Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome back to the second lesson of our Superbook adventure called “Jeremiah.” Raise your hand if you’ve ever made something from clay. Children respond. 

In our lesson today, Jeremiah learns an important lesson as he observes a potter working with clay. No matter what we do, God will never stop loving us. That is why we won’t ever stop praising Him! Let’s stand and sing about that with the song, We Won’t Ever Stop.

Play Video: (Song) We Won't Ever Stop (3.5 minutes)

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

We Won't Ever Stop

SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)

Our SuperTruth today is, “I want God to transform me.” Let’s say that together. “I want God to transform me.”       

What does transform mean? To change completely.

God doesn’t force us to change; He gives us a choice to follow His plan or to go our own way. If we choose to follow God’s way, something very exciting happens. We are transformed by the power of His Spirit! Being transformed is a powerful action that only God can do inside us. We will learn more about that later in the lesson. 

Let’s watch a short version of our Bible story about the prophet Jeremiah. If you have seen it before, watch carefully to see what Jeremiah wore to symbolize that the people would become slaves to the king of Babylon. Ready?      

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.

Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story (6 minutes)

Superbook takes Chris, Joy, and Gizmo to meet Jeremiah. Although the prophet faces humiliation and even death for speaking God’s message, Jeremiah obeys the Lord.

*Caution: Be sure to preview this video, as it may be too intense for some children.  You may also want to ask parents to preview the video before showing it to their children.

Condensed Bible Story

Discussion (2 minutes)

What did the people want the head priest to do? Stop Jeremiah from preaching about their disobedience and wicked ways. 

Why did the people think that they were safe from God’s judgment? Because God’s Temple was in Jerusalem. Also, the religious leaders and other prophets told them that they were safe and God would protect them from their enemies. 

What did the people do on the Sabbath that was against God’s Law? They brought goods into the city to sell on the Sabbath. 

Do you remember what Jeremiah called the Temple because of this? A den of thieves.

Many years later, when Jesus was on earth, He called God’s Temple the same name because the people were buying and selling in the Temple courtyard.

The people rebelled against God and His laws. Jeremiah was called by God to warn the people that they must return to Him and allow Him to transform them again into His people who were created in His image and set apart!   

Introduce Bible Background Video (1 minute)

In today’s Bible Background video, we’ll learn more about the time when Jeremiah lived. Be ready for Gizmo’s questions! Wait for him to give some answers, then call out the one you think is right!

Play Video 5: Bible Background (8 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)

The SuperVerse today is Jeremiah 18:6; let’s say it together. 

“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” 

Let’s say the SuperVerse again together with the girls saying the first sentence and the boys the second sentence. 

Girls:

“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay?”

Boys:

“As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” 

Today, it is the same. As people choose to rebel against God, He calls them to repent. When we willingly place ourselves in His hands, He will transform us and work through us to take His message to others and expand His kingdom on earth. 

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

Prayer and Send-Off (1 minute)

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, we ask You to transform us by Your love and power. Transform our hearts to desire what is pleasing to You, and transform our minds to think like You do. Help us to seek You in all that we do every day. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.    

In Small Group today, you will play a game to put yourself in God’s hands. Let’s go see how we do this.  

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

Safe in His Hands! Give yourself to God to mold and shape you. 

In Large Group, you were asked to watch for something Jeremiah wore to symbolize the bondage and captivity that God’s people would suffer if they did not turn back to Him. What’s the answer? Ox yoke.

God sent Jeremiah to call the people to repent of their sins and return to Him. If they willingly put themselves in God’s hands, He would mercifully remove their sins and reshape them. That is what our game is about—placing ourselves in God’s hands to transform us.

If you have not made the flying discs ahead of time, give each child two paper plates. Provide glue sticks or tape and crayons, colored pencils, or washable markers to the children. Have the children make a happy face of themselves on one plate and a sad face on the other plate—or, to save time, simply have them write their names on their discs. Then, demonstrate how to make a circle of tape or use the glue to stick the two plate backs together. If using glue sticks, have children firmly press the plates together in the middle for about five seconds.

