Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 minute)

Welcome back to the second lesson of our Superbook adventure titled, “Teach Us to Pray.”

In the Bible story, Jesus told His disciples that nothing was impossible if they had faith. In this lesson we will learn more about how prayer builds faith. Let’s sing a song to Jesus who is the only one who can save us from our sins. And that’s why the name of the song is “You Are the One”!

Play Video: (Song) You Are the One (3 minutes)

Preview the song so you can help the children sing along with the music. 

You Are the One

SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)

Act out stacking boxes or blocks. What am I building? A tower, stack, column. 

Act out lifting barbells. What do you build when you lift weights? Your strength, muscles. 

Pretend to read a book. What do I build by studying? Your mind, wisdom, knowledge.

Do some stretching exercises such as touching toes or windmills. What do we build or increase by stretching? Fitness, flexibility.  

Act out praying, close eyes, fold hands. What am I building now? Children answer.   

Our SuperTruth has the answer: “Prayer builds faith.”       

Let’s say it together. “Prayer builds faith.” 

When we pray and spend time in God’s presence, we build our faith. We will learn a lot more about that in today’s lesson. Now let’s watch what happens when Chris, Joy and Gizmo travel back in time to watch the disciples learn how to pray. For those who have seen the video before, watch and listen closely for what the boy’s father asks Jesus to help him overcome.       

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.

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

Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story (11 minutes)

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

Superbook takes Chris, Joy and Gizmo to meet Jesus, who teaches the disciples how to pray with power and take authority over demons. He also teaches them the Lord’s Prayer.

Condensed Bible Story

Discussion (2 minutes)

When Jesus came down from the mountain, why did He become angry? The disciples were unable to cast an evil spirit from a boy.

When the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t cast out the evil spirit, Jesus said two things were required; can you name them? 1. Prayer  2. Faith. 

Jesus told the disciples that nothing was impossible even if they had faith the size of a small seed; what kind of seed? A mustard seed.

Hold up the Lord’s Prayer Bookmark with mustard seeds taped in place. This shows us just how tiny a mustard seed is; yet Jesus said even with this amount of faith, they could tell something to move and it would. What was it? A mountain. 

Prayer and faith are needed to accomplish big things for God. The good news is that when we pray, our faith is built up and increases.   

Introduce Bible Background Video (1 minute)

In today’s Bible Background video we’ll learn more about the disciples and how Jesus modeled prayer for them. We’ll also see different ways that people pray. 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 (9 minutes)

Bible Background

Bible Background Discussion (1 minute)

Tell me something you learned from this video. Children answer.

Play Video 10B: SuperVerse Graphic

Graphic loops 2 minutes without audio; turn off or freeze video after children repeat the verse.

10B SuperVerse Graphic

SuperVerse Discussion (1 minute)

The SuperVerse today is Psalm 138:3:

What happens when we pray? God answers.

God gives us so many things when we pray: healing, strength, understanding, direction, encouragement, power, discernment, and wisdom—to name just a few. His answer is always on time, and it is always what is best for us. The more we pray, the more we will be amazed by His care and love for us.            

Let’s say the SuperVerse together. Psalm 138:3:

Children will have more time to learn the SuperVerse in Small Group. If they are not able to memorize the entire verse, be sure they understand its meaning.

Prayer and Send-Off (1 minute)

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, When we have faith, there is nothing that we can’t do by Your power. When we pray and receive Your answer, our faith will grow even stronger. Increase our desire to spend time with You each day in prayer so we can see Your will being done on Earth as it is in heaven. By faith, we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.   

In Small Group today, you will play a game in which the excitement is building. Does that make you curious? Let’s go see what that means!       

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.

Relay Game

Prayer Adds up! Play a game to build towers of faith.

One of the most effective ways to increase our faith is through prayer. The more time we spend in our heavenly Father’s presence, the stronger our faith will grow.

Let’s say the SuperTruth together. “Prayer builds faith.” 

Demonstrate as you explain the game. Let’s learn to play our game so the excitement can begin building! One at a time, a player from each team will walk quickly to the first pile of cups. Pick one up and return to your team table to build a faith tower. Wait a minute; this seems too easy; let’s make it a little more challenging.

Return to the cup pile and start over. You must balance the cup on the back of your wrist, and return to the line. You can’t use your other hand to steady the cup or hold it against your body. Once you reach the table, lift the cup from your wrist and position it to build the tower in a pyramid shape. The team captain will help as necessary.     

