Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome to all, and that means everyone! Girls and boys, all ages, anywhere you are sitting, regular attenders, and visitors—we are glad you’re here! Hmm, I wonder if this might be a clue for today’s video. Our new Superbook adventure today is about two men: Peter and Cornelius. God spoke to each man in a very unusual and exciting way in different places. We’ll learn more about this, and also find out what is new with Chris, Joy and Gizmo.

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

Chris and Joy's Dilemma

Joy and Chris are late for school. If Chris gets one more ticket from the hall monitor, he will get detention. Chris begs for mercy, but the hall monitor isn’t interested in giving anyone special treatment.

SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)

At the count of three, shout the name of your favorite actor or actress. One, two, three!   

Good! Now, on the count of three, shout the name of your favorite athlete or musician. One, two, three!

I heard a lot of different favorites and there is nothing wrong with that; we all like different personalities and styles. God created us to be unique and special. We may admire a certain skill or talent of one person over another. However, we must not treat others differently.  

The SuperTruth today is: “God shows no favoritism.” Let’s say that together. “God shows no favoritism.”

God sent His Son to save not just some people—Jesus came to bring salvation to all.

Did the school hall monitor show favoritism to Chris? No, he went strictly by the rules. The rules applied to all.  

This hall monitor was strict. He was not interested in giving special treatment to Chris or anyone! Let’s watch the rest of our video to see what happens.  

Video 3: Bible Story and Resolution (19 minutes)

Bible Story and Resolution

Superbook brings Chris, Joy, Gizmo, and the hall monitor to meet Cornelius, a Roman officer, and Peter, who needed to learn that God doesn’t have favorites and salvation is for everyone.

Play Video 10A: SuperVerse Graphic 1

Graphic loops 3 minutes without audio; turn off or freeze video after children repeat the verse.

SuperVerse Graphic 1

SuperVerse Discussion (1 minute)

Our SuperVerse today is Galatians 3:28: 

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

What is a Gentile? Anyone who is not Jewish.

In the video, who was a Gentile? Cornelius and his household—servants and family.

Who was a Jew? Peter, Simon’s household, Peter’s brothers or companions.  

We will learn more about the relationship between Gentiles and Jews in Small Group. The SuperVerse tells us that when God looks at people, He does not see color, gender or nationality; in Jesus, we are all the same.

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)

Dear God, You are our heavenly Father and we are Your children. You love us equally. Because of Christ, we are all the same in Your eyes. Help us to love others regardless of any differences. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.  

In Small Group today, are you up for breaking down a wall together?   

Don’t worry; you’ll be safe—it’s not a classroom wall! The wall you will break down represents what Christ did to make all people one. Let’s go see what this game is about.   

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

How did Chris and Joy make it to school so quickly? Gizmo flew them to school and used his boosters.

Yes, Chris didn’t want to have any issues with the hall monitor again. Do you remember what Chris called the hall monitor right before Superbook took them away on their adventure; it starts with an “O”? An outcast.

An outcast is someone who is not accepted or has been rejected by others. Can you name a group of people who could be considered as outcasts by the Jews? The Gentiles.

The Gentile people were considered unclean and impure by the Jews. They were looked down upon and considered inferior by the Jews.

Let’s say our SuperVerse together: Galatians 3:28:

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Peter’s vision was a “game changer.” In Christ, the Jews and Gentiles were made one.

Let’s read another verse about what Jesus did to help us understand what this game is about.

Read Ephesians 2:14:

For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

Jesus broke down the wall when He died on the cross. He brought peace to replace the hostility, which means hatred and anger, between the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus was the only one who could do this. However, you are going to need each other’s help to destroy this wall.    

Divide the children into two teams—they do not need to be even.

Place one team on each side. One team represents the Jews and the other the Gentiles.

Teams make a single-file line on their side behind the mark or line closest to the wall.

One player from each team plays at the same time.  

Start the time.

The first player from each team walks quickly to the line and throws two balls to knock down the wall, then quickly returns to the back of their team’s line.

The next player takes a turn. Action should be continuous.  