Divide the children into two equal teams. If teams are unequal, have one child play twice and use the model disc in addition to the one the player made.

Demonstrate as you explain. This disc represents you. The goal is to place your disc in God’s hand, which is represented by the basket. To do this, you will quickly walk from the starting line to the first line and toss your disc toward the basket. If it goes in, return to your team so the next player can take a turn. If your disc doesn’t go in, no problem! Just retrieve it and move quickly to the next line and try again. If it still doesn’t go in, go to the line closest to the basket and toss it in. Then you will return to your team, and the next person will go. This is a race to see which team finishes first—but no matter how long it takes, everyone needs to put their disc into the basket with God’s hand—because that’s more important than winning a race!   

Have the teams form separate lines behind the starting line.

Say “Go” to start the game. The first players of each team go quickly to the first line and toss their discs. Continue as described above until one team has all of their discs in the basket. That team wins the race.

If time allows, play again.

Conclusion: Just like with Jeremiah, God has known us from the very beginning, and He has a unique plan and purpose for each of us. When we place ourselves in God’s hands, we can become all He created us to be. And the closer we are to God, the better we can know His will!

Teaching

Hands on: Demonstrate submitting our lives to God.

Let’s say our SuperTruth together. “I want God to transform me.”

To transform means to make a complete or dramatic change in form, appearance, or character. The people of Judah had strayed far from God. There was little difference between them and the ungodly nations surrounding Jerusalem. They no longer represented God, their Creator. God had had enough; He could not ignore their disobedience and rebellion. He sent Jeremiah to call them to repent and escape God’s judgment and punishment. God spoke through Jeremiah, saying in Jeremiah 4:3–4:

The people’s hearts were hard. Ephesians 4:18 describes a hard heart this way:

God wanted them to open their hard hearts so He could work with them again. To illustrate the people’s condition, God sent Jeremiah to a potter’s house to watch him at work.

Remove a lump of modeling dough from the unopened container (not the stick figure). Begin to roughly form a bowl shape, then hold it up, inspect it, and looked displeased. Then, smash it down into a lump and start over again as you speak.

The potter was working on a bowl that didn’t turn out as he had hoped. So, he crushed it into a lump and started over again. How many times do you think you could start over with this modeling dough—maybe one or two times? As many times as you want, an unlimited number.   

As long as it remains soft, you can reshape and form it. Does anyone remember today’s SuperVerse? Jeremiah 18:6:

When Jeremiah told the people what God had said, they still refused to obey. 

Have a volunteer read Jeremiah 18:12:

Hold up the hardened figure. The people’s hearts grew even harder. They refused to put themselves in God’s hands to change them.

Pick up the hardened figure and try to reshape it. It will crumble and break apart.

This figure represents the people of Israel. God could no longer work with their hardened hearts. Today, God has given us all a free will to choose His path or our own. He does not force us to obey Him. For those who refuse to obey God’s Spirit and place their lives in His hands, their hearts will become hard over time. 

Hold up the other clay figure that is soft because it has been kept in an air-tight container. This figure represents those who are open to God’s voice and place themselves in His hands. God can mold and shape you as He desires. Move the figure’s arms and legs to show that it can be shaped. When we give our lives to God, we must trust in Him completely to do what is best for us. We should not resist or rebel against His plan and purpose for us. Isaiah 45:9 says:

Place one pebble in the mouth area, one in an arm and one in a leg.   

As hard as we try to obey God, we will still miss the mark and sin. These pebbles represent this. Let’s say this pebble in the head represents unkind or disrespectful words. The pebble in the hand or arm represents disobedient actions. The pebble in the leg represents choosing to go our own way instead of following God’s Spirit. When we come to God and ask for forgiveness, He will remove our sins. Remove the pebbles, reshape the figure so it is not marred, and hold it up.

Can you see where the pebbles or sins were? No.

As long as our hearts remain soft toward God’s Spirit, He is faithful to remove the imperfections and will continue to shape us according to His good pleasure!    

