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Leader Guide

Teaching


Discipleship Challenge:


Write the SuperVerse on the board. Romans 8:37 (NKJV):
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Make one copy each of the GOD page and the Hardship Page in black and white.
Make one copy each of the World Page and In God's Hands page in color or black and white.
Place the Hardship Page under the World Page to keep the Hardship page out of view until the proper time.
Using the step ladder, carefully tape the GOD Page on the ceiling above the presentation area with the back visible ("God" toward the ceiling, back towards the floor). If the ceiling is too high or if you prefer; tape the GOD Page as high as possible on the wall behind the presentation area.
For safety, remove the ladder from the room. 

Optional: Print the GizmoNote, one per child to take home after class.

Discipleship Challenge:
Make copies of the Conqueror Girl Page and Conqueror Boy Page on cardstock in color or black and white—one per girl or boy plus extras. 
Make copies of the Armor of God Page in color or black and white, one per child.
Make one model of a finished craft to show the class as an example. 

What was the name of cruel Roman emperor who persecuted Paul and other believers? Nero

 

In Rome, it wasn’t an easy choice to follow Jesus. Many Christians faced suffering and persecution.

Because of this, Paul shared God’s Word by preaching and writing letters called Epistles. These letters were an important way for Christians to learn about their faith. Paul’s epistles gave them hope and strength to keep their faith and not give up. And they still do that for us today!

Hold up the World Page, being careful to keep the Hardship Page out of view behind it.

This is the world we live in. There are many good people and things in it; however, there are many things that we can’t overcome on our own.

Bring the Hardship Page into view and hold it next to the World Page. Choose volunteers to each read aloud one “hardship word” from the page. Trials, Trouble, Sorrow, Suffering, Evil, Temptation, Injustice.

Jesus said in John 16:33:

 

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 

 

Hold up a Bible and a device with the Superbook App installed on it. What a privilege we have to pick up a Bible or device and read not only Paul’s letters but all of the other books of the Bible, any time, day or night!    

 

Let’s say today’s SuperVerse together. Romans 8:37:

 

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

 

When I say the word conqueror, what image comes to your mind? A tall, muscular warrior with a sword and armor.    


To conquer something means to defeat or to be victorious over it. However, being a spiritual conqueror has nothing to do with physical might or weapons.

 

Does anyone know what language Paul used to write his letters? Greek.

 

By looking at the Greek words Paul wrote, we can understand an important message. When Paul wrote “more than conquerors” in Romans 8:37, he used the Greek words “huper nike.” Huper means beyond, bigger, or more than. The Greek word for conqueror was “nike.” Does that word sound familiar to anyone? Children answer.

The company that makes famous running shoes did not invent that word! Nike was the name of a Greek goddess, who had wings and represented victory. The symbol for her was over the Roman Senate.     

 

So, by putting the words “huper” and “nike” together, Paul was using a secret code language to encourage the persecuted Christians. He was telling them that Christians have more power than Rome! Even though they were suffering greatly, they would have the ultimate victory because they were conquerors. But how? The answer is at the end of the verse. Through Him who loves us!   

 

Jesus is our pathway to victory. He made that pathway for us by dying on the cross to pay the price for our sins, then rising from the grave. Why did He do all this for us? He loves us.

 

The love in this verse isn’t something we can produce on our own and we don’t earn or deserve, it is only given to us by God’s grace through Christ. So let’s shout our SuperVerse together in conquering, victorious voices! Romans 8:37:

 

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

 

Paul encouraged the Christians by telling them that God was greater and bigger than Rome and their current desperate situation. Hold up the World Page and Hardship Page again.

Sometimes the things in this world can seem so big and can begin to overwhelm us; yet, God is greater. Point to the ceiling, set the ladder up, carefully retrieve the God Page and show it to the children.         

 

What does this say? God

 

Remember the Greek word, Huper means above and beyond, bigger than. This sign was high above us the whole time and we didn’t even know it. When we face hardships in this world, God is above us and over everything in this world. Hold up the In God’s Hands Page.

 

God is above all. That is a big word that means God is independent of, above, beyond, and superior to anything. He is supreme!


Optional: read Psalm 113:4–6:

 

4For the LORD is high above the nations; His glory is higher than the heavens. 5Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high? 6He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth.

 

The road to victory is along the road of love given to us by God. Just as He loves us, we are to love others as He did to overcome the evils of this world.  

 

Optional read:

Jesus said to His disciples in John 13:34–35:

 
34“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”

 

Now, it’s time for our Discipleship Challenge. Have you ever dressed in a particular way for a special occasion or event? In this challenge, you will learn how to spiritually dress as a conqueror—everyday!       

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application:

Give each child the appropriate Conqueror Page, children’s scissors, pencil, and glue stick or fast drying children’s glue to share. Display the model you made before class.

1. Have each child write their name on the blank line.

2. Have children carefully cut out the prayer image on the Armor of God Page and glue it on the marked spot on the Conqueror Page.

3. The remaining armor pieces on the Armor of God Page will be cut and assembled at home.

 

Use the model craft as you explain the challenge.


God is all powerful and He absolutely can work today like He did in the Bible to give victory to His people. However, He wants to work in us and through us to enable us to overcome and conquer! Nothing can defeat God, but this is no time to sit back and take it easy!  

 To empower us to be conquerors, God equips us with battle armor; not armor you can see—but invisible, spiritual armor! He will not dress us, we must choose to put it on! In this challenge, you will learn about each piece of armor He provides.


Optional: Let’s read about this invisible, spiritual armor found in Ephesians 6:13–18:

13Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

You glued an image on your Conqueror Page; what does it represent? Prayer, praying to God.

While on the earth, Jesus regularly took time away from the huge crowds and even His closest disciples, to spend time with His heavenly Father, God. Because of this, He never sinned and won every battle He faced. Prayer is a key part of being a conqueror, and each lesson’s challenge will begin with it; not only for yourselves, but for others!

Hold up the Conqueror Page and Armor of God Page. For each lesson, you will be challenged to pray, look up and learn verses, and glue the armor onto the Conqueror Page.    

Focus on the first two pieces now, and you will learn the other pieces of armor in later challenges. We will discuss the results of this challenge when we meet next time.