Have a leader or leaders stand at both ends of the table to keep balls available on both sides of the table. Or, ask for volunteers to help once they have played.

Play until all pieces of the wall are knocked over or off the table; stop the time. 

Play again to beat the first time.    

Conclusion: Good job knocking down the wall that separated you! This represents what Christ did when He made all people one by His death on the cross. He replaced hostility with peace and gave forgiveness and eternal life to all people. This is the message God gave Peter to bring to Cornelius and the Gentile people. (See Acts 11:18.). Let’s learn more about that now.

Teaching

Let’s say the SuperTruth together: “God shows no favoritism.”

God demonstrated this when He spoke to a Gentile and a Jew in visions one day apart. Through the visions, God revealed His plan for all to be one in Christ and provide salvation to all.

What do we know about the Gentile named Cornelius? The Bible tells us that he was a Roman officer called a centurion. A centurion led about 60–80 soldiers. He was a God-fearing man who gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly. He was respected by the Jewish people. (See Acts 10:1–2,22.)

A God-fearer meant that he worshiped God and respected the Jewish laws but did not necessarily participate in all of their customs and rituals such as their food laws. It was during Cornelius’s afternoon prayer time that he had a vision of an angel sent from God. This angel told Cornelius that God had received his prayers and offerings. He then instructed Cornelius to send for Peter so he could hear his message about salvation through Jesus. (See Acts 11:13.)  

The next day around noon, Peter was up on the flat roof of the house praying as he waited for his meal to be prepared. As Peter prayed, he saw the sky open and God’s vision appeared. It was like a sheet holding different types of clean and unclean animals according to Jewish law. (See Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.) A voice told Peter, “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” (See Acts 10:15.) At first, Peter refused to accept the instruction because it was against Jewish laws and customs. The same vision was repeated two more times. Peter must have realized after the vision was repeated that God was revealing something very significant to him, something that he should not ignore! God was not only talking about food and animals in the vision; He was talking about the Jewish and Gentile nations.

Peter was puzzled by the vision. He didn’t fully understand it, yet it didn’t stop him from trusting the Holy Spirit. Aren’t God’s detailed plans and timing amazing? He sent two visions to two men, a Jew and a Gentile, a day apart. Both men were surprised, stunned, and didn’t completely understand; yet they chose to obey. Both men were focused on God and took time during their day to seek God alone. When we do as they did, we may not receive a vision; however, God delights in speaking to us. When we pray, He will give us wisdom, direction, encouragement, and anything else we need!

Yes, God wants to speak to us, and the Holy Spirit will give us understanding and help us to apply what we hear. Peter brought the message that Cornelius and his family longed to hear—the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Call two volunteers up to hold the “Jews” and “Gentiles” puzzle pieces so all can see. In the game we just played, what were the Jews and Gentiles separated by? A wall of hostility.

Yes, they really didn’t like each other and had no relationship. Have the volunteers bring the two tabs of the puzzle pieces together and tap them together as if butting heads. Have children stand at arm’s length from each other while holding the pieces up.  

Do these pieces connect or unite? No.

The Jews and Gentiles could not come together and stayed apart.  

Choose a third volunteer to stand between the other two children and hold up the “Christ Jesus” piece.

Then Jesus Christ came into the world and died for our sins to give salvation to everyone. The wall of hostility was removed and replaced by His peace. The Jews and Gentiles were united into one people through Christ’s body on the cross. Have children interlock all three pieces together as one.

Let’s say the SuperVerse together. Galatians 3:28:

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Peter was sent by God to share God’s message of repentance, forgiveness and salvation to the Gentiles. He was an ambassador for Christ to reconcile all people to Him. It is time for the Discipleship Challenge where we will receive authority to be ambassadors for Christ, too! Let’s find out what that means.                 

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give each child an Ambassador for Christ Certificate.

In the video, what job was Jia Wei (“J–eye-uh Way”) authorized to do by the school administration? To be a hall monitor.

He represented the principal and teachers in their absence and enforced the school rules. What did God authorize or direct Peter to do in the Bible story? To take the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to the Gentiles.

