Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome everyone; today is the last lesson of our Superbook adventure titled “Peter and Cornelius.” If you were here for one of the previous lessons, what was the important message that Peter brought to Cornelius and his family? The Gospel; salvation through Jesus.

Yes; the life changing message of the Gospel is for everyone! Let’s stand and praise Jesus for saving us and forgiving our sins and as we sing The Salvation Poem!

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

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

The Salvation Poem

SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)

Our SuperTruth today is, “Salvation is for everyone.”Let’s say it together. “Salvation is for everyone.”

Just to make sure I understand what “everyone” really means, does that include the people in our church? Yes!

Does it include the people in our city? Yes!

Is salvation for people in other countries who speak different languages? Yes!

Do you have to be a certain age to receive salvation? No!

Can girls, boys, men, and women be saved? Yes!

Okay, you convinced me; salvation really is for everyone!

Before God spoke to Peter in a vision, who did Peter think the salvation message was for? Only the Jewish people.

What God showed Peter is still true today—salvation is for everyone! 

Introduce Condensed Bible Story (1 minute)

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

Let’s watch a short version of the video about Peter and Cornelius. If you’ve already seen it, watch carefully to identify as many different animals as you can in Peter’s vision.

Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story (11 Minutes)

Condensed Bible Story

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 10C: SuperVerse Graphic 3

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

SuperVerse Graphic 3

SuperVerse (2 minutes)

Our SuperVerse today is Acts 10:44:

The Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

Where did this happen in the video today? In Cornelius’ house.

Until that time, who had received the Holy Spirit? Only Jewish people.

What were people called who were not Jewish? Gentiles.

When the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit, what did this show Peter and his companions? That the salvation message was for all and God accepted the Gentiles as He did the Jews. 

Yes, the Jews who were present were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles, too. (See Acts 10:45.) 

Salvation is for everyone and also God’s gifts, such as the Holy Spirit, are available to all who believe. Let’s say the SuperVerse once more together. Acts 10:44:

The Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

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

Introduce Signposts Video (1 minute)

Now let’s learn more about Peter’s vision from God.

Play Video 6: Signposts Video (3.5 minutes)

Signposts Video

Prayer and Send-Off (2 minutes)

Let’s pray before we move to Small Group.

Dear God, we thank You that Your gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit are for everyone. Just as You saved Cornelius’s family and poured out the Holy Spirit on them, You do the same today for all who believe in Jesus Christ. Empower us with the Holy Spirit to share the Good News so that many other people can have salvation, hope and joy. In the saving name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

In Small Group today, you will play a game to share the Good News with others. Let’s go see what this is all 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

First, let’s answer the question from Large Group. What animals did you see in Peter’s vision? Camel, rabbit, lizard or reptiles, birds, pigs.

Let’s say the SuperTruth together. “Salvation is for everyone.”

In his vision, Peter learned that the message of salvation was not only for the Jews—it was also for the Gentiles. Just as God sent Peter to Cornelius, He calls us to go and share the message of salvation with others today. How do we know that—do we need to have a vision like Peter? No, Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the Good News. 

Read Mark 16:15:

And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”        

The Good News is the Gospel of Jesus Christ—God’s plan of salvation. As followers of Jesus, we are called to tell others the Good News that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again to give us everlasting life! That is what this game is about. 

Have one child stand in the middle of the room. Divide the remaining children into four groups. Have each group line up single-file in the four corners of the room, facing the center. Explain the game and begin timing the race. The child in the middle “race-walks” quickly to the first child in the first corner and says, “Salvation is for you—share the Good News,” then returns to the middle. Remind children that they may read from the board if they forget. 

The child who received the Good News race-walks to the second corner and says, “Salvation is for you—share the Good News,” then joins the first child in the middle of the room. Play continues until the last child race-walks to the middle and the whole group shouts together, “Salvation is for everyone—share the Good News!” Stop the time. Play another round and try to beat that time. 

Option: for each player or at random times during play, call out different ways to race, such as to hop on one foot, walk backward, skip, etc.; both the player going to the middle and the one sharing the Good News must immediately follow the command. 

Alternate version of game for Grades 1–3: make a baton by rolling up a sheet of paper into a cylinder and securing it with tape. Divide the class into four groups. Have each group line up single-file in the four corners of the room, facing the center. Start the race. The first child in the first corner will race by walking as fast as possible to the second corner, hand off the baton to the first child in that line and say, “Here’s the Good News! Go share it with someone else!” The original player then goes to the end of that line. The child who received the baton race-walks to the third corner, and play continues until the last child races to a corner. Stop the time. Play another round and try to beat that time. 

Conclusion: That was great! You really shared the Good News quickly! Why do you think we placed you in four corners of the room? Children guess.

