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Videos

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Program Videos

Slides and Printables.zip

Slides and Printables

Rules Video

2 min Countdown

Countdown Video

The Big Do

5 min Countdown

Preschool Clean Up Song

Title Slide Steam Whistle

3 min Countdown

Engineer Kelly tries to guard a heart from Roberta the Robber.

Large Group

Suggested Music selections for this lesson include:
 - Optional soft instrumental music for Big Story

I’m glad that we can guard our heart with God’s armor. It protects us. God has already given His friends and followers the armor. All we have to do is use it. Let’s pray and thank God for giving us His armor to protect our hearts. Take a moment to bow your heads and close your eyes and tell God, “Thank You.” (Pause) I’ll pray for everyone. (Pray)


Countdown from 10

Rules

**Host** and **Co-Host** enter. The **Co-Host** is dressed for a soccer game. If you don’t have a soccer jersey, you can substitute an athletic t-shirt. 


**Host**
Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! What sport does our friend look like he/she is ready to play?

The **Co-Host** dribbles the soccer ball around the stage.

**Host**
That’s right, he/she looks ready to play a game of soccer. Have any of you ever played on a soccer team? What was your team’s name?

**Co-Host**
I love playing soccer. Do you know what position I play? I play goalie. Can you help me practice?

**Host**
Would you like to help our friend? Stand up. Pretend that you are dribbling a soccer ball. That means that you kick it softly from foot to foot. (Demonstrate with the soccer ball) Keep dribbling down the field. Look, there’s the goalie!


**Co-Host**
Here I am. Kick the ball to the goal!

(The **Co-Host** lays down and doesn’t attempt to block any shots.)

**Host**
Wait a second. Did our friend do a good job as the goalie? No, the goalie has to block the soccer ball from going inside the goal. 

**Co-Host**
I must be confused about the game.

**Host**
Don’t worry; the Jr. Conductors will help you. I bet they will also help you learn today’s Big Point. Let’s keep things going with a big, “Choo-choo!” 


Welcome

Worship


**Co-Host**
Roberta the Robber really wants that heart.

**Host**
Engineer Kelly is going to have to keep her eyes open to look for Roberta. Let’s open our eyes really big and look all around for Roberta. (Look around) Engineer Kelly reminded me of our Big Point. Let’s practice our Big Point again, 


**Host**
**Guard Your Heart!**

**Co-Host**
Does that mean we guard the heart inside of us that goes, “Bump, bump?” 
Hold your hands over you heart and make that sound. Bump, bump, bump, bump.

**Host**
No, our Big Point is talking about our invisible heart. Everyone has an invisible heart that helps us think, make choices, and connect with God.

**Co-Host**
That sounds important. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to my invisible heart.

**Host**
It’s very important because we all want to follow Jesus and be His friend. That’s why we have to guard our hearts, so we can keep them safe.

**Co-Host**
What do we protect it from? The flu? Everyone, say, “Achoo!”

**Host**
No, we protect it from our enemy. Satan does not like it when people become God’s friends. He doesn’t want our hearts to have good things, but God helps us guard our hearts. Let’s play a game of tag to show what our Big Point means. I have some friends who are coming up to play. (bring kid volunteers on stage) You (**Co-Host**) will try to get this heart I’m holding, but these Jr. Conductors (Indicate the ones on stage) will try to tag you before you grab it. If they tag you, you have to freeze.





Play the game, allowing the kids to tag and freeze the **Co-Host**. Tell him/her to unfreeze after a few seconds, and then allow the kids to tag him/her again. The heart could be a balloon, pool float, or even a piece of posterboard or foamboard.


**Co-Host**
They did a good job guarding the heart. They didn’t let me near it. I should try to guard my goal like that in the soccer game.

**Host**
We can guard our hearts, too, and not let our enemy near them. Jesus will help us be strong guards and protect them. Let’s see if Engineer Kelly can stop Roberta the Robber.