In the beginning of the book of Acts, the early church believed that God’s salvation and promises were only for the Jews, not for the Gentiles. God changed that and appointed Peter to bring the message of salvation to Cornelius and his household! Did you know that we are appointed by God to share the same Good News? We are appointed to be His ambassadors. Now, what exactly is an ambassador?

An ambassador is an official representative of a nation who stands for or reflects its interests and values. In our case, we are ambassadors for Christ. We represent the interests and values of God’s Kingdom! Look on your certificates and let’s read aloud 2 Corinthians 5:18–20, which authorizes us to be ambassadors for Christ. Read slowly so children can follow along.  

¹⁸ And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. ¹⁹ For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. ²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

That’s exciting isn’t it? God authorizes us to be Christ’s ambassadors to reconcile all people to Him. To reconcile means to reunite, restore, or repair a relationship to bring it back in harmony. The relationship between God and people was broken by sin. Jesus died to forgive our sins so that relationship could be restored. We have been authorized and given the task of calling people back to God through the Gospel message; how exciting!

Give pencils to the children. If you would like to accept the challenge of being Christ’s ambassador, sign your name on your certificate. Children write their names. 

Great; now hold your certificates up in the air. By the authority of God’s Word, I hereby pronounce you ambassadors for Christ! Congratulations, you took the first step in our Discipleship Challenge. At the bottom of your certificate is your challenge for Lesson 1: I will share the Good News. Look up and read 1 Thessalonians 2:4, then discuss this with your family if possible. Look and pray for opportunities to share God’s message with others.      

When we meet again, you will have a chance to share your experiences as a newly appointed ambassador for Christ! 

SuperVerse

Let’s read the SuperVerse together from the board: There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 

The SuperVerse is part of a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Gentile believers in a region called Galatia. That’s why the name of this book of the Bible is Galatians. It was wonderful news to the Galatian people that they were the same in God’s eyes as the Jewish believers because they belonged to Christ. The same promises that God gave Abraham and his heirs now belonged to them too! (Galatians 3:29).    

The verse names six kinds of people. What are they? Jew and Gentile; slave and free; male and female. 

There are no exceptions, no small print.  All believers in Christ are alike, no matter what race, nationality, rank, status, or gender. All are saved in the same way through Jesus and share the same privileges as God’s children.  

Divide the children into six separate groups. The size of the groups does not matter. 

Assign one word to each group: Jew, Gentile, slave, free, male, female. Have each group face the board and stand several feet away from the other groups. Slowly read the verse aloud by yourself, and have each group say the word assigned to them at the proper time. Then read, “For you are all…” and have the groups come together in one big group and say, “One in Christ Jesus.” Have the groups separate again and repeat the activity.           

What do you think the activity represented? The different groups of people were separate until Christ brought them all together and made them one.  

Conclusion: God shows no favoritism. He sent Jesus to offer salvation to all people! 

Prayer

As we learned in our teaching, prayer was important to both Cornelius and Peter. God heard and honored both men’s prayers—one a Gentile and the other a Jew. Let’s say the SuperTruth together: “God shows no favoritism.”

God hasn’t changed; He will honor all of our prayers today; boys or girls, first graders or sixth graders, teens or adults, it doesn’t matter to God—He shows no favoritism.  

Let’s close our eyes and pray. First, let’s thank God for hearing all of our prayers. Allow children time to pray silently or out loud if desired.

Now, let’s try to focus solely on Jesus, as Peter did on the roof. God wants to lead and guide us into a deeper understanding about Him and His ways. Block out thoughts about other things around you. Ask God to speak to you, to show you how much He loves you, or to give you direction for the coming week. Allow time to pray. 

Close in prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, You love to speak to all of Your children; there are no favorites here. You heard every prayer that was offered today as we prayed together. You will also hear the prayers we pray alone. We give honor, thanks and praise to You! In Your precious name we pray, Amen. 

Action Game

Jia Wei (“J–eye-uh Way”), the hall monitor, really liked his job, didn’t he! What part did he seem to enjoy the most? Making sure everyone obeyed the rules.

