Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 minute)

Welcome to the last lesson of our Superbook adventure. Who is Jesus a friend to? Sinners, everyone.

This means everyone can receive God’s love, forgiveness and salvation. Let’s stand and praise Jesus now, 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)

As followers of Jesus, our goal is to be like Him. That means being a friend not only to those who follow Him, but just as important, to those who don’t. By being a friend to sinners, we can help others experience God’s love. What can stop us from being a friend to someone who doesn’t follow Jesus? Fear of rejection, they wouldn’t be kind, they could tease and make fun of us, wouldn’t know what to say. 

To be a friend to sinners, we must allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love and compassion as Jesus has. We cannot do it on our own. When we pray and ask for His help, He will enable us to love as He does.  

Our SuperTruth today is, “I will be a friend to sinners.” Let’s say it together; “I will be a friend to sinners.”  

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 Jesus being a friend to sinners. If you have seen it before, listen carefully to a parable Jesus told about a great feast. Three guests that the master invited made excuses for not coming to the feast. Be ready in Small Group to name at least one excuse.    

Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story (10 minutes)

Superbook takes Joy, Chris and Gizmo to witness three Bible stories: the parable of the great supper (banquet), the calling of Matthew the tax collector, and the woman caught in sin. Joy is surprised to see Jesus spend time with sinners, tax collectors, the poor, and those with disabilities. She decides to become more like Jesus by following His example.

Condensed Bible Story

Play Video 10C: SuperVerse Graphic (1 minute)

The graphic loops 2.5 minutes without audio; turn off or freeze video after children repeat the verse.

10C: SuperVerse Graphic

SuperVerse (2 minutes)

Our SuperVerse today is Luke 7:47:

Raise your hand if you have ever been forgiven for something you did or said that you knew was wrong. Children respond.  

How did it make you feel to be forgiven for that one thing? Relieved, thankful, happy.

Now, imagine how thankful the sinful woman was. She could not stop showing Jesus love by worshipping Him and kissing His feet! Let’s say the SuperVerse together. Luke 7:47:

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

Introduce Signposts Video (1 minute)

Let’s watch the Signposts video to learn about how Jesus spent valuable time with those who desperately needed His love and mercy.      

Play Video 6: Signposts Video (4 minutes)

Signposts Video

Prayer and Send-Off (2 minutes)

Let’s pray before we move to Small Group. Dear Jesus, You came into the world to be a friend to sinners. Help us to see those around us who need Your love and salvation. Help us to be a true friend to other people so they may come to know You, too. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. 

It’s time for Small Group, where you will have to work with everyone, not just those you are closest to, to accomplish your mission.  

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.

SuperTruth Game

Let's Talk! Play a game to complete the SuperTruth with others.

Let’s say our SuperTruth together:

“I will be a friend to sinners.”

If you were here for the first lesson in this course, what was the problem Joy faced with one of her good friends? Joy was so busy with youth group activities and her new Christian friends that she didn’t have time to spend with her old friend who was not a believer.  

Joy felt like she didn’t fit in with her old friends anymore. She even wondered if it was wrong to hang out with her old friend named Jolie since she wasn’t a believer. During the Superbook adventure, Joy saw how Jesus interacted and made time for all people—even those who were considered bad!
 

In this game, you will divide into teams and build the SuperTruth. However, we will do it a little differently. In this game, you will need to interact with all the other teams to accomplish your goal; not just those you are closest to.

Divide children into six teams of up to 5 children each, based on class size. Teams do not need to be equal.

Assign each team a number from 1–6. It is important for all players 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.)

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 neighbor team and ask, “Do you have any team number __ cards?”

The neighbor 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 a neighbor team—either the same team as before or a different team.

Once a team has built the SuperTruth with their numbered cards, they stand up and shout it together.

Continue until all teams have built the SuperTruth.

Reshuffle the cards and play again if time allows.

Conclusion: It’s easy and enjoyable to spend time with people when we have things in common. In fact, hanging out with likeminded believers is very important as we grow in our faith. However, we also need to make sure we interact with others who may not follow Jesus so we can share God’s love with them.

