Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 minute)

Hello to all of you! Today is the second lesson of our Superbook story, “He Is Risen!” How wonderful to realize that Jesus, who never sinned even once, willingly paid the punishment for everyone’s sins by dying on the cross. Let’s worship Him as we sing Follow Jesus.

Play Video 11: (Song) Follow Jesus (3 minutes)

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

Follow Jesus

SuperTruth and Discussion (1 minute)

Our SuperTruth for today says, “Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of salvation by dying on the cross.” What does the word “salvation” mean?

Salvation means to set free, to save, to rescue or deliver.

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 how Chris treated his mother in our video last time?

He was very disrespectful, wasn’t he! Now for the children who haven’t seen our Bible story yet, we are going to watch a short version to see how Jesus obeyed God, even to the point of death. For those of you who have seen the full video, watching this short version will help refresh your memories!

Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story (9 minutes)

Condensed Bible Story

Superbook takes Joy, Gizmo, Chris, and his mother to ancient Jerusalem. They witness Jesus’ prayer in the garden, His trial before Pontius Pilate, His death on the cross, and finally His glorious resurrection.

Discussion (1 minute)

Why did Jesus pray in the garden?

Jesus wanted to have the strength to do God’s will, not His own.

Introduce Bible Background Video (1 minute)

Now let’s watch our Bible Background Video and learn more about the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection. 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 (7.5 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 Psalm 22:16 says:

They have pierced My hands and feet.

King David wrote this about 1,000 years before Jesus was born — yet this verse accurately predicted how Jesus would be nailed to the cross! Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Children repeat verse.

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

Prayer and Send-Off (1 minute)

Dear God, Thank You for forgiving all our sins. We praise You for loving us so much that You made a way for us to spend eternity with You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today in Small Group, you’ll play a fun game about doing God’s will! 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

That was an amazing Bible story, wasn’t it! Jesus died on the cross for us and then rose again from the dead to give us new life! Remember when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane? Why was He in such agony?

He had a big decision to make. He could choose to keep on living His life, or He could choose to obey God and die on the cross to pay the punishment for our sins. What did He choose to do? He chose to do God’s will.

God the Father didn’t force Jesus to die on the cross—Jesus willingly decided to obey God and give up His life for us.

Does God force us to obey Him? No.

Sometimes we choose to do what we want instead of what God would want us to do. God created us and loves us, and He knows our future—so His will is best for our lives. Let’s play a game where we aim for God’s will—represented by the container in the middle. It’s not easy, though. Are you ready?

Divide the children into two teams. Give each team its own color of paper balls to throw. The teams stand single-file behind the line, facing the group of containers. Teams play at the same time. The first player of each team tosses three balls, aiming for the container in the center representing “God’s Will,” rather than the surrounding containers, representing “My Will.” Each time a ball goes into the “God’s Will” container, two points are scored. For every ball that goes into a “My Will” container, a point is subtracted. Balls that don’t go into a container score zero points. Play until each player has thrown three balls. Total all the points by counting up the balls of each color in the containers; the team with the most points wins. Play more rounds if time allows.

That was hard, wasn’t it? What did it take to hit the mark? Pay close attention and focus.

In real life, we all miss the mark, no matter how hard we try.

Read Romans 3:23:

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

The only person who always hit the mark and obeyed God’s will every time was Jesus. He chose God’s will even when it meant dying on the cross—and because of that, we have forgiveness when we miss the mark!

Teaching

In Luke 22:42, when Jesus prayed in the Garden before He was arrested, He said,

“Father, if You are willing, please take this _____ of suffering away from Me.”

What is the missing word? Hold up the cup saying “God’s Will.”

When Jesus talked about that cup, He meant suffering and dying on the cross. Hold up the cup saying "My Will."

Jesus had to choose between God’s will and His own will.

Read Mark 14:35-36

He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. “Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”

What was that last sentence? “I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”

Jesus was perfect and had never sinned, even once, so He had never felt the horrible feelings of guilt and shame. As a human being, He must have dreaded the pain He would feel on the cross. But even worse was that He would take the punishment and guilt for every sin ever committed by every single human being! Jesus is the Son of God. He said in John 10:30,

“The Father and I are one.”

And He knew that while He was carrying all of our sins on the cross, He would be separated from His Loving Father in heaven.

Hold up the cup saying “God’s Will.”

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that God’s will—not His own will—would be done. Jesus chose what God wanted, not what He wanted. Jesus demonstrated His love and obedience to God by laying down His own will in obedience to God’s will. By doing this, He fulfilled God’s plan of salvation—dying on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven. This is what our SuperTruth is all about today. Let’s say it together: “Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of salvation by dying on the cross.”

In Matthew 6:10, when Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, part of His prayer said this:

“May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

How often do you think God’s will is done in heaven?