Divide the children into two equal teams. A leader may need to play. 

Choose an older child to be a captain for each team. Explain that each captain will take part in the relay and also supervise building the team tower. If the tower falls, the captain will assist the current player to rebuild it as play continues.

Have the teams form separate lines between the tables.

Determine how many cups should be on the bottom row of each tower after counting the number of cups and players on each team. Alert the captains of this number.  

Say, “Go!” to begin the game. The first player of each team brings a cup back to the table and begins to build the tower. If a cup falls to the floor at any time, it must be placed on the wrist again and play resumes at that point.

The next players may go once the previous player reaches the line. Continue until each player has returned and the tower is built. The first team to do this wins. The other team will continue to build their tower until all players have taken a turn.

You are such good builders! Prayer does build faith! Well, we aren’t done building yet! Have the captains return the cups to the original place on the floor.

You probably wondered why there are two more piles of prayer cups on the floor. We are going to play again; however, this time you will take a cup from all three piles. You must move from one pile to the next and then home by balancing the cups on your wrist. You can place the cups inside one another or any way you choose using only one wrist. Determine the number of cups again for the bottom row based on three cups per player. Alert the captains of this number.

Say “Go!” to begin round two. Players will now take three cups to the table and build a bigger tower. The first team to do this wins. The game will continue until all players have taken a turn and the tower is built.

Conclusion: Wow, look at those towers! How is this tower different from the first tower? This tower is much bigger and taller.

Yes; the more we pray, the more our faith builds! Let’s learn more about how prayer builds faith in our Teaching time.

Teaching

Build It! Discuss the relationship between faith and prayer.

In Large Group, you were asked to listen and watch for what the father asks Jesus to help him overcome. What is the answer? His unbelief.

Unbelief and a lack of faith can hinder us from following and obeying God’s will as we should. It also can keep us from enjoying all the good things in God’s Kingdom that we receive through Christ. In our last lesson, we learned about the different parts of the Lord’s Prayer. This was a pattern or model of prayer that Jesus used to teach His disciples how to pray. When we follow Jesus’ model of prayer, our prayers please God and build our faith.

Let’s say our SuperTruth together. “Prayer builds faith.” 

Stand in front of Box #1 and place it on the table with the Prayer Picture facing the children. Do this for each box as the presentation unfolds.

The boxes represent prayers. The disciples traveled with Jesus everywhere. Over and over, day after day, they saw Jesus spend time in prayer. Who was He praying to? God; His Father.

Stand in front of Box #2 and place it on top of Box #1.

Jesus often prayed alone early in the morning or at the end of the day after He had traveled, taught, and ministered to people’s needs. Jesus’ prayer time with His Father gave Him strength and direction to do God’s will. Jesus said He spoke only the words God gave Him and He did only what He saw God doing. (See John 5:19, 7:16, 8:28, 12:49.) To see and hear His Father clearly, Jesus needed to remove Himself from the busy-ness of the world and the growing crowds who followed Him everywhere. The demands and temptations of this world can drain us of our strength and distract us from spending time with God. When we get too busy, we can no longer hear and see God clearly. Name some common demands or distractions that we all may face each day. Relationships, entertainment, TV, phones, gadgets,  technology, internet, hobbies, jobs, sports, etc.

Keep in mind, not all distractions are bad or evil. Yet we need to strive for balance, so even good things don’t take our time away from God and doing His will in our lives.

Stand in front of Box #3 and place it on top of Box #2.

Prayer helps us focus on God instead of on ourselves and the things of this world. In order for Jesus to do what God wanted Him to do, He had to spend time with His heavenly Father.

If Jesus had to spend time with God, don’t you think we should, too?

If we don’t, we will be influenced by what the world says is right instead of by what God says is right. We need time alone with our Heavenly Father so that He may clearly speak His Word to us, which is like our daily bread.

David talked about the benefits of prayer in the SuperVerse. Let’s say Psalm 138:3 together.

Stand in front of Box #4 and place it on top of Box #3.

Prayer builds faith and strength; it encourages us to press on and not give up! The more we spend time in God’s presence, and the more we understand that God hears and answers our prayers, the stronger our faith becomes. He is our heavenly Father who wants to give us all we need! He is holy and set apart, above everything in the heavens and on Earth. There is none like Him. We are His children, made in His image. He created us and loves us, and He wants to spend time with us.