In this game, what would have happened if you never interacted with the other teams? We couldn’t have reached our goal to build the SuperTruth.

You had to be intentional to interact with others, it didn’t just happen. You were not only focused on your needs, but also on the needs of others. 

One last question to see if you paid close attention to the Bible story video earlier today—what were the excuses that some people gave for not attending the master’s feast? They bought a field or some oxen; they got married.

Teaching

Signpost 1  Jesus Accepts Everyone

Jesus never hesitated to speak the truth. In fact, He called Himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life! (See John 14:6.) When the Pharisees questioned why He ate with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus told them that healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. (See Matthew 9:12.)

Jesus wasn’t just talking about people who were physically ill, what other kind of sickness was He referring to? Sin, people who needed forgiveness and healed from sin.

Jesus accepted everyone who came to Him; that was His mission on Earth. He did not care if others were offended by this. Jesus was often criticized by others for what He should or shouldn’t do; it never swayed or deterred Him from doing God’s will.  

Jesus called people who were hated, judged and rejected by others—people like Levi (Matthew) the tax collector and the sinful woman who showed much love by washing His feet with her tears.

Can you name another tax collector in the Bible that Jesus ate a meal with and spent time in his house. Zacchaeus

The people also criticized Jesus for hanging out with Zacchaeus. Because Jesus spent time with Zacchaeus, his life was changed—for all eternity!    

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6  

Matthew 9:9–10: 

Luke 7:47–50:

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give any child who missed previous lessons the Disciple Card.

Use the model craft as you discuss the challenge. The challenge last time was to learn 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Would someone like to try and say it from memory? 1 Thessalonians 5:11:

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

We will all have ups and downs as we follow Christ. It’s vital for each of us to have likeminded family and friends to encourage us and hold us accountable to our commitment to be a disciple. We should always look for opportunities to lift up and support others, even if it is by being a good listener.   

SuperVerse

Superbook Volley: Memorize the SuperVerse with a group activity.

Let’s say today’s SuperVerse together: Luke 7:47: 

The verse today is very short. Raise your hand if you think you can already say it from memory with your eyes closed. Children respond.

Who showed Jesus much love in our Bible story? The sinful woman.

Why did she do this? She was so thankful to Jesus for accepting her and showing love, mercy and forgiveness, especially when others looked down on her.

Did Simon the Pharisee show Jesus as much love? No, he showed very little or none.  

Why do you think his attitude and gratitude was different than the woman’s? He didn’t believe he was a sinner. He was self-righteous and believed he was good and didn’t need God’s forgiveness and even less, forgiveness from Jesus! 

Yes, the Pharisees didn’t want to believe that Jesus was God’s Son, so they didn’t think He had the authority to forgive sins. In Luke 7:49, after Jesus forgave the woman’s sins:

“The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this Man, that He goes around forgiving sins?”

To help us learn the verse today, let’s play a fun game with balloons.

Divide the children into teams of two. Try to place different ages and genders together as partners.

Have the teams stand several feet away from each other and parallel to the board so each child can see it as they play. Have the partners stand about 8 feet apart (adjust this as desired).

The partners will volley the balloon back and forth in the air as each player shouts one word of the verse in order as each hits the balloon back to his/her partner. Once the verse is completed, immediately begin again. The teams will try to say the complete verse as many times as they can before the balloon touches the ground.

When the activity is complete, ask the teams how many times they were able to complete the verse in a row. 

Conclusion: The Pharisee showed Jesus little love because he didn’t realize he was a sinner. The Bible tells us that we all have sinned and need forgiveness. Jesus died for our sins. We have much to be thankful for and much love to show to Him!   

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

Prayer

Friend Prayers: Communicate with God.

Have the children sit on the floor.

The woman who kneeled at Jesus’ feet could not stop crying. Why was she crying, was she sad? No, they were tears of joy and thankfulness.  

In the first part of our prayer time, I would like you to close your eyes and silently thank God for forgiving your sins. Also thank Him that He will continue to show forgiveness all the days of your life. Allow children time to pray. 