What did Jia Wei wear so people could recognize him as a hall monitor? A badge and security vest.

What technology was installed so Jia Wei could enforce rule violations? Fingerprint confirmation and video surveillance.

The game we are about to play is all about following what Jia Wei says—and as you probably guessed, it’s similar to “Simon Says.” You will have a chance to move around and have fun—but you need to listen carefully and only obey an instruction that begins with the words “Jia Wei says.” If you obey a command that is not from Jia Wei, you must leave the game for one instruction, and then you may come back in to play. Don’t worry; Jia Wei will not require fingerprint confirmation for any violations! Are you ready to listen carefully and follow the instructions?    

You may substitute “Hall monitor says” for “Jia Wei says” if it’s easier. Choose an older child to be Jia Wei and wear the badge and optional vest; or you or another leader may be Jia Wei. You may also switch leaders after several commands. Have children make rows and leave at least an arm’s length of space between each other. Use other adult leaders or sixth grade helpers to spot children who don’t follow the instructions and send them in and out of the game. Be prepared to help children with special needs or to adjust instructions accordingly. Use the instruction list below; add “Jia Wei says” to any instruction. Repeat instructions with or without “Jia Wei says” to see how well the children are listening. Add your own instructions as desired.

• Put both hands in the air.
• Pretend to knock on a door.
• Wave at the teacher.
• Give a thumbs-up sign.
• Walk in place with good posture.
• Place both hands on top of your head.
• Do three jumping jacks.
• Shout the centurion’s name. (Cornelius)
• Stand on one leg.
• Hop on one leg.
• Run in place.
• Fold your hands as if you’re praying.
• Take two steps to the right.
• Take two steps to the left.
• Stretch your left arm out to the side.
• Place both arms across your chest.
• Stand at attention.
• Shout who prayed on the roof. (Peter)
• Smile as big as you can. 
• Say Good morning to the person on your right.
• Scratch your head.
• Put both hands out in front of you.   
• Jump up and down three times.
• Hop once on your left foot and twice on your right foot.
• Touch your feet with both hands.
• Wave both arms in the air.
• Shout the SuperTruth. (God shows no favoritism.)

Conclusion: You really followed Jia Wei’s instructions carefully. Rules are important to help keep us safe and to keep order. As we learned with Peter, it is also important to listen to and obey the instructions of the Holy Spirit, even when we don’t fully understand why. He will always lead and guide us in God’s truth. 

Mismatch Game

On the cards are characters from the Bible story and animals from Peter’s vision. There is also a hidden sentence underneath the cards. It will be revealed as cards are matched and removed. There is something different about this game: a correct match is actually a mismatch! Point to the whiteboard and read the mismatches.     

You can refer to the board if you are unsure what a mismatch is. In this unusual game, identical cards are not a match! For instance, two Joy cards are not a match. Neither are two Gentile cards, or two “X” cards, or two check-mark cards.      

Let’s say our SuperVerse together: Galatians 3:28:

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

In the vision, Peter was told there was no longer clean and unclean in God’s eyes. That is what this game illustrates. 

Divide the children into two teams. Teams will alternate turns. A team’s turn consists of one child choosing two cards. Flip over each card as it is guessed to show the children, and say what it is. If the cards aren’t a “mismatch,” lay the cards back down on the board. If the cards are a “mismatch,” remove them from the board and give them to the player who chose them. On any turn, the player may also attempt to guess the hidden sentence to win a bonus point. Play until all pairs are removed from the board. The team with the most pairs / points wins.

Conclusion: Was the game confusing to you when it was first explained? Imagine how Peter felt when he received the vision and God’s instructions! What he believed about Jews and Gentiles, and clean and unclean things, was turned upside down. Peter trusted the Holy Spirit and went to Cornelius’s house even though his understanding wasn’t complete. Once there, the meaning of his vision was made clear. 

Maze

Give each child a copy of the Peter’s Journey Maze and a pencil. Have children write their names at the bottom. Lead a discussion using the questions below as the children complete the activity.