God created each of you in this room with a specific purpose. As we follow His Spirit and live according to His Word and will, we will become more and more like Jesus. That should be the goal for all followers of Christ!

Have a volunteer read 2 Corinthians 3:18b: 

As we grow and mature, we must remain in His hands. We are a work in progress which will never end!

Have a volunteer read Philippians 1:6:

Now let’s learn in our Discipleship Challenge about putting ourselves in God’s hands as we trust the good plans He has for us!   

Give any child who missed Lesson 1 a Life Ring Bookmark page and a six-inch length of string, twine, or yarn. Show children the sample craft made in Lesson 1 and have them assemble the craft at home.

Hold up the sample craft.

Last time, your challenge was to learn the first part of Jeremiah 29:11 that is on the Life Ring. Who can close their eyes and say it?

As we discussed in our last lesson, God extends His lifeline of hope to us; what is our part? Grab it!

God will not force us to put our trust and hope in Him; it is our choice. Did anyone face a difficult situation and give it to the Lord instead of worrying? Children respond. 

This lesson’s challenge is to memorize the second part of the verse:

Then, put the two parts together. Does anyone want to try it now? 

We may look at our problems and think they’re absolutely huge—but God sees the big picture! He will give us strength and wisdom to deal with every situation when we trust in Him. And someday He will take us to live in heaven, where there are no problems at all! So remember to take hold of your lifeline and trust God instead of worrying. Next time, I’ll ask if you were able to put that into practice!

SuperVerse

Superbook Form: Memorize the SuperVerse with a group activity.

Raise your hand if you have ever formed something with clay. Children respond.

What did you do if it didn’t turn out the way you planned? Did you throw it away? No, you can start over and reform it.

That is what God told Jeremiah as he observed a potter making a jar.

Read Jeremiah 18:1–4: 

God’s people had turned from Him to pursue their own selfish and evil ways. God didn’t like what they had become, but He didn’t reject them—He called them to come back to Him. God doesn’t reject us and cast us aside when we disobey Him. If we return to Him, He will lovingly shape us, transform us, and use us for His glory.

Have the class read the SuperVerse on the board aloud together twice, then erase it. Choose eight children to stand side by side in the front of the room. Scramble the papers with the SuperVerse phrases, then give one sheet to each child. Starting on the far left (from the class’s perspective), have the eight children create a “wave” by holding up and reading aloud their individual phrases (which will be out of order) and lowering their papers when done. Ask if that sounded like the correct verse. The answer will be no! 

Should we throw out these cards and make some new ones? No—we can change and reorder them!

Good thinking! We can still use these cards to form the verse correctly!

Ask the rest of the class to tell you which reader should be first, second, third, etc. Rearrange the eight children in that order and have them read their phrases again, creating a “wave” with their papers. Ask the rest of the class if the verse is now correct. If not, have the class rearrange the readers again until they can say the phrases of the verse in the proper order. Finally, have the entire class follow the “wave” to say the verse together two or three times, going faster each time.

Note: If there are fewer than eight children, give two pages to each of four children. Or, have the class work together to put the scrambled pages in order on the floor.

If children cannot memorize the SuperVerse, be sure they understand its meaning. Remind them to keep working on the verse at home.

Conclusion: Just like we corrected this verse, God will gently correct us and shape us into what is pleasing to Him!  

Prayer

Potter Prayers: Communicate with God.

In our prayer time today, we are going to place ourselves in God’s hands and acknowledge that He is the potter and we are the clay. By doing this, we submit to His will and His plan for us. We also give Him permission to mold us, shape us, and transform us according to His good pleasure.        

He doesn’t totally change us in an instant. It’s a daily choice to place ourselves in God’s hands so He can shape us and mold us to become all that He wants us to be.

Let’s close our eyes and bow our heads. Let’s all hold out our hands and imagine putting our lives into God’s loving hands. First, silently thank Him for creating you for a wonderful purpose. Allow children time to pray.

Next, silently ask God to forgive you for anything that you have done wrong and to remove any flaws and sins from your life. Allow children time to pray.