Stand in front of Box #5 and place it on top of Box #4.

Prayer that builds faith is not just talking to God; it is communicating with Him—sitting and waiting in His presence as He fills us with His love, mercy, wisdom, and power.

We built a tower of prayer, yet, that’s not all. As the prayers added up, something else was built at the same time. Slowly turn the bottom box until the FAITH letters face the children.

On three, let’s stand and shout what we build by prayer: 1, 2, 3! FAITH!

It’s now time for our Discipleship Challenge in which you will learn the Lord’s Prayer and pray according to the pattern of prayer He gave us!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give the Lord’s Prayer Bookmark with the mustard seeds taped on it and yarn to each child who missed Lesson 1 so they may assemble it at home.

Hold up the sample craft. Who was able to do the challenge from last lesson and pray according to Jesus’ model for prayer?

What do you think was different; did it change the way you pray?

Did anyone memorize the first two verses of the Lord’s Prayer; if so, would you like to say them aloud now? 

Hand the bookmark to a volunteer to read section 2, Matthew 6:11–12. 

For this lesson, your challenge is to pray verses 11–12 each day and memorize them, if possible. Then add them to the first section you memorized: Matthew 6:9–10. You can use your bookmark for this. Think about the meaning as you pray and speak from your heart. The second part of this challenge is to pray in your own words using verses 11–12 in section 2 as a model or pattern. Come to your heavenly Father and ask Him for what you need—physical, spiritual or emotional. This is your daily bread. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak God’s truth, which is His Word to your heart each day. Then, confess your sins and ask God to forgive you. Pray for others and ask God to forgive them, especially those who have sinned against you! After you have completed this challenge the first time, add section one of the Lord’s Prayer, verses 9–10, the following days.

The next time we meet, you will have a chance to share your experience with the challenge and say the first two sections of The Lord’s Prayer from memory, if you can.

Note: The Lord’s Prayer that appears on the bookmark is from the NKJV of the book of Matthew. You may teach the Bible book and version that your church prefers.

SuperVerse

Superbook Breakout: Memorize the SuperVerse with a group activity.

This verse is part of a psalm written by King David. Like Jesus, David was a man of prayer, and his prayers form many of the psalms in the Bible. In this prayer, David is praising and thanking God for answering his prayer and helping him overcome his enemies. God’s answer gave him strength and encouragement. David overcame his fear and his enemies were defeated, so his heart overflows with praise and thankfulness. 

Can you remember a time when you tried to do something for the first time? It could be something like riding a bike or a skateboard; anything you weren’t confident about. Children share.

Now, how did you feel after you did it successfully? More confident, encouraged, excited, less fearful, ready to do it again. 

That’s how it is with prayer; when we pray and God answers, it builds our faith. The more we pray and experience results, the more confidence and desire we have to continue to pray, believing God will answer—even if it isn’t immediately. As we face new situations, we look forward to our time of prayer, knowing that God will hear and answer again and that we are in the presence of Almighty God!

Divide the class into four teams and assign the team numbers, such as:

1. Grades 1–3 girls.

2. Grades 1–3 boys.

3. Grades 4–6 girls.

4. Grades 4–6 boys.

All: Psalm 138:3 

Have each team practice their phrase a couple times, using as much expression as they can in their voices. Then gather the teams together again facing the board. Call out the numbers in order and have each team say their part at the proper time—again, with as much expression in their voices as possible. After two times, erase the board and try it again from memory. Ask if any children think they can say the whole verse alone by memory.

Prayer

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus told His disciples to pray for daily bread. Does that mean that when we pray, a loaf of bread will appear?

No; daily bread represents whatever we need in life—physically, spiritually and emotionally. These things may come in the form of food, water, shelter, clothes, money, relationships, and God’s Word. We need so much more than daily food for our physical bodies to be healthy and strong. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said:

Why do you think that Jesus wants us to pray daily? So we will come to Him and depend on Him to supply what we need. Because He is our source and we cannot take Him for granted or begin to rely on our own ability. 

Ask God to speak to you through His Word each day to provide what you need. It could be a verse to encourage you or to comfort you and let you know that you are loved. Through His Word and His Spirit, God can prepare you for a temptation, give you wisdom for a decision, or deepen your understanding of Him. God can supply all of this and more. He knows even better than we do what we will face each day. God wants us to come to Him many times daily—so we live moment by moment, trusting in Him!

