Leader Guide
SuperVerse
- Whiteboard and marker or chalkboard and chalk
- Eraser
- Bibles or the Superbook Bible App
Write the SuperVerse on the top of the board. James 1:2-3:
Write the jumbled version of the verse in four sections near the bottom of the board as shown:
Kind, come, troubles, of when way, your any,
Joy, for opportunity, an, great, it consider
Is, your, for, tested, that, you, know, when faith
To, chance, grow, your, a, endurance has
What good can possibly come of troubles—not much, right? Not according to today’s SuperVerse!
This verse challenges us to view troubles in an entirely different way. According to James 1:2–3, what do troubles give us an opportunity to experience? Great joy!
Point
to the top of the board. Let’s say James 1:2–3 together:
When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
What has a chance to grow when our faith is tested? Our endurance.
Who was paying attention to the teaching and can say what endurance is? Children respond.
The dictionary defines endurance as the ability to withstand hardship or adversity, especially the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity.
Paul and the other believers certainly had their faith tested! They withstood hardship, adversity, stress, physical suffering, persecution, and even death in many cases! Paul’s faith stood firm even when he was beaten and thrown into prison.
As our faith is tested, we can praise God for developing endurance and patience inside us. As we do this, our faith will grow stronger; and we will experience joy even in the midst of adversity.
Point to the verses near the top of the board. Let’s say today’s SuperVerse together one more time. James 1:2–3:
Erase the correct version of the verse from the board. You will unscramble one line at a time from the jumbled words. Raise your hands to tell me the first, second, third word, etc. until the line is correct. Then, we will move to the second line, and so on. I will write the correct words in order next to the jumbled line as you answer.
Once all lines are corrected, say the SuperVerse together again.
Conclusion: When this was jumbled up, it represented how we may feel inside when facing trouble or stressful situations. You corrected the confusion and restored order. When we trust in God during tough times of testing, He will work on our behalf and we can experience peace and joy as we wait on Him. In the process, our endurance grows and our patience can increase.
If children cannot memorize the SuperVerse, be sure they understand its meaning. Remind them to keep working on the verse at home.