God’s will is always done in heaven! On Earth, however, there is a struggle. The devil may try to tempt us to resist God’s will and follow our own plan. And because we are human, we are tempted by our own selfish desires to do what pleases us instead of God. But when we ask for God’s help by praying, reading His Word, and obeying His Spirit in our hearts, we have the grace to yield our own wills to His. Put the “My Will” cup inside the “God’s Will” cup.

With God’s help, our will can be His will!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

This reminds me of our Superbook challenge. Is anyone wearing your cross today?

What happened when you prayed for God’s will to be done instead of your own will?

Allow time for children to share brief testimonies. Hand out the challenge materials to any children who were absent for Lesson 1. Challenge the children to continue to place a priority on praying for God’s will instead of their own each time they pray.

SuperVerse

Hand out Bibles and ask a volunteer to locate and read the SuperVerse, Psalm 22:16b.

Our SuperVerse today was written by David and accurately describes Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross. What makes it truly amazing is that David wrote this long before crucifixion was practiced, and about 1,000 years before Jesus was born!

Jesus lived without sin yet carried our sins on the cross and took the punishment for our sins. This was God’s plan of salvation that Jesus fulfilled. Jesus’ hands and feet were nailed to the cross. This was an incredibly painful way to suffer and die. Jesus shed His precious blood to cover and wash away—forgive—our sins.

Have the children say the SuperVerse together.

Let’s pray. Thank You, Jesus, for willingly enduring the pain on the cross and sacrificing Your life to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for us! In Your name, Amen.

Note: Psalm 22 is discussed in more detail for grades 4-6 in the “Additional Activities” section of Lesson 3.

Prayer

Repeat the SuperTruth: “Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of salvation by dying on the cross.”

Have children look up Mark 14:33-41 in their Bibles.

In our Bible story, Jesus was troubled about what was to take place next in God’s plan—His arrest, trial and crucifixion.

Optional: have volunteers read aloud, one verse at a time. Mark 14:33-41:

³³ He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He became deeply troubled and distressed. ³⁴ He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” ³⁵ He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.” ³⁷ Then He returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with Me even one hour?” ³⁸ “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  ³⁹ Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. ⁴⁰ When He returned to them again, He found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say. ⁴¹ When He returned to them the third time, He said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Jesus knew He would soon be betrayed, arrested, beaten, and put to death on the cross. He took His closest disciples with Him to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. What an opportunity for these men to show their love and devotion to Jesus by being with Him to pray! Instead, the Bible tells us that the disciples couldn’t stay awake! This must have deeply disappointed Jesus!

Have you ever wanted someone to “be there” and support you when you were going through a trial or difficult time? I know I have! We have a wonderful opportunity to strengthen others with our presence and prayers of support and encouragement.

Often when we face a difficult situation, the first thing we pray is something like, “Please God, fix this or make this go away.” Smile. 

“I just want this to be over, NOW!” We are to pray for God’s help and protection, as Jesus did in the verses we just read! But first and foremost, He prayed for God’s will to be done! We always need to seek God’s will when we pray for ourselves or someone else. In our challenge each week, we are learning to make God’s will our Number One priority over our own will when we pray.

Encourage the children to find a place in the room where they can have a private prayer with God. Encourage them to pray for a situation that they are facing or a decision they must make. Ask the children to pray for God’s will over their own will. Encourage the children to then pray for their families and other children in the room today. Stop by each child and offer a short prayer of encouragement for them.

Close with a group prayer: Father God, please help us to always seek Your will in our lives. Thank You, Jesus, for willingly coming from heaven to Earth to fulfill Father God’s plan of salvation for us by living a sinless life and dying on the cross! In Your name we pray, Amen.

Tug-of-War Skit

Setting: Cue actors to enter the classroom but do not announce to the children. Place the chair facing the children. The actor who plays Child comes in and sits down, looking very confused and perplexed. The actors playing God’s Will and My Will walk in holding the rope between them. They pull their rope tight and stand a couple feet behind the chair so that their signs can be read by the children. The actors do not speak words but will make sounds of a physical struggle during battle. God’s Will and My Will represent the struggle of wills inside Child’s mind. They will move back and forth pulling and tugging, winning and losing ground as Child deliberates what to do. Child talks aloud and is demonstrative with body movements and facial expressions that represent the battle. Child pauses a few seconds between lines so God’s Will and My Will can act out the struggle. Optional: the teacher may read the all the lines while the children act them out.