In the second part of our prayer time, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with God’s love and kindness each day so we can reach out and be a friend to people around us who need to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This is part of our Discipleship Challenge. When we do this, we honor Him and carry on His mission in this world to be a friend to sinners. Allow children time to pray.   

Close: Dear God, Jesus knew that the woman’s sins were many. There are no hidden sins. We cannot hide anything from You. Yet You choose to love us and show us mercy. Thank You for being our friend before we even chose to follow You. Help us to be a friend to those who do not yet know You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!   

Review Game

Taxing Review: Play a game to review the Bible story.

In this review game, you will answer true/false questions about the Bible stories we have discussed. You will show me one side of the plate for a false answer and the opposite side for a true answer. Ten points are scored for each correct answer. 

You will also have another chance to score points and pay taxes. Does that sound fun? I doubt it!

The people gave Matthew coins to pay their taxes. Each player will be given four coins to toss into the bucket. For each coin that goes in the bucket, you will receive one point.

Divide the class into two teams. They do not need to be equal.

A player from each team stands behind the mark. Give each of these players a plate.        

Ask the same review question from the list to both players. Feel free to add your own questions.

Players answer the question by choosing which side of the plate to show you, either True or False.

Ten points are scored for a correct answer, no points for an incorrect answer.   

Ask the teams to tell you the correct answer for any false question.

Each player is given four coins to toss into the bucket.   

The two players will then gather the coins for the next players.        

The next two players take a turn.

The team with the most points wins.

Questions and Answers

1.   T/F: At the wedding feast, Jesus noticed that all the people were trying to sit under the dinner table. (False—At the head of the table.)

2.   T/F: Jesus said you should invite guests who are not able to repay you. (True.)     

3.   T/F: In Jesus’ parable, when the banquet was ready, everyone who was invited came. (False—they made excuses.)    

4.   T/F: One invited guest said that he had bought a flock of sheep and must shear them. (False—he bought oxen and had to try them out.)

5.   T/F: One guest said that he had bought a car and must inspect it. (False—a field.)

6.   T/F: When the master heard the people’s excuses, he was relieved that no one was coming. (False—He was angry.)

7.   T/F: The master told his servants to go into the streets and alleys and invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. (True.)

8.   T/F: As Jesus was walking, He saw (Levi) Matthew sitting up in a tree that he had climbed. (False—Tax booth.) Bonus point: What tax collector climbed a tree to see Jesus? (Zacchaeus.)    

9.   T/F: Jesus told Matthew to follow Him. (True.)

10. T/F: Matthew invited Jesus to sit in his booth and have lunch. (False—to his house for dinner.)

11. T/F: Jesus had dinner at Matthew’s house with other tax collectors and sinners. (True.)

12. T/F: Jesus said that sick people don’t need a doctor; healthy people do. (False—sick people need a doctor; healthy people don’t.)

13. T/F: Jesus came for people who are perfect in every way. (False—for sinners.)

Outside In Game

Outside in: Play a game to include others.

In the Signposts video, we discussed how Jesus treated outsiders like insiders; for example, the Roman Centurion and the sinful woman. Jesus came into the world not to EXCLUDE, but to INCLUDE people. The religious leaders of that day believed they were God’s “insiders” because they were descendants of Abraham. They wanted to keep others, who they viewed as inferior, outside of God’s kingdom. In our daily lives, it is easy to “travel” or interact only with our own circle of friends who follow Jesus. This is not what Jesus did; He did not give all of His time to His closest disciples. He actively and intentionally engaged and included the outsider and invited them “inside His circle.”         

Divide the children into two equal teams. A leader may need to play. Appoint a player to be a captain of each team, if possible, a 5^th or 6^th grader. Each team makes a separate circle with three players inside the circle, who are the “insiders.” Each “inside” player will stand a minimum of one arm’s length from other players on all sides, and three players outside the circle, who are the “outsiders.”

The circles of each team need to be several feet away from each other and ideally at opposite ends of the room. The “outsiders” will stand in a line near the team captain OUTSIDE of their team’s circle.    

Give each captain a balloon. The captain will bat or hit the balloon to the player in the circle on his/her left. That player will then hit it to the third player. Do this until the balloon returns to the captain.  

