Don't Fear, Jesus Is Just!

Host Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! I’m so glad that you came by for a visit. We want to have lots of fun today.

Co-Host That’s good because I like to have fun with my friends. Wait a second, are you all my friends?

Host Are we (Co-Host)’s friend? We are your friend. Let’s give him/her a thumbs up to let him/her know we are friends.

Co-Host Good, I’m glad I have so many friends. What are we going to do?

Host Let’s practice laughing. Everyone, say, “Ha!” Now say, “Ha, ha!” Let’s laugh really big and loud. Now laugh quietly, as quiet as a mouse. Laugh with the silliest laugh you can make. Turn to a friend and let out a huge giggle.

Co-Host Why are you laughing at me?! I thought we were all friends. This makes me so mad. I’m going to stomp off the stage.

Host Oh no, our friend though that we were laughing at him/her. Next time we see him/her we’ll be sure to tell them we weren’t being mean. Let’s start the day with a loud “Choo-choo”

Co-Host Everyone, say, “Shh, train!” It’s being too loud. I’m going to get back at (Host) for laughing at me by scaring him/her. Here he/she comes.

Co-Host hides. The Host enters. The Co-Host jumps out.

Co-Host Boo! I scared you. Now I got back at you.

Host Jr. Conductors, what that nice of our friend to scare me? No. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. We were laughing for fun. Getting back at me won’t make you feel better or please God. I’m sure you understand how Engineer Courtney feels right now. She wants to get even with Elmer by being mean to him. Is the right choice?

Co-Host It seemed like the right choice.

Host I have an activity that might help. Do you know what I am holding? (Pause) What shape is it? (Pause) Let’s trace the shape with our fingers. It’s called a punch balloon. I’m going to choose a Jr. Conductor to try to punch it. Our friend, (Co-Host), will try too.

Co-Host

That was hard to punch and when I hit it, it flopped back in face.

Host The punching balloon is different than a normal balloon. This comes back to you when you punch it. It reminds me that when we do something unkind to try to get back at someone, unkind things come back to us. Instead of just hurting the other person, our unkind choices hurt us, too. That’s why it’s better to trust Jesus to take care of unfair situations.

Co-Host You’re right. I’m sorry for trying to get back at you. I promise to make a different choice.

Host I forgive you. Let’s practice today’s Big Point.

Host Let’s find out if Engineer Courtney is going to get even with Elmer.

Host Let’s say our Big Point.

Host Don’t Fear, Jesus Is Just!

Co-Host What does the word “just” mean?

Host “Just” means that Jesus takes mixed up things and makes them right. Look at this puzzle. Is that a very good picture?

(Show the jumbled puzzle pieces. If your group is large, consider using a giant floor puzzle. You can either set it out on the floor and have the kids come up to look at the puzzle or attach pieces to a board with Velcro so it can be seen from the audience.)

Co-Host That puzzle is jumbled. Jr. Conductors, can you help us make this puzzle look right?

Co-Host I can see the picture now. Our world looks really mixed up sometimes because lots of people don’t follow the rules. Does Jesus want us to make wise choices?

Host He does. Let’s see if you can decide if someone is following the rules or breaking them in each picture.

You are playing Candyland with a friend and she decides to move her piece from the start all the way to the Candy Castle. Is that following the rules?

Someone at school takes away the toy that you were using. Is that following the rules?

You hear a friend use unkind words when talking to a teacher. Is that following the rules?

Co-Host When someone breaks the rules, it makes me angry.

Host Listen to today’s Big Verse.

Host Romans 12:19 (NIrV) says, “My dear friends, don’t try to get even.” We can trust that Jesus will help make things right even when people break the rules. It might not happen right away. It’s okay to talk to your mommy, daddy, or a teacher about it. Just don’t try to be mean back. We can trust Jesus to always do what is right. Let’s stand and sing a song to worship Jesus.

Jr. Conductors, close your eyes and think of a time someone was unfair to you. Now quietly tell Jesus about what happened. Go ahead and talk to Him. (Pause) Now ask Jesus to help you be kind to that person instead of being mean back. (Pause) Great job, friends. I’ll pray for all of us. (Pray)

Host I’m thankful that Engineer Kelly showed Elmer that he was making wrong choices. Engineer Courtney was happy to have her help.

Co-Host I’m glad that we have Jesus’ help, too. He is a good judge who loves us. Let’s say our Big Point again.

Co-Host Don’t Fear, Jesus Is Just! Do you think that Jesus can really see everything?

Host He sure can. Let’s play a game of “I Spy” to practice looking for things. I will “spy” something here at the Train Station and see if you can guess what I’m spying. When you think you know what it is, point at it.

(Play the game choosing different objects in the room. The Co-Host can add some silliness by spying the wrong things each time.)

Co-Host I just thought of something. That means Jesus sees when I make the wrong choice. Do you think He still likes me?

Host Even though Jesus sees everything, He still loves us. Jesus wants to help all of us make the best choices. One way that Jesus makes things right is by giving us a new heart, that’s the invisible part of us that connects to God, so that we want to obey God.

Co-Host I’m glad that Jesus is kind and helps us. Thanks for helping me at the Train Station today.

Host Don’t forget our Big Point! Let’s say it again together,

Host Don’t Fear, Jesus Is Just!

1. Let’s Practice our Big Point again. Did our Big Point say Don’t Fear, Jesus Is Unfair or Don’t Fear, Jesus Is Just? Don’t Fear, Jesus Is Just

2. What is your favorite game to play? Can you tell me how to play that game? Let’s all stand and pretend we are racing in a potato sack. (Pretend to race) Who raced in potato sacks in our story? Engineer Courtney and Elmer Why was Engineer Courtney upset? Elmer kept cheating

3. Do you read books with your family? What is your favorite book to read? What kind of book did Jesus have in our Big Story? The Book of Life Whose names are written in the big book? All Jesus’ Friends

4. Let’s pretend that we are sitting next to our best friend. What would you do with your friend? Would you hit them? Would you give them a hug? What else could you do? Does Jesus want us to be His friends? Yes

5. Let’s stand and play a game. When I say, “Green light!” march in place, but when I say, “Red light!” freeze like a statue. I’ll be the judge to decide if everyone freezes. (Play the game) Who was the judge at the Train Station’s Fall Festival? Engineer Kelly How did Engineer Kelly help? She punished Elmer for cheating

6. What do you say when someone breaks the rules? Do you feel angry? Show me how your face looks when you are mad. Oh my, what does Jesus want us to do when someone is unfair to us? Trust God instead of being mean to them Let’s see if we can remember our Big Verse. Romans 12:19 (NIrV), “My dear friends, don’t try to get ____.” Even