Take a moment right now to think of something that you would like God to provide. Or, thank Him for something He has already given you. We will go around the circle. Each of us will have a chance to thank God for what He has already provided or ask Him by faith for what He will provide. When it is your turn, you can say something like, “Thank You God for protecting me,” or “Please give me wisdom at school,” or “Thank You for my daily bread.” 

Go around the circle and allow everyone a turn to thank God. If a child does not want to say anything, that’s fine, move to the next child.

Close in prayer: Dear God, thank You for our daily bread. You know what we need before we ask; yet, You want us to come to You, knowing that we won’t be turned away. The Bible says that You will take care of us and supply all of our needs from Your glorious riches in Christ. (See Philippians 4:19.) By faith, we trust You to supply all that we need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Object Lesson

Fill Me up! Demonstrate how prayer and God’s Word build faith.

In the Bible story, the disciples were not able to cast an evil spirit out of the boy. Jesus then commanded the spirit to leave, and immediately the boy was set free. Later, when the disciples were alone with Jesus, they asked Him why they were unable to do it. Jesus named two reasons; what were they? 1. Faith 2. Prayer (See Matthew 17:19; Mark 9:28–29.) 

Hold up the bookmark with the mustard seeds attached. What did Jesus say about the tiny mustard seeds? If we have faith even the size of a tiny mustard seed, nothing is impossible. We can move mountains.

Sometimes we feel discouraged and weak with not much faith. We feel defeated and deflated like this ball. This is not God’s will for His children. So how do we grow strong again and build our faith? By prayer and God’s Word.

Hold up the Bible. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

Hold up the deflated beach ball or balloon. Let’s play ball!

Toss it to a child, then retrieve it. This ball [balloon] isn’t very useful, is it!

Blow a small amount of air after each phrase until it is about half full.

Let’s pretend that this ball represents our faith. As we read God’s Word … (Blow)

We discover His love … (Blow)

His will … (Blow)

His power … (Blow)

His promises … (Blow)

And His faithfulness. (Blow)

When we fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word, there is no room for doubt, fear and unbelief! Close the cap on the valve so the ball stays partially inflated.

When halfway inflated, toss the ball up and down. Now this ball is starting to do what it was designed to do. 

Prayer is another powerful way to build our faith. So how do we know what to pray?

Read Jude 1:20 (CEV):

We build on our faith foundation through prayer. Who helps us to pray? The Holy Spirit.

Read Romans 8:26–27:

When we don’t know what or how to pray, God’s Spirit moves our hearts and directs our prayers to be pleasing to Him—as the verse says, in harmony or matching God’s will!

Without allowing any air to escape, begin to blow more air into the ball in between sentences:

Jesus spent time with God throughout each day. And, if we want to pray as Jesus did, we must make time for God, too!

Let’s say we pray in the morning … (Blow)

Again, during the day … (Blow)

At lunch … (Blow)

In the afternoon … (Blow)

At dinner … (Blow)

And again at bedtime. (Blow until the ball is fully inflated, then place cap on the valve.)

Each time we pray our faith grows! Hold up the ball.

Conclusion: To pray as Jesus did, we need to set aside time to be with our heavenly Father each day. We must also listen to His voice speaking in our hearts throughout the day.

Have we filled this ball with bad things, like jealousy and selfishness and pride? No.

We have filled it with good things: prayer, God’s Word, His power, and His Spirit. When we are full of these things, we can be who God designed us to be, and do what God designed us to do—with His power, not our own! Toss the ball to a child.

Coloring Activity

On the Mountaintop: Color a page about The Transfiguration.

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

1. The picture you are coloring is called the Transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus was transfigured or transformed so the disciples could see Him in His heavenly glory, and not just in human form. Jesus’ face changed; it was transformed and became as bright as the sun. What happened to His clothes? They became dazzling, or white as light.

The Bible describes the event in Matthew 17:1–2: 

2.    Who were the two men who appeared on the mountaintop with Jesus? Elijah and Moses.

3.    Who spoke from a bright cloud that overshadowed everyone on the mountaintop? God.

4.    Do you remember some or all of what He said from the cloud? Jesus was His dearly loved Son; Jesus brings Him great joy; listen to Jesus.