What are the four directions on every map? North, South, East, and West.

If you take the first letter of North, East, West and South, what word does it spell? NEWS.

We want to take the NEWS of the Gospel into all the world. So let’s say our SuperTruth again together. “Salvation is for everyone.”

Teaching

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

Signpost 1  Everyone Is Clean in Christ  

Peter was confused and alarmed by God’s command in his vision on the rooftop. He had always been careful to avoid foods that were considered unclean because he wanted to follow the Jewish laws and customs. Was God just speaking to Peter about food in the vision? No.

Jews had always avoided having contact with Gentiles—but God was showing Peter that he could have a relationship with everyone. God’s command to Peter shows that in Christ, there are no longer Jews or Gentiles—all are one in Him.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

 Galatians 3:28: 

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

Acts 10:14–15:   

¹⁴“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” ¹⁵But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”

Signpost 2  God’s Message Is for Everyone 

God made a promise through Abraham to save the world. God set Abraham and his descendants apart from everyone else. They became the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Many Jewish people believed that only they would be saved. Yet God’s plan stretched beyond the Jews. His plan was to save the whole world through the Jewish people! Abraham’s line of descendants bring us to someone very important. Do you know who? Jesus, God’s Son. 

Yes, God loved us so much that He sent His own Son to the earth to die for us so that we could have eternal life. God made it clear to Peter that His love and message are for everyone. Even though Peter did not understand the vision at first, God showed him that he should no longer see anyone as impure or unclean. Even though Peter and the rest of the Jewish believers were surprised at first, God made it clear to them that His plan of salvation was for everyone.        

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6 

Genesis 17:7:

“I will confirm My covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”

Acts 10:28:

Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” 

1 John 4:10:

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 

Galatians 3:8:

What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in His sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when He said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 

Signpost 3  Salvation in Jesus Is for Everyone    

God revealed His wonderful plan of salvation for all the world, and Peter shared the message of Jesus with Cornelius and his household. He explained how God was with Jesus, and how Jesus went around doing good, healing all who were oppressed by the devil. He shared how Jesus died on the cross and God raised Him from the dead on the third day. Peter declared that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in His name. Peter understood that salvation comes only through Jesus. Cornelius and his family also understood and believed. God confirmed their belief and His acceptance by sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to them. God’s offer of salvation is still the same today. If you have never asked Him to be your Savior, are you ready to ask Him now? (If any children indicate that they would like to be saved, be sure to pray with them after class.)

     OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6 

Romans 8:11:

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. 

John 3:16:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” 

Romans 1:16:

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Now, let’s learn about how God empowers us to share His message of salvation with everyone. 

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give an Ambassador for Christ Certificate and a pencil to any children who missed Lesson 1.

What is our Discipleship Challenge for this course? Learning to be ambassadors for Christ.

An ambassador is a person who represents a nation or a kingdom to other people. We are Christ’s ambassadors who represent God’s Kingdom to the world! 

Last time, we were to read and discuss Colossians 3:17, and look for ways to represent Christ in everything that we do and say. How else can we represent Christ other than just sharing the Gospel? By our words and actions every day how we live our lives in front of people.

How can that be an effective witness? We show God’s love and mercy; we reflect His values and character and attract others to Him.   

Would anyone like to share about a way that you were able to be an ambassador for Christ?  

The final challenge on our certificates is to read and discuss 1 Thessalonians 2:4 with your family and discuss ways that God equips us to be His messengers. 

Optional: read 1 Thessalonians 2:4:

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

Optional: commission any new children as ambassadors, as in Lesson 1, and have them write their names on the certificates. 

SuperVerse

Acts 10:44 says:  

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.   

Was Peter able to finish his message before the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles? No, he was still speaking.   

By this, we know the Gentiles believed Peter’s message by faith because God gives the gift of His Spirit to all those who believe in Jesus as their Savior. (See Acts 11:17.) This confirmed to the six Jewish believers who accompanied Peter, and to the apostles and believers in Jerusalem, that salvation is for everyone. (See Acts 11:17–18.)     

When God first sent the gift of His Holy Spirit to the believers in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, Peter described it this way 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.”

Divide the children into groups of three. Try to mix older and younger children in each group. Have each group sit on the floor, leaving several feet of space between groups. Give one person from each group a bowl with the SuperVerse cards.

In this activity, the SuperVerse will be poured out; then each group will try to assemble it in the correct order as fast as possible. Does that sound like fun?

Say the SuperVerse aloud together and then erase it from the board. Have the children with bowls hold them up as high as possible and then count down: 3–2–1. The children will then pour out the cards from the bowl and rush to assemble the verse and say it aloud as a group. Allow each group to complete the verse and say it.   