When the captain bats the balloon to the next player, he/she will motion for the first player in line to come into the circle on his/her right side. The other players in the circle will need to make room for the new player while the game is still in progress.

The new player is immediately included in the game and eventually hits the balloon to the captain when it makes it around the circle. The captain bats the balloon to the next player again and motions for the next player in line to move into the circle to his/her right (next to the last player who entered the game). This continues, with the balloon moving around the circle until the final player in line has batted it to the captain. The first team to do this is the winner.

If a balloon drops to the floor, the player must pick it up and the game continues from that point. Players must bat and not catch the balloon. Monitor the circles and assist with players moving in as necessary until the teams get the hang of it. 

If necessary, players may bat the ball more than once to keep it alive and pass it to the next player.  

If time allows, choose new captains and new players to begin again.  

Conclusion: Did it feel good to stand outside the circle while the others were playing the game? Please explain. No, I felt left out or excluded, it was not fun.

How did it feel when you came inside the circle? It felt good, I felt welcome and needed. It was fun to be a part of the game and to be included. 

Let’s always make room for others who may not be exactly like us and who don’t yet know Jesus. This is pleasing to God and continues Jesus’ mission on Earth. He always invited the outsiders to come in.   

Coloring Activity

Show Some Love: Color a scene from the Bible story. 

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.

1. What is the woman doing in the picture? Anointing Jesus’ feet, washing Jesus’ feet, worshipping Him.      

2. The woman wiped Jesus’ feet; what else did she do? She kissed His feet.

3. What did Jesus say was the reason she showed Jesus much love? Her many sins were forgiven.   

4. What two things did the woman wash and anoint Jesus’ feet with? Her tears and expensive perfume.

5. Jesus said that the woman had something that saved her—what was it? Her faith.

6. Who was offended and did not approve of the woman’s actions? Simon and the other Pharisees.  

Conclusion: The woman had much to be thankful for and she could not hide her emotions—no matter who was watching!                     

Bible Activity

A Friend to All: Race to find verses about being a friend to sinners and everyone!

Have the children sit in pairs. Try to pair an experienced Bible user with a child who isn’t as familiar with the Bible. Give each pair a Bible. The experienced Bible user can quickly look up the verse while the other player writes the answer on a sticky note. The notes are then stuck to the board. If both players are experienced Bible users, the players can alternate looking up a verse and writing down the answer. Have children close their Bibles before you announce the next verse.

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

I will say a Bible reference in the New Testament and then write the verse reference on the board. At this point, you may begin to find the verse and I will read a fill-in-the-blank question as you look. I will read the question one more time and again if needed. The player who is not looking up the verse will write the answer or answers on a sticky note and then walk quickly to stick it on the board. You have 30 seconds to do that. The first team scores 10 points for the correct answer; all other teams score 5 points for the correct answer stuck to the board within the time limit. Every pair will have a chance to finish, so don’t give up! The team with the most points wins. Are you ready to learn about being a good friend?

Allow spelling errors because of the fast pace of the game. Do as many verses as time allows. Be prepared to help any children with special needs.

1.   John 15:12: Jesus tells us to love others in the _____ way as He loves us. (Same.)  

2.   Luke 6:36: Jesus said that we must be ______ as our heavenly Father is compassionate. (Compassionate.)

3.   1 Corinthians 9:22: We should look for _____ ground with everyone. (Common.) 

4.   Romans 15:7: We are to _____one another as Christ has accepted us. (Accept.) 

5.   Ephesians 4:32: Be ____ and __________ to one another. (Kind, tenderhearted.)

6.   Romans 12:16: We should live in _____ with each other and not be too _____ to enjoy the company of others. (Harmony, proud.)  

7.   1 Peter 3:15: We should always be ready to share our _____ as a believer when someone asks. (Hope.)

8.   Luke 6:37: Jesus said that we must not _____ or _____ others; instead we should _____ them. (Judge, condemn, forgive.)   

9.   Luke 6:27: Jesus tells us to love our _____ and do _____ to those who hate us. (Enemies, good.)

10. Romans 12:20: If our enemies are _____, we should _____ them. (Hungry, feed.)