Now, ask Him to shape your life for His purposes and His glory. Ask Him to use you to share His love and His truth with the world. Allow time for children to pray.   

Pray: Dear God, You are the potter, and we are Your clay. As we daily place ourselves in Your hands, transform us to be more like Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.       

Match Game

Symbol Match: Play a game about God’s Word and the Bible story.

Let’s say the SuperTruth together. “I want God to transform me.”

God’s Word is powerful and can transform lives. In the Bible story, God compared His Word to two things. Can you name them? 1. Fire 2. Hammer.

The Bible also has other symbols that represent God’s Word. We are going to play a match game with these symbols and some important images from the Bible story. The game will also include three symbols from our Bible story that God used to reveal His message to His people.

Divide the children into two teams. They do not need to be even. Have teams sit together so everyone can see the cards on display. On each team’s turn, a player gets two guesses. The player chooses a card number, and the leader will flip that card up along its taped edge to reveal the image. The same player will then select a second card number to try to match the first card. If the cards don’t match, they are flipped back down again. If the two cards match, the leader carefully peels the cards from the board and gives them to the team. If time permits, read the associated verse for each symbol. For each of the three objects from the lesson (jar, ox yoke, and rope), ask why the object is important in the story. Whether the cards match or not, play continues with a different player on the other team taking a turn. Play until all pairs are removed from the board. The team with the most pairs wins.

Optional Scripture Discussion:

For each match, read the verse on the list. Briefly discuss how the symbol represents God’s Word and how we might freely give what we have received to others.

1. Sword   Hebrews 4:12:

2. Fire   Jeremiah 23:29a:

3. Hammer   Jeremiah 23:29b: 

4. Lamp and Light   Psalm 119:105:

5. Mirror   James 1:22–23:

6. Water   Ephesians 5:26:

(Christ made the church holy and clean by the Word.)

7. Milk 1 Peter 2:2:

8. Seed   Luke 8:11:

9. Bread   Matthew 4:4:

10. Clay jar: Jeremiah spoke of how God wanted to break, form, and reshape them.    

11. Ox yoke: Jeremiah wore it to represent how Israel would become slaves of Babylon.

12. Rope: Ebed and the guards used ropes to rescue Jeremiah from the cistern.      

Conclusion: God’s Word is alive and can shape us and mold us to transform our lives into whom He created us to be.        

Coloring Activity

My Words in Your Mouth: Color a page about Jeremiah's calling to be a prophet.

Give a coloring page to each child, along with crayons, colored pencils, or washable markers to share. Lead a discussion using the questions below as children color their pages.

What is happening in this scene from the video? God is speaking to Jeremiah and calling him to be a prophet to speak His Word.

What does God say to Jeremiah as He touches his mouth? “I have put my Words in your mouth.”

In the video, why was there a glowing effect around Jeremiah in this scene? Because of God’s presence; the Holy Spirit came upon him.

Do we have help to speak God’s Word as Jeremiah did? Yes, we have power and boldness through the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah was transformed as God called him and touched him, filling him with His Word and power.

What excuse did Jeremiah give to God for not being able to speak His Word as a prophet? That he was just a young child.

What was God’s reply to Jeremiah's excuse? He must go; He would be with Jeremiah and protect him. Read Jeremiah 1:7–8:

Conclusion: We are never too young—or too old!—to be transformed and empowered to do the work God has planned for us. We only have to trust and obey His plan.

Active Object Lesson

You Choose: Discuss being transformed versus conformed.       

Give each child a chunk of dough of the same color. Have children share the cookie cutters. Demonstrate how to flatten out the dough so the cookie cutter can be placed on it and fill the mold, then take it out to show the class. Have each child press the mold into the dough, remove it, and then pass the mold to another child. When all children have finished, have them hold up their shapes. Discuss how they are all basically the same.

Read Romans 12:2a:

The Israelites in Jeremiah’s time chose to turn away from God and act like the nations around them. Imitating or copying the world around us becomes a problem when the world’s standards are different from God’s standards. His ways are always good and true. The world’s ways can be harmful and lead us into sin, as in Jeremiah’s time. God sent Jeremiah to warn them of His coming judgment if they did not repent for worshiping idols and disobeying His Law.

