Leader Guide

Teaching

Tags:

  • Table
  • Ten cardboard building blocks—see note below. Or, substitute small boxes, wood blocks, or plastic cups.
  • Tube of icing or decorating gel; paper plate, and a rag for cleanup. You may substitute a tube of toothpaste.
  • Bibles or the Superbook Bible App

Discipleship Challenge:

Note: The church nursery or preschool department may have large blocks to borrow. For the Discipleship Challenge: make one copy of the Paul and Barnabas Mission Ship Craft for each child who missed the previous lesson. See Lesson 1 for details.

That's Encouraging! Discuss building up vs. tearing down.

From our Bible story today, can you name some ways that Paul and Barnabas encouraged others and showed God’s love? Barnabas helped others accept Paul when he became a Christian; they preached the Gospel to others even when they were commanded to stop; Barnabas gave John Mark a second chance; they healed others in Jesus’ name.

Barnabas was a kind and generous man. He once sold a field he owned and gave the money to the apostles. There are many ways to demonstrate God’s love and encourage others.

If you were here last time, how did Chris, Joy, and Gizmo encourage Jia Wei when he was being teased by students for inviting them to his Bible study? They got his tablet or digi-pad back for him and signed up to attend his study in front of the others.

Our actions and words are powerful. They can have a positive effect on others. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT):

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

Stand by the table next to a pile of blocks. What are some ways that we can encourage people and build them up? If you have an idea, raise your hand. Call on children one by one to have them come up and state an answer, giving each a block to build a tower. As more children come forward, the tower will get higher. Answers may include: Kind words, helping with a chore, listening to their problems, praying for them, sharing a Bible verse with them, etc.

We can pray and ask God for wisdom and creativity to build people up—just as we built this tower.

However, our words and actions can discourage people, hurt them, and tear them down. Proverbs 12:18 says:

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

It took us a while to build this nice tower, but mean or cutting words can tear someone down in an instant. Knock the tower down with a chopping motion.

It is often easier to say the first thing that comes to mind rather than consider how it may affect someone. Can you name some reasons someone may say something hurtful? Jealousy or envy, trying to make themselves look better than someone, revenge, going along with the crowd or try to fit in, anger, frustration, disappointment, unhappy with themselves.

In Ephesians 4:29, Paul says:

Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

When we get angry, what’s the first thing we should do before we say or do anything? Children answer.

We should STOP, THINK, and PRAY. Let’s say someone posts something nasty about you on the Internet. Right away, you may want to post something mean about that person. Instead, STOP before you say or do something wrong. THINK about whether your words or actions will help or hurt. PRAY and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom.

Squeeze some icing onto the plate. Discuss how it is impossible to put the icing back into the tube. Liken it to our words, and how once our words are spoken, posted, or sent, they cannot be taken back.

Let us always strive to encourage, love, and motivate others in all we say and do!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give the Mission Ship Craft to children who missed Lesson 1 to assemble at home. Hold up the sample craft.

Raise your hand if you completed the Discipleship Challenge mission from the last lesson. Would anyone like to share your experience about witnessing to others? Children respond.

Can anyone say Psalm 96:3 from memory?

Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does.

Witnessing about Jesus is simply sharing what you know about Him and how He is real and active in your life. Now let’s read our mission challenge for Lesson 2 on the sail. ENCOURAGE—Read 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and encourage someone.

Optional—read Philippians 2:4 (NLT):

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Paul and Barnabas encouraged other believers wherever they traveled on their missions. And that is the second challenge on your mission—to encourage at least one person every day. This could be with your words or actions. As today’s SuperVerse says, look for ways to motivate one another. As we learned earlier, we have help! We can pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show us people who need encouragement and to give us insight and creative ideas of how to encourage them!

The other part of your mission is to look up and read Philippians 2:4 in your Bible. If possible, memorize the verse and discuss it with your family.

Remember, try to encourage at least one person every day! You will have a chance to share the results of your mission with us in class next time.

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