SKIT:

• I don't know what to do! I am SO confused! I want to watch that new TV show so badly! My Will slowly gains ground.
• But I know from reading the Bible that it is not a show I should watch. God’s Will slowly gains ground.
• But all the kids at school are allowed to watch it, so I should, too! Can it really be that bad for me? I mean, my parents aren’t home tonight, who would know? My Will gains ground.
• Oh! I know who will see me—God! I know He would not be pleased with some of the bad language in the show.God’s Will gains ground.
• Well, I am older now and I should be able to watch what I want! My Will gains ground.
• But then, I know the Holy Spirit lives inside of me to help me make wise choices and to stay strong against temptation. God’s Will gains ground.
• Maybe I can just watch part of it, and if I hear a bad word I will turn it off! Yes, that would work! My Will gains ground.
• Child makes a disappointed face. Now, why do I feel so bad inside after I said that? I think I know my answer. That is the Holy Spirit warning me of danger. I am going to follow God’s will, not mine! God’s Will yanks and pulls My Will completely out of the room. Child smiles and walks toward the door.
• Thank You, God, for giving me the strength to make the right choice and to follow Your plan for my life!

Skit ends; actors bow.

Let’s clap for our actors!

The actor who played the Child had a tough decision to make! We all have choices that we wrestle with each day. It’s not easy when it seems like everyone is doing something we know we shouldn’t do. Just like in the Superbook video, Satan was speaking to Judas to convince him to betray Jesus in the garden. Satan tries to tempt us and persuade us to choose our will over God’s will. He wants us to make and follow our own plans for our life, not the plan God has for us! That was the intense struggle Jesus had when He prayed in the garden. Jesus fulfilled God’s plan. He died on the cross and was resurrected. Jesus then left Earth but sent us a Helper—God’s Holy Spirit. When we ask Jesus into our hearts, God puts His Holy Spirit inside of us to strengthen us and help us make the right choices to follow God’s plan for our lives.

Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of salvation by dying on the cross.”

Marble Game

We have been discussing how Jesus prayed to God in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus called God’s will a “cup of suffering.” That cup represented all that Jesus was about to go through to fulfill God’s plan for His life. By this plan, God poured out His love on us. That is what this game is about!

Divide the class into two teams that stand facing each other with about 4–6 feet between them. Each team forms a line with their players standing shoulder to shoulder but not touching each other. Place the bucket at the end of both lines, where the last player of each team can reach it. Hand the first player of each team the cup containing marbles. Hand an empty cup to the second player of each team — next to the player with the marbles. The first player must pour the marbles from the cup into the second player’s empty cup. The first player then hands the empty cup to the third player. The second player pours the cup of marbles into the third player’s empty cup and hands the empty cup to the fourth player. Both teams continue in this fashion until all players have played and the last player pours all the marbles into the bucket.

You are all winners! That’s because Jesus pours His love into our hearts. Luke tells us this about Jesus’ last meal with the disciples. Read Luke 22:20: 

After supper He took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with My blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”

God pours His love into us; and Jesus willingly sacrificed His life so that our sins could be forgiven and we could live with Him for eternity—this was God’s plan of salvation! Let me read to you what the Bible says about this. Read Romans 5:5–8:

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Those are powerful words, aren’t they? Did you hear the part that said,

The love of God has been poured out in our hearts?

Yes, God loves us more than we can ever understand; so much that He sent His only Son to die for us. That was God’s plan that Jesus fulfilled!

Cross Worksheet

Provide a cross handout and pencil to each child.

Do you remember the part of the Superbook video when the soldier fastened the sign on the cross as ordered by Pilate? The sign was written in three different languages: Greek, Hebrew and Latin. These were common languages in that part of the world. The sign said: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”

We are going to fill in the blank lines at the bottom of the cross. But, first I want us to look up some Bible verses to give us a hint to what we should write on those lines. Please look up Philippians 2:8–11. Select four children to each read one verse aloud.

⁸ He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

These verses show Jesus’ love and respect for God and His will for Jesus’ life. Because of this, God honored Jesus by placing His name above all names in both heaven and Earth. Every single person will bow to Jesus for all eternity! That means forever and ever! Choose a child to read Revelation 19:16:

On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Wow, that is bigger than what Pilate wrote on the sign, wasn’t it? Not just King of the Jews but king of what? King of kings, Lord of lords.

Now, does anyone have an idea of what we should write on our cross? King of kings, Lord of lords.

Yes! Let’s go ahead and do that right now!

Children fill in the blank lines on their cross with “Jesus: King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Yes, Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of salvation by dying on the cross, and then He rose from the dead to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords for all eternity!

Let’s pray right now: Dear Lord Jesus, we worship You because You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. You are more powerful than anything else in the universe—even the power of death! Please give us Your power to choose God’s will above our own will. In Your name, Amen.

Coloring Page

Hand out copies of the Jesus Is Alive! pattern to the children, along with crayons, colored pencils, or washable markers. Have them put their names on the backs of their papers. As they color their pictures, discuss the Superbook story