Discipline Is Good!

Big Story optional songs include:

• soft instrumental music

Host Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! I’m glad that you’re here visiting with us today.

Host Jr. Conductors, what kind of game do you think our friend is playing? (Pause) Maybe we should ask him/her. What are you practicing?

Co-Host I’m practicing my ninja training!

Host That sounds interesting. How do you do that?

 Co-Host In ninja training we run and jump over things, twist around other things, and even climb under things. It’s a lot of fun…except for today.

Host What happened?

Co-Host I kept running and jumping while my ninja teacher was talking. She made me sit quietly. That’s hard to do. Can you try it, Jr. Conductors? Let’s use this timer to see if you can sit without moving or talking until the timer finishes.

Host That wasn’t easy. Have you ever had to sit in a time out chair before, Jr. Conductors? It’s not fun, but it can actually help you. That’s what we’re going to discover today. If you think that you can learn something important in the Bible, say, “Choo-choo!"

Host and Co-Host enter.

Host Does Mia seem upset with Conductor Carl? Why?

Co-Host I didn’t know that Conductor Carl didn’t like Mia. I thought they were friends.

 Host They are friends.

Co-Host No, he put her in the timeout chair. I thought my ninja training teacher was my friend, but I don’t think she likes me anymore. She made me sit quietly.

Host Both you and Mia were disciplined. Discipline is when your mommy or daddy or teacher gives you a consequence for making a wrong choice. If you whine, you might not get to do something fun. That’s a consequence. That isn’t something bad, even though it does feel sad. Let’s practice our Big Point and find out what the Bible says.

Host Discipline Is Good! Co-Host No way! Discipline can’t be good.

Host It is good. When someone disciplines you, it means they love you.

Host What if your discipline is to not get dessert after dinner because you wouldn’t eat good food?

Co-Host (Shudders) That’s awful. Jr. Conductors, what’s your favorite dessert? (Pause) I wouldn’t want to miss out on eating that.

Host Your mommy or daddy loves you enough to teach you how important it is to eat good food for your tummy before eating something sweet.

Host What if your discipline is to sit in the timeout chair because you hit a friend?

Co-Host You couldn’t play. That would be terrible. Let’s pretend to wiggle like we’re stuck in a chair. I know that would mean your teacher did not like you.

Host That’s not true. Your teacher loves you enough to teach you it’s not kind to hit. Your teacher wants you to learn how to be a friend.

Host What if your discipline is to go to bed early because you were grumpy?

Co-Host Jr. Conductors, make a grumpy face. (Pause) I’m usually grumpy when I don’t get enough sleep. But I wouldn’t want to miss watching my favorite show on the tablet.

Host I know it’s not fun, but your grown up loves you enough to help you learn that we need lots of sleep to be healthy. Discipline is good because it is loving. Even God disciplines us. He only does it because He loves us. Let’s see if Mia will stay in her timeout chair.

Host I’m glad that Engineer Kelly helped Mia learn that Conductor Carl isn’t being mean. I think she is starting to believe the Big Point. Let’s practice singing the Big Point,

Host Discipline Is Good!

Co-Host I wasn’t sure if I believed the Big Point at first, but then I heard the verse that she shared from the Bible. I know that the Bible is where we learn true things, so the Big Point must be true.

Co-Host The Big Verse says in Proverbs 19:20 (NIrV), “Listen to advice and accept correction.”

Host Accepting correction means that you’re okay with being disciplined. That’s what wise people do.

Co-Host Why are wise people okay with discipline?

Host Do you like your ninja training?

Co-Host Yes, it’s fun! But it is hard sometimes. I have to practice over and over and over again.

Host Does your ninja teacher tell you when you make a mistake?

Co-Host Yep, she tells me how to do it better the next time. My ninja teacher says that she wants to help me become the best ninja warrior. (Pause) Wait a second! That’s why wise people are okay with discipline. It’s helps you do better.

Host That’s right!

Co-Host I have an idea. Let’s practice running through my ninja training course. It’s already set up. I’ll choose some friends to help run through it with me.

Co-Host I liked helping my friends. Let’s clap for them. They listened and did an even better job the second time.

Host They sure did. Wise people don’t mind being disciplined because it helps them get better. God helps us become our best with discipline, too. That’s a reason to worship Him now. Let’s stand and do that.

Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. Whenever we do something wrong, it’s a wise choice to tell someone, “I’m sorry.” We can also tell God we’re sorry. God loves us and will always forgive us. Think of a wrong choice you made this week, like saying a mean word or hitting someone. Now tell God, “I’m sorry.” (Pause) That’s a wise choice. Let’s tell God, “Thank You” for teaching us to be wise. Everyone, say, “Thank You, Jesus.” I’m thankful we can all learn to do the wise thing.

Host I’m so glad that Mia learned our Big Point. She sat in the timeout chair the whole time and learned to make a better choice. We can do the same thing. Let’s practice our Big Point again,

Host Discipline Is Good!

Co-Host King David made a wise choice, too, when he listened to God’s helper, Nathan. He told the truth and learned from his consequences.

Host We all learn when we listen to wise people. It’s okay if someone explains how to do something better. They’re being kind by helping us.

Co-Host We can practice that with our Big Do. Conductor Carl gave us a great idea.

Co-Host The Big Do is to have everyone in your family try something new. Then show it to another person and ask them to help you do it better.

Host There are lots of fun new things to try, like learning to tie your shoes, reading books, or even helping around your house. That’s what we’re going to try now. Let’s have some friends help us mop/vacuum here at the Train Station. That’s something you could try at home. Everyone else can stand up and pretend to mop/vacuum with them.

Co-Host They did a good job, and they listened to your help. That was wise.

Host I know that all of our friends will make wise choices when they listen to the Big Point. Let’s say it again.

Host Discipline Is Good!

• Did our Big Point say Discipline Is Bad or Discipline Is Good?

• Stand up and run in place. Reach out and pretend to tag someone. Shout, “Tag, you’re it!” Who was playing tag in the Train Station today? Mia Did she get in trouble for it? Yes Was she mad at Conductor Carl at first? Yes

• Let’s pretend to be an important king. What should a king wear on his head? Crown Can you wave like an important king? What was the name of the king in our Big Story? David Did he make a wise choice or a wrong choice? Wrong

• Can you sit completely still while I count to ten? Don’t move a muscle. (Count to ten) Did Mia sit in her timeout chair the whole time? Yes Did Mia learn that Conductor Carl still loves her even though she was punished? Yes

• Do your parents and teachers love you, even when they correct you? Yes Is it wise to obey right away when you’re being corrected? Yes Give me a “thumbs up” if you’re going to choose to accept correction this week.

• What does our Big Verse say? Proverbs 19:20 (NIrV), “______ to advice and accept correction.”

  • Listen
  • Don’t Listen