Large Group Instructions
Engage 3 calls for slush powder which can be purchased online.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! I’m so glad that you came to visit us. Today is exciting because we are getting very close to Christmas.
Co-Host Have any of you put a Christmas tree up in your house? What colors are on your tree? (Pause) Those must look very nice. The Train Station is getting ready for Christmas, too. Let’s pretend to hang ornaments on the Christmas tree. What color are your ornaments? What shape is it? Let’s reach up really high to hang the ornament. It looks so nice.
Host Conductor Carl is on his way back with a load of Christmas trees to put up all around the Train Station. I can’t wait to see all of the lights sparkle. Let’s use our fingers to pretend we are blinking lights. If you’re ready to have a fun, Christmas-y day, then give me a loud “Choo-choo!”
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host Why is Lionel worried? (Pause) Yes, he thinks that Conductor Carl forgot his promise to take him to the train toy store.
Co-Host Have you ever worried that someone forgot a promise they made to you? (Allow for answers) That can make us feel sad, especially at Christmas.
Host Since it’s Christmas time, I think it would be fun to pretend to go somewhere snowy. Why don’t I take you and the Jr. Conductors there with me!
(Host walks off the stage and return with some items. Don’t say anything to the kids. Walk offstage again. Return and arrange some things.)
Co-Host Wait, aren’t you going to take us? I think our friend forgot about us. I’m feeling extra nervous.
Host You are wondering if I forgot my promise. Sometimes we have to wait patiently for a promise. God has made many promises, and not all of them happen right away. We can be sure that our Big Point is true. Let’s stand and practice today’s Big Point.
Practice the Big Point.
Host Don’t worry; I didn’t forget. Let’s pretend to have fun in the snow. To find snow, should we travel to the beach or to a tall mountain? Yes, the mountain. Let’s put on a warm coat. We should build a snow man. Pretend to roll a big ball of snow. What should we use to make the eyes? What about the nose? I think we need to throw snowballs.
The Host and Co-Host throw the fake snowballs back and forth.
Co-Host That was fun. Thank you for not forgetting your promise. I’m glad that God doesn’t forget His promises.
Host Me too. Let’s sit on our pockets and see if Lionel can wait patiently, too.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host Thank you for showing our friend, Lionel, how to wait patiently for Conductor Carl.
Co-Host Is it hard to wait for something fun? I have a hard time waiting for Christmas morning. Is it hard for you to wait to open presents?
Host Thankfully we can patiently wait for God’s promises because we know our Big Point is true. Let’s stand and say our Big Point.
Host God Keeps His Promises!
Co-Host Let’s read today’s Big Verse. It’s found in
Co-Host 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIrV), “God has made a great many promises. They are all ‘Yes’ because of what Christ has done.”
Host Let’s think of some things that God promised to do and see if Jesus kept that promise. Everyone, stand up. If the answer to my question is a “yes,” I want everyone to make a “Y” with your arms like this (Show the kids how to make a “Y”), jump and shout, “Yes!”
(Host and Co-Host read the following statements.)
• God promised to fix the wrong choices we had made. Did Jesus make a way for us to become God’s friends? Yes!
• God promised that we could live forever with Him. Did Jesus make a way for us to live forever with God? Yes!
• God promised that we could be healed when we are sick. Did Jesus make people who were sick better? Yes!
• God promised that we could have the Holy Spirit inside of us to help us make wise choices. Did Jesus send the Holy Spirit to be our helper? Yes!
Host Great job! Look at all of the promises that God kept. That reminds us that we can trust God to keep every promise He makes.
Co-Host Christmas brings great joy because it reminds us that Jesus came to keep promises. Let’s stand and sing a song to Jesus.
Jr. Conductors, I think we should thank God for the gift of Christmas. Take a moment to quietly pray and tell God, “Thank You” for keeping His promise to send Jesus and for keeping all of His promises. (Pause) Now I’ll pray and talk to Jesus. (Pray)
Before Engage 3, place the slush powder into the cup. The slush powder can be purchased online.
Host Did Conductor Carl remember to take Lionel to the train toy store? He did remember.
Co-Host Did you like the train that Lionel picked out? What color was the train? Conductor Carl waited for the perfect time to keep His promise to Lionel. God waited for the perfect time to keep His promise to us, too.
Host Jesus came at just the right time to help us. Let’s say our Big Point again.
Host God Keeps His Promises! God’s promises are amazing, so amazing that you might think it’s impossible for that promise to come true. I need a volunteer to help me. (Choose a child) Let’s pour the water into this cup.
Co-Host Wait, don’t do that! What will happen if (Host) turns this cup of water over while it’s over his/her head? Yes, our friend will get wet.
Host I’m going to make a promise to you. I promise our friend won’t get you wet. Are you ready? Let’s all count down from three. 3…2…1!
Turn the cup over. Nothing comes out. The slush powder turned the water into a gel.
Co-Host Is my friend wet or dry? Dry. What you said came true. Our friend didn’t get splashed with water.
Host I kept my promise even though it seemed impossible. God will keep His promise, too. Nothing can stop God from doing what He promises to do.
Co-Host I’m glad that we serve a God who never lies. Christmas really does bring us great joy. Don’t forget our Big Point! Let’s say it together.
Co-Host God Keeps His Promises!
- Let’s Practice our Big Point again.
Hmm, did our Big Point say God Keeps His Promises or God Forgets His Promises? God Keeps His Promises
Let’s pretend to be choo-choo trains. Everyone, stand up. Let’s pretend to go “Chugga, chugga, choo-choo” in a circle. Who did Conductor Carl promise to take to the store? Lionel What did they have at the store? Toy Trains
Let’s see how high in the air we can jump. On the count of three, jump. 1…2…3! Now, jump like a bunny rabbit. Who jumped for joy in our Big Story? The baby, John Why did John jump for joy? God had kept His promise by sending Jesus
Has anyone ever promised to take you somewhere fun? Where did you go? Did you have to wait a long time to go? Did God wait a long time before He sent Jesus? Yes Why did God wait so long? He had to make sure everything was just right
What is your favorite toy? Tell me what it looks like. Did Conductor Carl forget or remember to take Lionel to the toy train store? Remembered Can we trust God to always remember His promises? Yes
Shake your head, “No,” as silly as you can. Shake your head, “Yes,” as silly as you can shake it. What does our Big Verse say? 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIrV), “God has made a great many promises. They are all ‘_____’ because of what Christ has done.” a. Yes
b. No