Conclusion: Great job everyone in assembling the verse correctly. This activity can remind us that God still sends the Holy Spirit and every good gift from heaven to us when we believe!  

Let’s say the verse together now. Acts 10:44:

The Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

Prayer

Have the children sit in a circle. Before Jesus left the earth, He told His followers to wait for the gift God had promised. This gift was the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Acts 1:8:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

The Holy Spirit gives us power to be witnesses for Jesus. That means we are empowered to share the Gospel message with others. Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “Salvation is for everyone.”  

Please think for a moment. Do you see a connection between the SuperTruth and the verse we just read? Yes, salvation is for everyone and they need to hear about Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to share the message of Jesus with them.

Cornelius needed to learn about Jesus so salvation could come to his house. The Holy Spirit led Peter to Cornelius’s house and empowered Him to share the Gospel so they could be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray together and thank God for the Gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us to share God’s message of salvation with others. If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and have not yet received God’s gift of the Holy Spirit, you can today!        

Close in prayer, allowing time after each phrase for the children to pray silently or repeat aloud after you: Dear Lord Jesus, … thank You for the Holy Spirit … who lives inside us … to give us power … to share the message of salvation … with everyone. … We also thank You … for giving us the Holy Spirit … to help us to pray … and to empower us … to live our lives … in a way that is pleasing to God. … In Your powerful name we pray, Amen.

Salvation Game

In Peter’s vision, he was told not to call things unclean that God has made clean. As we have discussed, this meant more than clean and unclean food, this also meant that we should share the message of salvation with all people. Jesus came into the world and changed everything. Through Him, God provided salvation for all! 

Let’s say our SuperTruth together. “Salvation is for everyone.” 

Sit down at the table facing the children. Point to a towel of pompoms.

This towel represents the sheet in Peter’s vision. The pompoms represent all people; different sizes, shapes and colors on the outside, yet all are beautiful pompoms.

Hold up two cotton swabs or craft sticks and demonstrate how to use them like chopsticks to pick up a pompom and deposit it into the bowl.

In this game, each player will have 20 seconds to move as many pompoms—of all shapes and colors—from the towel to the bowl which represents salvation in Jesus. Each pompom is worth five points regardless of size or color. Why? Because we are all equal in God’s sight, and salvation is for everyone. You cannot touch the pompoms with your hands—you must only use the cotton swabs (or craft sticks). 

Divide the children into two equal teams; one player may need to play twice.

Have teams form two lines a few feet away from the front of the table so they can all watch and cheer for their teammates.

Have the first player on each team sit in the chair directly across from their team. 

Shout, “Salvation is for everyone!” and start the timer for 30 seconds (or a time that you choose).

Players move as many pompoms from the towel into the bowl as they can.

After time expires, the next player for each team takes a turn.  

When all children have played once, count the pompoms in each bowl; record the score for each team.

Return all of the pompoms to the towels and play again. 

Play as many times as time allows. Name a winner for each round or combine scores from all rounds for a winner.

Conclusion: God sent Jesus to save everyone. It is important for us to see and love others as God does. He wants everyone to receive His free gift. Just as you moved the pompoms into the bowl, when you share the Gospel message with others, they can choose to believe in Jesus and receive salvation!

Active Game

Let’s say our SuperTruth together. “Salvation is for everyone.”  

For this game we added “I believe” to the beginning of the SuperTruth. Let’s look at the board and say it together: “I believe salvation is for everyone.”

Where did the messengers go to deliver Cornelius’s message to Peter? Joppa, Simon’s house.

What city did Peter travel to so he could bring the message of salvation to Cornelius? Caesarea.

How did God show that Cornelius and his family believed in Jesus and received salvation? The Holy Spirit fell on them. He gave the same gift to them as He gave to the Jews. 

Both Peter and Cornelius needed to trust and obey. Jesus died to save everyone, and He broke down the wall that separated the Jews and Gentiles. In this game, we will work together in different groups. You will need to leave your own group, travel to other groups, and then interact with them to build the SuperTruth. You can’t accomplish the goal by staying in your own group and talking with your own members. Remember that at first, the Jewish believers thought that only they were chosen by God to receive salvation, so they didn’t share the Gospel with Gentiles. The vision Peter received from God changed everything. Peter went outside the Jewish group to obey God and share the Gospel with the Gentiles. 

We added “I believe” to the beginning of the SuperTruth for this activity. If we really do believe the SuperTruth and take action as Peter did to share the Gospel, we will expand God’s kingdom and be part of accomplishing His purpose to bring the Good News to all people.    

Divide the children into six teams of 2–5 children. Teams do not need to be equal. 