• What kind of costume did Gizmo wear to try and help Chris after he was late to school again? Why did he pick that costume? A clown costume; he thought Chris might want to run away with the circus instead of facing detention and possible consequences at home. 
• What did Chris demand that Jia Wei (the hall monitor) do once they arrived in Joppa? Take off his hall monitor badge and vest.
• Why did Chris make that demand? At first because he said he was in charge and then because he said Jia Wei would blend in better without them.
• Why did Peter go up to the roof top? To pray and wait for the meal to be finished.
• Why would Simon’s wife not allow the children to enter the courtyard where the meal was being prepared? Because they were unclean.
• What two things happened after Peter shared the message with Cornelius’s household? The Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening. The people who received the Holy Spirit were then baptized in water.

Conclusion: Take your maze home and talk with your family about how we should always follow the Holy Spirit’s leading to share the Gospel with others, even those who are different from us.  

Bible Study

Let’s say our SuperVerse together: Galatians 3:28:

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Let’s look deeper into the unity that God brings through Christ.

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. Romans 3:29–30:

²⁹After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t He also the God of the Gentiles? Of course He is. ³⁰ There is only one God, and He makes people right with Himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 

• Is God the God of the Gentiles or the Jews? Both. 
• How do we become right with God? By faith in Jesus
• What does verse 30 say about how God provided a way to make us right with Him? That He loves us and is full of mercy and forgiveness. Instead of destroying us and starting over, He provided a way to have a relationship with Him again. He went through pain and trouble to save us.
• How does it make you feel to know that all you must have is faith and not constantly try to win His approval and favor by works? It takes a burden away. It is so much easier; you never have to wonder if you have done enough to gain His approval and favor. Gives you confidence and comfort

2. John 17:20–23: 

²⁰ “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message.²¹ I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me. ²² I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as We are one. ²³ I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me.” 

• In verse 20, Jesus prayed for His disciples while He was on the earth. Who else did He pray for? All who now and in the future believe in Him through the Gospel.
• Who does that include? Me! Everyone in this room who believes and will believe. All believers who live on the earth today and all believers until the end of time when He returns to the earth.
• According to verse 21–22, what is Jesus praying for us? That we will all be one, as He and the Father (God) are one. That He will live inside us.
• Does this apply only to people in this country? No, it applies to the whole world every nation.
• How do we know that? Jesus commanded His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone. Optional: read Mark 16:15.
• In verse 23, how are we connected to God? Jesus is in us and then God is in Him. The way we are connected to God, in relationship with Him, is only through Christ. The only way to the Father is through Jesus, the Son. (See John 14:6.)
• What else does Jesus pray for in verse 23? For perfect unity, and through that, love and unity with each other and with God that others in the world will come to know Jesus as God’s Son. That we will also know the Father.

3. Ephesians 2:12–16:   

¹²In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. ¹³ But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to Him through the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. ¹⁵ He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in Himself one new people from the two groups. ¹⁶ Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of His death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

• Who do you think verse 12 is describing? The Gentiles before the Gospel was given to them.
• Read the last part of verse 12 again. What does that say about the urgency of sharing the Gospel with those who don’t know Jesus? They live without a true relationship with God and lack hope.
• In verse 13, what changed when they found Christ? They were united with Him and brought near to God.
• In verse 13, what specifically brought them close to God? The blood of Jesus.
• In verse 14, what else do we have through Christ? Peace
• How did Christ unite Jews and Gentiles? Through His body on the cross.
• What did He break down that separated Jews and Gentiles? Wall of hostility that separated them and kept them from being at peace with one another.
• What do you think that means? The Jews and Gentiles did not like each other. They were opposed to each other and bitter enemies.
• In verse 15, what did Jesus change? Salvation by faith and belief in Him and putting an end to trying to keep the Jewish laws.
• What did Jesus make from the two groups of people? One new people who were at peace with each other in Him.
•  In verse 16, what was put to death by Christ’s death on the cross? The hostility between Jews and Gentiles.

Conclusion: God sent Jesus to break down the wall between Jews and Gentiles. He came to save all people and to unite them as one body to bring glory to Him.