Engage 1

**Co-Host**
Roberta the Robber is very sneaky. Did you see her sneak and try to take the heart from Engineer Kelly?

**Host**
It almost worked, but thankfully you helped Engineer Kelly watch for Roberta. That’s what we do when we follow the Big Point. Let’s practice singing the Big Point again, 


**Host**
**Guard Your Heart!**

**Co-Host**
Conductor Gordon shared an interesting verse with Engineer Kelly. 



**Co-Host**
Ephesians 6:11 (NIrV) says, “Put on all of God’s armor.” What does that mean?

**Host**
That means you have to be ready to guard your heart by using all of the help that God gives you. Let’s think about your soccer game today. Do you have everything you need to be the goalie? Do you see anything he/she is missing, Jr. Conductors?

**Co-Host**
I think so.

**Co-Host** checks his/her socks, shoes, jersey, and notices his/her hands.

**Co-Host**
I don’t have my gloves. I need those to help me catch the ball.

**Host**
That’s right. (Hands the **Co-Host** the gloves) With these gloves you’ll have your full soccer uniform. Let’s see if you can use them to catch some soccer balls. I have some friends who will kick them to you. 



You may be able to borrow some goalie gloves, or you can substitute with baseball gloves. You can use regular soccer balls, but inflatable ones will help protect your room and keep everyone safe. Have some kids come up, kick the ball to the **Co-Host**, and have the **Co-Host** catch them.


**Co-Host**
These gloves helped. How do I put on all of God’s armor?

**Host**
God’s armor isn’t something we wear on our bodies. We put it on by using what 
God has already given to us. We use things like the truth in the Bible, the Holy Spirit, our faith in God, making wise choices, and more. These things help us guard our heart and keep it safe. Before we head to the Big Story Station and learn more about God’s armor, let’s stand and sing a song to God. 



Engage 2

Big Story Slides - gyh-jr-l1-big-story-slide-1.jpg

Big Story

**Co-Host**
Engineer Kelly guarded the heart and gave it safely back to Conductor Carl. Thank you for helping her.

**Host**
We can take care of our hearts, too, because God has given us His armor to protect us. Let’s all practice our Big Point again, 


**Host**
**Guard Your Heart!**

**Co-Host**
I like all the fun things we learned about God’s armor. It makes me feel like a brave knight, ready to fight the bad guys. Let’s pretend to swing our swords.

**Host**
We can tell our families about God’s armor when we do the Big Do this week. Conductor Carl gave us a fun idea. 


**Host**
Use a pool noodle as your sword and a pillow as your shield. See who can use the noodle to touch the other person’s leg first.

 
**Co-Host**
Let’s try that now. I’m going to play the game with a friend, and while I do, I need everyone else to stand up and pretend to play with us.


Choose a child to come up and play the game with the **Co-Host**. As you play, use extra caution to show the kids the safe and controlled way to play the game.


**Co-Host**
That was fun. When you come back next week, tell us who won when you played the game with your family.


**Host**
Be sure to use God’s armor to keep your invisible heart safe. Let’s say our Big 
Point once more. 



Engage 3

**Host**
 - Did our Big Point say Ignore Your Heart or **Guard Your Heart?**

 -  Let’s pretend to sneak quietly. (Tip toe in place) Look at a friend and softly say, “Shh.” Who tried to sneak and take the heart from Engineer Kelly? **Roberta the Robber** Did Engineer Kelly guard the heart? **Yes**

 - Let’s think of some different things a knight uses to keep himself safe. What does a knight wear on his head? **Helmet** What does a knight carry to fight? **Sword** What does a knight hold in front to block the sword? **Shield** Ephesians 6:11 (NIrV) says, “Put on ____ of God’s armor.”
     - **All**  
     - Some

 - Can you make a face that looks angry? Can you make it look angrier? Do we have an enemy who doesn’t want us to be friends with God? **Yes** Does God always beat that enemy? **Yes**

 - I wonder if any of the Jr. Conductors have big muscles. Can you show me your biggest muscles? Oh my! We learned about someone today who makes us strong. Who is it? **God** Can God help us guard our hearts? **Yes**

 - What did Conductor Carl tell us to do in the Big Do?


