No Gift Is Too Small!

Host (VFX: Title Slide) Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! Can you use your fingers to show me what small looks like? Can you use your arms to show me what big looks like?

Co-Host Is an elephant big or small? Elephants are very big. Let’s hold our arms beside our face so we can pretend to have an elephant’s trunk. Let’s try another one. Is a ladybug big or small? It’s small. Use your hands to pretend that you have tiny wings.

Host Is a whale big or small? It’s very big. Let’s let a big breath out like whales do when they swim to the top of the ocean. Is a baby kitten big or small? It’s small. Can you say “meow” with a tiny voice?

Co-Host Today, we’re going to learn that gifts of all sizes can please God. I think we should start the day by making a loud, “Choo-choo!”

Host Was Engineer Kelly’s present bigger or smaller than Conductor Carl’s present? It was smaller. Did Engineer Kelly think that her smaller present wasn’t as nice as Conductor Carl’s present? Yes, she did.

Co-Host Is that true? Let’s stand up and practice our Big Point from the Bible to find the answer.

Co-Host No Gift Is Too Small!

Host I want to show you something. What is it? That’s right; it’s a birthday cake. When do you eat birthday cake? When it’s someone’s birthday, or course.

Co-Host What song do you sing at a birthday party? You sing “Happy Birthday.” Let’s pretend it’s someone’s birthday. What should wear on our heads? Yes! We can wear party hats. Pretend to put one on your head. Let’s sing. (Sing Happy Birthday) Pretend to blow your party horn!

Host What do you give to the birthday boy or girl at a birthday party? Presents! Let’s pretend that I’m giving my friend a present. (Choose a child to help you) Here’s your present. (Give the child the small present) Can you open it?

Have the child open the present to reveal a gift inside. It could be a small toy or a piece of candy.

Co-Host What if I gave him/her this gift instead? (Turn the large gift bag upside down to show it’s empty) Here’s your present. Is there anything in the bag? No. It’s empty. Which was better: the larger one or the smaller one? Yes, the smaller gift was better because it had a gift inside.

(Dismiss the volunteer.)

Host Just because something is bigger doesn’t make it better. God likes it when we give our best, whether the gift is big or small. That’s why no gift is too small for God to use. Let’s see if Engineer Kelly discovers that this is true.

Host What did Engineer Kelly ask Professor Beaker to do? She wanted him to make her gift larger. Did his laser work? No, it didn’t.

Co-Host Engineer Kelly needs to remember our Big Point. Let’s stand and say it again.

Co-Host No Gift Is Too Small!

Host I like the verse that Conductor Carl shared with us today. The Big Verse is

Host 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIrV), “God loves a cheerful giver.” I have an idea for a game we can play together.

Co-Host Cheerful means happy. What does your face look like when you’re happy? I like smiling; do you? I’m going to make silly faces and silly noises. Your job is to look at me and try not to laugh or smile. I wonder who can go the longest without laughing or smiling. Do you think you can do it?

(Host and the Co-Host will act as silly as possible to get the kids to laugh. Then have them turn and try to get their friends to laugh.)

Host Isn’t it fun to laugh? God loves it when smile when we give. It doesn’t matter if the present is as tall as a mountain or a tiny as a mouse. What is most important is giving your best with a happy heart. Let’s stand and worship God with happy hearts.

Jr. Conductors, let’s ask God to help us have a happy heart when we give. He loves it when we are cheerful givers. Let’s use our Big Verse to help us. Repeat after me, “I will be a cheerful giver.” (Repeat) Great job! I will pray for all of us.

Host Did Engineer Kelly’s present help? It sure did. She picked out exactly what someone wanted for the Toy Drive.

Co-Host It didn’t matter that it was small. Her gift was a blessing. I think she learned our Big Point. Let’s say it together.

Co-Host No Gift Is Too Small!

Host The lady in the Big Story gave a small gift, but Jesus said that God was pleased with that gift because she gave her best.

Co-Host Do you think that God is pleased with your gifts, Jr. Conductors, when you give your best? (Pause) He sure is!

Host Let’s think of what we could give to help other people. Can you put on your thinking caps? Let’s do that now. Pull it down tight. Scrunch your face up like you’re thinking really hard. What could you give?

(Allow the kids to answer. If they struggle with coming up with ideas, give them some suggestions… bring money to give in the offering, bring a toy for the Toy Drive, share a snack with someone at school or home.)

Co-Host I think those are great ideas. You could also talk with your family about what everyone could give during the holidays. Do you know what holiday is coming soon? That’s right, Christmas! Let’s sing a short Christmas song to get ready to give.

(Sing a simple Christmas song that the kids know such as Jingle Bells or Joy to the World.)

Host Thanks again for visiting the Train Station. You were our big helpers today. Let’s say the Big Point one more time,

Host No Gift Is Too Small!

1. Let’s Practice our Big Point again. Hmm, did our Big Point say No Gift Is Too Small or No Gift Is Too Big?

2. Look at these two presents. Which present is the biggest? The red one Who had a bigger present, Conductor Carl or Engineer Kelly? Conductor Carl What was in Conductor Carl’s Present? Teddy Bear What was in Engineer Kelly’s present? Tiny Doll Was Engineer Kelly’s present just as helpful as Conductor Carl’s present? Yes

3. Let’s stand and pretend to carry a big, heavy bag of gold. Lift it up. Oh no, we’re wobbling to one side and wobbling to the other. Oh my, don’t drop it on your foot. Oops. Ow! Ow! You can sit down. What did the rich people give? Big bags of gold How many coins did the widow give? Two Who did Jesus say gave the most in the offering? Widow

4. What is the best gift someone has given to you? Those sound like nice gifts. Why did Jesus say that the widow’s two coins were a better gift than the bags of gold? She gave her best

5. Let’s pretend to pick out presents for our Christmas list. Which presents would you pick? Can you think of something that you could give this Christmas to someone else?

6. Let’s laugh with the biggest laugh we can make. What does our Big Verse say? 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIrV), “God loves a _______ giver.” a. Grumpy

b. Cheerful