I can Make Wise Choices

Suggested optional song for Engage 3: "High Five Song" by They Might Be Giants

Host Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! My name is Engineer (Host’s name) and this is my friend, Engineer (Co-Host’s name).

Co-Host Who!

Host Who? That’s you!

Co-Host Who!

Host Jr. Conductors, who am I talking about when I say Engineer (Co-Host’s name)? That’s right, you.

Co-Host Who!

Host I’m confused. Who are you asking about?

Co-Host I’m not asking, “Who?” I’m pretending to be a bird that says, “Who, who!” Do you know which animal says, “Who, who?” That’s right; it’s an owl.

Host Why are you pretending to be an owl?

Co-Host Owls in cartoons are always wise, and today we’re learning how to make wise choices with Conductor Carl and his friends. Everyone say, “Choo-choo!”

Host Do you think that Engineer Kelly should listen to Engineer Earl? No, I don’t think so either.

Co-Host She needs to make better choices.

Host Yep, it would help her to follow our Big Point. Wisdom is doing things God’s way.

Co-Host Doing things God’s way helps keep us away from big problems. Let’s practice our Big Point together.

Co-Host I Can Make Wise Choices!

Host To make wise choices, you need to know the difference between what is wise and what isn’t wise.

Co-Host Let’s act out some different choices and decide if they are wise or unwise.

Host You did a great job deciding what was wise and what was unwise. It’s important that you know what it looks like to be wise, so you can stay away from unwise choices.

Co-Host I sure hope Engineer Kelly learns how to do that. Making wise choices helps us enjoy all of the good things that God wants to do for us.

Host That’s why we all want to be wise. If you see Engineer Kelly making the wrong choice, be sure to let her know what we have discovered.

Host Engineer Kelly is not following our Big Point. I hope she listens to Conductor Carl. Let’s stand and say the Big Point again.

Host I Can Make Wise Choices!

Co-Host Conductor Carl shared a helpful verse from the Bible. Let’s read it. The Big Verse is found in

Co-Host Hebrews 2:18 (NIrV), “Now He is able to help others who are being tempted.”

Host Jesus can help us make a wise choice even when we’re tempted to do the wrong thing.

Co-Host What does it mean to be tempted?

Host I have an idea that will help us all understand it better. I have a friend who is going to help me.

Host Has your mommy or daddy ever told you to wait until after dinner to enjoy a cookie? Mine, too. But sometimes those cookies look so delicious that you want to eat one right away. Let’s pretend to stuff a cookie in our mouth like the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.

Co-Host When you want to disobey and eat a cookie before dinner, that is being tempted. Does Jesus tempt us? No, He never tempts us to make the wrong choice.

Host Our Big Verse says that Jesus helps us when we’re tempted. Sometimes Jesus helps us think of something else. Let’s pretend to jump rope instead of staring at the cookie jar.

Co-Host Other times Jesus uses a friend to remind us to make a wise choice. Let’s tell our friend, “Don’t eat the cookie!”

Host Jesus might get rid of the thing that is tempting us or help us walk away. Jesus wants us to make wise choices, and He will help us do it. Let’s stand and thank Jesus with a song.

Let’s take a moment to pray, using part of our Big Verse. I want you to repeat after me. “Jesus is able to help me.” (Repeat 2x) I’ll take that verse and turn it into a prayer.

Host Are you so glad that Engineer Kelly made a wise choice? Me too! She learned our Big Point. Let’s say it again.

Host I Can Make Wise Choices!

Co-Host Jesus was tempted by our enemy to make a wrong choice, but He never did. Jesus only made wise choices. He can help us do that, too.

Host Conductor Carl gave us a great idea for the Big Do. He said that we should give people a high five when we see them make a wise choice.

Co-Host The Jr. Conductors know how to spot wise choices. They learned how to do that today.

Host Then you guys can do the Big Do. When you see someone make a wise choice, give that person a high-five. Let’s do that, but in a really silly way. We'll give pretend high-fives. Get really close, but don’t actually touch. Also you can’t move from your spot. Only turn and give pretend high fives to the people near you.

Co-Host Practice giving a pretend high-five now. Get really close but don’t touch. Now, when you hear the song, stand up and give as many pretend high-fives as you can. Ready? Go!

Host Great job! Let’s practice our Big Point again before we sit down.

Host I Can Make Wise Choices!

1. Let’s Practice our Big Point again. Hmm, did our Big Point say I Can Make Wise Choices or I Can’t Make Wise Choices?

2. Let’s pretend to peel a banana. Which animal likes to eat bananas? Can you make a monkey sound? Who dropped a banana peel that made Conductor Carl fall? Engineer Kelly Did she make lots of unwise choices today? Yes

3. What is your favorite kind of sandwich? Pretend to take a bite. Who tempted Jesus to turn a rock into bread in the Big Story? Satan, our enemy Did Satan want Jesus to make unwise choices? Yes

4. Stand up and pretend to stand on a tall building. Look down. It’s really high up here. Keep good balance, so you don’t fall. Crash to your pockets. Did Satan tempt Jesus to jump off a tall building? Yes What did Jesus say to Satan? No Did Jesus only make wise choices? Yes What did Jesus tell Satan to do, stay or go away? Go away ?

5. Point to your ears. If I listen to my mommy and obey what she says, is that a wise choice? Yes Show me your fists. If I use those fists to hurt someone is that a wise choice? No Show me your tongue. If I use my mouth to say kind words, is that a wise choice? Yes

6. What is one way that you love to help your mommy or daddy? What does our Big Verse say? Hebrews 2:18 (NIrV), “Now He is able to _____ others who are being tempted.” a. Help

b. Ignore