Big Review

Clean Up

Midweek / Classroom

Begin by splitting the kids into the desired number of small groups. Small Group Leaders take a few moments to welcome your group. 


Small Group Split

Suggested music for this lesson:
 - Soft instrumental music for Big Story

Leader enters dressed as a Train Conductor.

Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! We are going to have lots of fun today as we learn about our hearts. Can you put your hand on your heart? Now pat your heart while you say, “Bump bump, bump bump.” Good job! I can’t wait to find out what Conductor Carl and his friends are up to. Let’s all say, “Choo-choo!” 


Everyone, stand on your feet and worship Jesus!
 


Jr. Conductors, have you ever seen a knight in shining armor? A knight has an important job to protect a king or a queen. If something harmful comes to hurt the king or queen, the knight must stop it right away! Let’s pretend that you are knights and your small group leaders are kings and queens. I’m going to throw a beach ball at your small group leader, and it’s your job to protect him or her from getting hit. Can you do that? I will call you “Jr. Knights!” Here we go!


Softly toss the beach ball towards the small group leaders, one group at a time. Encourage the kids to help guard their small group leader. 


Wow! You were all very good, Jr. Knights, as you guarded your kings and queens. Today we get to learn about something even more important that it’s our job to guard. Everyone, turn your listening ears on, and let’s watch!
 

Icebreaker

Engineer Kelly needs to keep her eyes out for Roberta the Robber so she won’t get her heart. She needs to do what our Big Point says. Let’s practice it together,


**Guard Your Heart!**

The Big Point isn’t talking about guarding the heart inside of us that goes, 
“Bump bump.” It’s talking about the invisible part of us that connects us to God. That’s a very important part of us because we want to follow Jesus and be His friend. In your small group, you get to think of ways that our hearts connect to Jesus, and you will get a special snack. Turn around and listen to your small group leader! 


Pass out the fruit snacks and help the kids open the packages, if needed. Have everyone show you one gummy, and as a group think of ways that they can connect with God. For example, praying, worship, reading the Bible, going to church. Then talk about how if we don’t guard our heart, it can get hurt, and distract us from connecting with God. We always want to guard our hearts and stay close to God. 
   

It is so important that we protect our hearts, because they connect to God! I’m thankful we have a way to talk to and be with God. Let’s watch and see if Engineer Kelly does a good job guarding her heart! 


Roberta the Robber was being sneaky and trying to steal Engineer Kelly’s heart. I’m glad our Big Point is helping Engineer Kelly pay attention. Let’s sing it together again, 


Conductor Gordon helped Engineer Kelly by sharing a verse from the Bible with her. Ephesians 6:11 (NIrV) says, “Put on all of God’s armor.” God has given us many things to help us follow our Big Point. The truth in the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and making wise choices help us to guard our hearts and keep them safe. 


One piece of armor is a shield. (Pull out the shield and demonstrate how to use 
it) This is something soldiers use to protect themselves from things that would hurt them. The Bible says that when we believe in God and all of His promises, it’s called faith. And our faith is like a shield to keep us from getting hurt. In your small group you get to color a picture of a shield to help you remember to have faith in God!


Pass out the crayons and the activity sheets for the kids to color. 


God is so kind to give us all that we need to protect our hearts. Let’s go to the Big Story Station and find out more about God’s armor!


I’m glad we can guard our hearts with God’s armor. Look at your shield that you colored. I’m going to pray for you and ask God to help you guard your hearts by using His armor. Everyone, bow your heads and close your eyes. (Pray) 


Engineer Kelly followed the Big Point and guarded the heart. She gave it back 
to Conductor Carl, and he was so happy to get it back safely. God wants us to be safe, too. That’s why He has given us His wonderful armor to protect us. 


The fun Big Do for this week is to play with your family by using a pool noodle as a sword and a pillow as a shield. If you don’t have those, you could use a paper plate and a straw. Then see who can touch the other person’s leg first! Be sure to guard yourself with your shield, just like our Big Point says. Let’s say it one last time, 


Guard Your Heart Week 1

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Large Group Instructions

Large Group Instructions