Leader Guide
Object Lesson
- Three Joy Pages
- Three Adversity Pages
- Three Patience Pages
- Cardstock: nine sheets
- Cellophane tape
- Scissors
- Three boxes of the same size, each large enough to attach an 8.5x11 inch sheet
- Table
- Whiteboard and marker, or chalkboard and chalk
- Bible or the Superbook Bible App
Write the SuperTruth on the board if it isn’t already there.
Make one copy each of the Joy, Adversity and Patience Pages (total of nine sheets) on cardstock.
Carefully cut approximately 2–3 inches from each side of the Joy Pages to make them smaller.
Note: Do not cut the “Adversity” or “Patience” Pages. They remain the original size.
On the front of each box tape one “Adversity” Page with the words visible.
Tape one “Joy” Page on the back of each box (the opposite side of the Adversity Page).
Tape the “Patience” Pages on the boxes as described: Carefully position the “PAT” page over the “J,” so it completely covers it. Tape the PAT page to the box, making sure no tape sticks to the “J.” The “J” should not be visible. Important: use only enough tape (small strip on two sides—not all four sides) to hold the page in place, but so the page can be easily removed in the last step of the presentation.
Position and tape the “IEN” page over the “O” as described above.
Position and tape the “CE” page over the “Y” as described above.
When your preparation is finished, only the “Patience” letters will be visible.
During the presentation, be careful not to show the “Patience” pages to the children until instructed to in the presentation. The boxes will be stacked one at a time in order 3–1 from bottom to top during the presentation (see the numbers on the “Patience” pages). Place the boxes on the floor behind the table to begin and stand behind the table as you present.
Have you ever been in a situation that tried or tested your patience? If so, please share it. Waiting in a long line at a ride at an amusement park; sitting on the bench waiting to play in a game; waiting for a person to arrive who is late; waiting for something I really want to buy; etc.
As an adult, two things that can really test my patience are sitting in traffic or standing in a long line at the store, waiting to purchase my items. Personalize as desired.
The word develop doesn’t have the same meaning as immediate. The difference is that development is a process over time. It isn’t instant and doesn’t happen immediately.
We may pray for patience and expect God to just drop it on us or inject it in us so that, all of a sudden, we become patient. The SuperTruth reminds us that it doesn’t happen that way. Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “Troubles and trials develop patience in me.”
Place Box #1 on the table with Trials and Troubles Page visible. Instead, we may experience troubles and trials in our life. A trial is another way of saying a test. Notice how the troubles and trials are not all the same size. This represents how we will all encounter small and large troubles and trials. Each one is different.
Jesus said in John 16:33 that in this world, we will not only have a few trials, but many!
Place Box #2 beside Box #1, place Box #3 beside Box #2. You should now have 3 boxes in a horizontal line on the table with only the Trials and Troubles pages visible.
That’s a lot of trouble isn’t it!
The exciting part is that God uses these things for our good to grow patience in us. Let’s say that on the playground or in physical education class, you are always the first player chosen on a team or the first to get the ball. In these examples, can patience develop in you; why or why not? No, you never need to wait; and you get used to always getting what you want quickly.
Now, let’s see the exciting part.
Turn Box #3 around so “CE’ is visible to the children. Look perplexed. Hmmm, that doesn’t seem very exciting, does it?
Place Box #2 on top of Box #3 and rotate it to display “IEN.”
Hmm, that’s a little better, but what is IENCE? Does anyone have a guess what this is? Children respond.
Place Box #1 on top of Box #2 and rotate it around to display “PAT” and complete PATIENCE.
AHHHH, now I see it; can you shout it aloud together? PATIENCE!
Each time more troubles and trials are added, patience has a chance to develop. If we never experience times of waiting and trusting in God, we will never develop patience. When troubles seem to come, one on top of the other, we can learn to trust Him in a much greater way.
We still aren’t done yet—there’s more! Carefully remove the three “Patience” pages to reveal “Joy.”
Isn’t that amazing? Today’s SuperVerse says that when troubles come our way, consider it an opportunity for great joy! As we trust in Jesus, difficult circumstances not only develop patience, they also are an opportunity for great joy!