity, I will write a chapter number from the book of Acts that you will race to look up. Then, I will ask a question, and you will have to find which verse in that chapter has the answer. It may be a good idea for your team to split the chapter up, with each of you reading a different part so you can find the answer quicker. Once your team finds the answer, raise your hands. I will call on the first team to raise hands. You must answer immediately or I will call on the next team. All the verses we will look up contain information about the Apostle Paul’s life as he accomplished God’s mission for him.

Let’s all find the book of Acts right now. Where is it found in the Bible? In the New Testament, after the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 

If the children are unfamiliar with the Bible, point out how each book has chapters and verses, and have them keep a bookmark in Acts for this activity. If the children are skilled in Bible usage, you may have them close their Bibles after each question is answered.   

Write the chapter on the board, then as they race to locate it in their Bibles, ask the question, repeating it as necessary. Each child should look up each scripture individually but then discuss answers with their team. Call on the first team to raise hands. They must answer immediately without hesitating, or you should move to the next team. After each answer, ask the other teams if they agree with the answer given or if they have a different answer. Discuss different answers, as they may vary depending on different Bible versions used. If children are having a difficult time finding an answer, tell them if the answer can be found in the beginning, middle or end of the chapter.

ACTS: 

• Chapter 9: Who appeared to Paul on his journey to Damascus?                            
  • Verse 5: The Lord Jesus.
• Chapter 9: What mission did God tell Ananias that He was giving Paul?
  • Verse 15: Take the Gospel to the Gentiles, kings, and people of Israel—Jews.
• Chapter 16: Paul had a vision from God. Where was he told to travel next?
  • Verse 9: Macedonia.
• Chapter 16: What unusual thing did Paul and Silas do while in prison at about midnight?
  • Verse 25: Praying and singing hymns to God.
• Chapter 18: While Paul was in the city of Corinth, what did God tell him in a vision?
  • Verses 9–10: “Don’t be afraid, speak out, don’t be silent!” God was with Paul, No one would harm him, there were many believers there.   
• Chapter 19: What unusual items did Paul place on people to heal them by God’s power?
  • Verses 11-12: Handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched Paul.
• Chapter 20: A boy died while Paul was preaching. Paul healed him! How did the boy die?
  • Verses 9-12: The boy went to sleep and fell out of a third-story window.
• Chapter 26: King Agrippa said that Paul could have been set free or released if Paul had not done something—what was it Paul did?
  • Verse 32: Appealed to Caesar.

Pray: God, thank You for giving Paul the faith and courage to overcome so many hardships on his mission. Please fill our hearts with the power of the Holy Spirit to do whatever You call us to do in our lives. We praise You that we can do all things in Your strength! In Jesus’ name, Amen.