5.    What was the reaction of the disciples? They were terrified (scared, afraid) and fell face down on the ground. 

6.    What did Jesus tell them? He told them not to be afraid.

7.    What instruction did Jesus give the three disciples as they went down the mountain? Not to tell anyone what they had just seen until He had been raised from the dead.

Conclusion: On the mountaintop, Jesus’ three closest disciples witnessed Him praying with God before they fell asleep. They awoke to see Jesus transformed and saw His glory as God’s Son and heard God’s voice of approval upon Him.

Balloon Game

Two-Way Prayer: Play a game to reinforce the SuperVerse.

Let’s say the SuperVerse together. Psalm 138:3: 

The writer of this psalm, David, knew that when he prayed, God would always answer. He was dependent on God to save him from his enemies. God has not changed. He is the same today as He was then, and He will be the same tomorrow. Hebrews 13:8 says: 

When our prayers rise to God, His answers will come down. In this game, you will play in pairs. You will bat the balloon in the air to your partner, who will bat it back to you. Take a step backward each time you bat the balloon. When it goes up in the air, this represents a prayer to God. When the balloon comes down, it represents God’s answer or response to the prayer. Like David said,

Divide the class into teams of two. Try to pair up children who don’t know each other well.

Give each team a balloon; have each player stand facing their partner at the center line—leaving several feet between teams.

If there isn’t enough room for all teams to play at one time, play another round with the remaining teams.

Start the game. Players will bat the balloon to the partner and then take a step backward.

If a balloon hits the floor, the team must begin again at the middle line.

Continue until a player reaches the taped line near the wall. That team wins.

Play more rounds as time permits.

Conclusion: Did anyone hit a balloon up in the air that never came back down? No. 

It is the same with prayer. When our prayers rise to God, an answer will come down to us—without fail. Sometimes the answer we receive isn’t what we expected, or it doesn’t come in the manner we expected, yet God always answers and does what is best according to His wisdom and will. That is why we pray, “Your will be done.”

Bible Activity

Our Perfect Model: Look up verses to discuss prayers of Jesus.

Jesus didn’t just teach the disciples how to pray; He prayed! While in the world, Jesus prayed in public. He also often withdrew from the crowds to spend time alone with God. Sometimes His disciples looked for Him and found Him in prayer with His Father. The verses we will look up and discuss are some examples of just a few of the times that Jesus prayed. Not all the examples will have an obvious answer to both questions. In those cases, we will need to think a little deeper and share our thoughts.

Give Bibles to children who do not have one.

Note: The suggested answers are from the New Living Translation. If children are using different translations, their answers will vary. Encourage deeper thought and consider all answers without saying they are right and wrong. There will often be more than one answer and more than are listed here!  

I will say a verse reference and write it on the board for you to look up. Then, we will read the verse(s) aloud and find the answers to the questions on the board, together.    

Be ready to assist children who are not familiar with using the Bible, or pair them with experienced users.  

Luke 23:33–34: 

Jesus prayed this on the cross.

1. What did Jesus pray for? For those who persecuted and crucified Him. His enemies.

2. How can we connect it to the Lord’s Prayer? Forgiving those who have sinned against us.

Matthew 26:26–27:

1. What did Jesus pray for? He was thanking God and blessing the meal. 

2. How can we connect it to the Lord’s Prayer? Give us this day our daily bread. Your will be done—Jesus’ submission to God’s will.  

Matthew 26:36–39:

Jesus prayed this in the Garden of Gethsemane, shortly before He was arrested and crucified.

1. What did Jesus pray for? God’s will; that if possible, the suffering He would face on the cross could be taken away.

2. How can we connect it to the Lord’s Prayer? Your will be done.  

Luke 22:31–32:

1. What did Jesus pray for? Simon Peter, his faith wouldn’t fail from Satan’s attack or trial.

2. How can we connect it to the Lord’s Prayer? And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

John 17:15–21:   

1. What did Jesus pray for? Safety, protection from Satan, the evil one. Make believers holy and learn the truth, unity among believers, and for people to be added to the kingdom. 

2. How can we connect it to the Lord’s Prayer? And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Verse 13). Your kingdom come. Your will be done (Verse 10).

Conclusion: Jesus taught His disciples how to pray through the prayers that He Himself prayed. Let us not only learn about prayer but also be known as God’s children who pray!