Read Jeremiah 18:1–6:

God likened Himself to a potter. He wanted the people to return to Him and put themselves in His hands to start over. If they obeyed, He would reshape them, restore them, and transform them!        

Let’s say our SuperTruth together. “I want God to transform me.” 

Now, you will each be potters.   

Place toothpicks and/or pencils on the tables. Give the different colors of modeling dough to the children. Have children crush the last “cookie cutter” dough shape, then use it to create a unique figure of themselves. If possible, the figures should be three-dimensional, rather than just flat. Children may use the different colors of dough, along with toothpicks and pencils, to add details. Emphasize that they should be creative and make what pleases them! When finished, have the children hold up their figures for all to see. 

A few minutes ago, I read the first part of Romans 12:2. Now I’ll read the entire verse. 

Who remembers what the word “transform” means? To be completely changed.

Look at everyone’s clay figures—no two are alike. God wants to transform each of us into the special individual He created us to be. He wants us to follow His special plan and to live according to His standard—not to conform to the standards of the world.  

Conclusion: It is our choice. We can allow ourselves to be squeezed into the world’s mold and conformed to the ways of the world that are not pleasing to God. Or, we can place ourselves in God’s hands to be transformed into His likeness—unique and pleasing to Him. Even when we sin and make mistakes, God is faithful and merciful; He waits to remove any blemishes or mistakes and reshape us into His desired creation.

Bible Activity

Change Is Good! Look up verses about being shaped by God.

Let’s say the SuperVerse together. Jeremiah 18:6:

God is compared to the potter, and we are the clay. We must allow Him to shape and mold us. When we submit ourselves to Him, He can remove the impurities and shape us into His image. 

In this activity, you will have one minute to look up each verse about God changing and molding us into what is pleasing to Him. Once you find the answer, the “scribe” will use the toothpick to write the word in the modeling dough and walk quickly to place it on my table (or desk). Then, go back to your table and flatten and smooth the dough so you can write the next answer. The first team to bring me the correct answer scores two points. Every team that places the correct answer on the table before time runs out scores one point.

Have the children sit down at tables in pairs. Try to pair an experienced Bible user with a child who isn’t as familiar with the Bible.

Give each pair a lump of dough, a toothpick, and a Bible. The experienced Bible user can quickly look up the verse. The other child will be the scribe, write the answer on the modeling clay using a toothpick, and take it to show the leader. If both players are experienced Bible users, they can take turns looking up verses and being the scribe.

Have children close their Bibles before you announce the next verse.

Allow spelling errors because of the fast pace of the game. Increase the time if necessary.

If you would prefer not to have children race, they may simply hold up their inscribed modeling dough to show the answer. 

Do as many verses as time allows. Be prepared to help any children with special needs.

Note that the suggested answers are from the New Living Translation. If children are using different translations, their answers will vary.

1.   Romans 12:2. Let God _____ you into a new person. (Transform)

2.   Psalm 51:10. God can create a clean _____ in me. (Heart)

3.   Ezekiel 36:26. God will put a new _____ in us. (Spirit)

4.   2 Corinthians 5:17. When we belong to Christ, we become a _____ person. (New)   

5.   Ephesians 4:23. The Spirit will renew our thoughts and _____. (Attitudes)    

6.   Colossians 1:22. We are holy and blameless as we stand before Him without a single _____. (Fault)    

7.   Titus 3:5. God washed away our sins and gives us a new _____ and a new life through the Holy Spirit. (Birth)  

8.   2 Corinthians 3:18. The Spirit makes us more like Him as we are changed into His glorious _____. (Image) 

9.   Isaiah 64:8. We are _____ by God’s hand. (Formed)  

10.   Romans 6:4. Through Christ, we are raised by the Father so that we may live new _____. (Lives)  

Conclusion: As God’s children, we want to place ourselves in His hands to transform us so we can be more like Jesus.