Leader Guide
SuperVerse
- Bibles or the Superbook Bible App
- White board and marker, or chalk board and chalk
- Eraser
- Three volunteer readers from Grades 5–6
Write the SuperVerse in large letters on the board.
Assign a verse to each reader; have them look up their passage and be prepared to read them aloud.
Let’s take a vote. Do you think there are parties in heaven? Who votes no?
Who votes yes?
Let’s read what Jesus said in Luke 15:4–6:
4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’”
The SuperVerse comes right after these verses. Let’s say it together. Luke 15:7:
“In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”
Jesus compared the shepherd finding a lost sheep with God rejoicing over a sinner who returns to Him. Everyone is valuable to God! He loves His followers, yet He is always looking for those who are lost. God watches and waits like the father in the Bible story to spot someone who is coming back to Him. When one returns home, there is great joy in heaven!
Have the children sit on the floor facing the board. Have them lower and cover their eyes as you change one word of the verse, using the list below. Children should then look at the board and raise their hands to tell you which word is wrong and how it should be fixed. Write in the correct word, then repeat the process. For older children, you may wish to change two words at a time.
Suggestions:
- Change “same” to “opposite.”
- Change “joy” to “sadness.”
- Change “heaven” to “the ocean.”
- Change “lost” to “last.”
- Change “sinner” to “swimmer.”
- Change “repents” to “resists.”
- Change “ninety-nine” to “fifty-nine.”
- Change “others” to “otters.”
- Change “righteous” to “wicked.”
- Change “strayed” to “stayed.”
“In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!"
Note: Younger children may not be able to memorize the entire SuperVerse. They may simply repeat it several times, while older children may memorize part or all of it. Be sure all children understand its meaning.