Assign each team a number from 1–6. It is important for each player to know their team number! Be prepared to help children with special needs. 

Have each team sit in their own circle in the four corners of the room, in the middle, etc.  

The game is played like “Go Fish.”

Shuffle all the sets of cards together, then give each team six random cards.

Each team places any cards with their own team number face-up near the middle of their circle. Cards with other numbers are turned over and placed in a pile near the center of the circle. (For example, if Team 1 has two cards with the number 1, the team places those two cards face-up, in the order they would be spoken in the SuperTruth; then they turn all the extra cards with different numbers face-down in a pile.)

The goal is for each team to build the complete SuperTruth using only cards that have their team’s number. 

Start the game. One player from each team will go to a different team and ask, “Do you have any team number __ cards?”

That team checks their extra cards without revealing the card numbers. If they have a card with the requested number, they must give it to the asking player. If they have more than one card with that number, they should not say so, and they should only give one card to the asking player.

The asking player then returns with the card to their team and the next player goes to ask for a card from another team—either the same team as before or a different team.

Once a team has finished, they stand up and shout the expanded SuperTruth together. 

Continue until all teams have finished and shouted.         

Conclusion: In this game you couldn’t complete the task within your team. You needed to go outside your circle not only to the close teams, but also those further away. Jesus said to go into all the world to share the Gospel.  

Craft

Let’s close our eyes and say the SuperTruth together. “Salvation is for everyone.”

To receive salvation through Jesus, does it matter what color someone’s skin is? No!

Does it matter what style of clothes they wear? No!

Does it matter how tall or short someone is? No!

Does God judge people by how they look on the outside? No, He looks at the inside.

Good answers! Salvation is for everyone! This is what God told Samuel the prophet when God sent him to anoint David as Israel’s King.

Read 1 Samuel 16:7:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

This is what our activity is about. Give a Gizmo Figure Page and a Gizmo Clothes Page, plus a pair of children’s scissors, to each child. Give children time to cut out and dress their Gizmo in a way they identify as themselves or represents something about them. Assist any special needs children with cutting.    

Have children show their Gizmos to the class and share anything they would like to say about themselves to identify with their choices.    

Conclusion: No matter how many different ways Gizmo was dressed, he still was the same inside. God looks inside at our hearts, not at our outward appearance. The Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles because they received and believed Peter’s message by faith. They did not need to dress a certain way or follow Jewish customs or traditions. They were saved because they believed! Take your Gizmo home as a reminder that salvation is for everyone no matter how they appear on the outside. 

Bible Activity

The SuperTruth tells us that salvation is for everyone. In this activity, teams of two will find Scriptures about salvation. Then you will find the answers to questions I ask about that passage. Write a short answer on the sticky note. Then just for fun, stick it onto your forehead to signal you’re done. This is not a race; it is meant to help you become familiar with using your Bibles.       

Divide the children into teams of two. Try to pair experienced Bible users with those who are less familiar with the Bible. Give each team a Bible. Announce each New Testament passage and write it on the board. Teams will find the scriptures together. Once found, have the pairs read the passage together. Then ask the questions one at a time. The pairs will write down a short answer for the two questions and then stick the note on one of the children’s foreheads to signal when done. Ask the questions again and allow the pairs to share their answers aloud. Look up as many passages as time allows.      

1. Romans 1:16:  

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

• What is the salvation message called in this verse? Good News.
• Who does it save? Everyone who believes, the Jew and Gentile.

2. John 3:16–17:

¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.

• In verse 16, God loved us and sent His Son for what purpose? To give everyone eternal life and not perish. 
• In verse 17, who did God want to save through Jesus? The world. 

3. 1 Timothy 2:3–4:

³ This is good and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

• What two things does God want for everyone? To be saved; to understand the truth. 

4. Romans 10:9–13: Pairs may need several sticky notes for these verses to stick on both players’ foreheads!  

⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.¹⁰For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.¹¹ As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.”¹²Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him.¹³For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

• What does verse 9 tell us we must declare? That Jesus is Lord.
• What does verse 9 tells us we must believe in our heart to be saved? God raised Jesus from the dead.
• In verse 10, what are we to openly declare? Our faith.
• In verse 11, we will not be disgraced if we do what? Trust in Him.   
• Who has the same Lord? The Jews and Gentiles.
• Verse 13 says that everyone who does this will be saved. Calls on the name of the Lord.  

5. Acts 13:47:

“For the Lord gave us this command when He said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”

• What did the apostles become to the Gentiles? A light.
• How far were the apostles to take the message of salvation? To the farthest corners of the earth.

Conclusion: Jesus died on the cross to bring salvation to everyone. He empowered us with His Spirit to take this life giving message to the all the nations of the world.