I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises
Conductor Carl promises Lionel that he can play his bongo at the train station, but Lionel has to learn to trust Conductor Carl to keep his promise.
Start Lesson
Large Group Instructions
Countdown from 10
Engage 1 Prep: Prior to the Engage, cut apart the cards for the Engage 1 Activity. Place them in a jar.
Engage 2 Prep: Magician’s rope is readily available online. You may be able to substitute any strong ½” cotton rope for the trick. For further visuals, look for online videos of the “Cut and Restored Rope Trick.” Prior to entering the stage, cut a small piece of rope. Make sure it’s small enough to fit inside your palm. Also prepare one full length of rope.
Rules
WelcomeMaterials: Overalls (2), Train Hat (2), Handkerchief (2), Paper Crown (6-8)
Host and Co-Host enter dressed in overalls.
Host
Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! I’m so glad that you came to visit.
Co-Host
Would you like to begin today with a fun game? For this game we need two teams.
Choose two teams of 3 or 4 kids each. In the case of smaller classrooms, consider using all of the kids to play the game.
Host
In this game, we’ll pretend to be kings and queens. What do kings and queens wear on their heads? A baseball cap? A pillow? (Pause) Yes, of course, they wear crowns. In this game, you’ll run to the other side, pick up a crown, put it on your head and run back to your team. Only one person from each team runs at a time (To audience) Help me cheer them on!
Play the game. The Host and Co-Host should each help a team by directing them and helping each kid to wait their turn. It’s not necessary to make the game hypercompetitive at this age. Simply aim to have both teams finish.
Co-Host
Look at all of these kings and queens. Let’s wave at our friends like royal people.
(Wave at the crowd and dismiss the kids) Did you know that today we’re going to learn about someone who God promised to make a king?
Host
His story is very interesting. Be sure to listen closely but first, let’s all say, “Choo-choo!”
Engage 1Materials: Overalls (2), Train Hat (2), Handkerchief (2), Jar, Engage 1 Activity
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Lionel seems worried that Conductor Carl forgot about him. Wait, does he know what Conductor Carl said to Farmer Faith? I don’t think that he does.
Host
I think Lionel can trust Conductor Carl to do what he said he would do. That reminds me of what we learned about God in our Big Point. Let’s practice the Big Point again,
Host
I will Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!
Co-Host
A promise is when you tell someone that you will do something. Sometimes you do it right away, and sometimes you do it later.
Host
Let’s play a promise game. (Co-Host) and I will choose papers out of this jar. Each paper has a promise on it. Each time we read one, we will do what it says.
Read the promises one by one and act them out with the kids. Do as many as time allows. You can also use other adult or teen volunteers to read the promises.
Feel free to add other ideas specific to your classroom such as “sharing a treat with everyone.”
Promises:
I promise to give one Jr. Conductor a high-five.
I promise to shake hands with a Jr. Conductor.
I promise to give a sticker to a friend.
I promise to give a fist bump to a Jr. Conductor.
I promise to smile at the Jr. Conductors.
I promise to play a game with everyone. (Play something simple like “Simon Says” or “Follow the Leader”)
Co-Host
Did we do everything that we promised to do? (Pause) Yes! That means we kept our promises.
Host
Do you know where we find God’s promises? In the Bible. God always keeps His promises. He’s never forgotten anything He said He would do.
Co-Host
If God says that He will do something, we can be sure God will do it.
Host
That’s why it’s good to praise God and thank Him for always keeping His promises to us. Let’s see if Lionel will trust Conductor Carl to keep his promise.
Engage 2Materials: Overalls (2), Train Hat (2), Handkerchief (2), Magician’s Rope, Scissors
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Do you think it was a good idea for Lionel to play his drum in the middle of the Train Station?
Host
I agree. It’s better for him to wait. Sometimes we have to wait for God to do what He promised, but He always will. That’s why we can follow the Big Point,
Host
I will Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!
Co-Host
Engineer Courtney shared a verse from the Bible with Lionel.
Co-Host
Psalm 145:13 (NIrV) says, “The Lord will keep all His promises.”
Host
When someone makes a promise, and we have to wait, sometimes you might get worried they won’t do it. Let’s cross our arms and pretend to wait.
Co-Host
Do you like to wait, Jr. Conductors? It can be hard.
Host
See this rope? (Pull the rope apart to show it’s a single rope) It’s like a promise. Sometimes people worry that when they’re waiting, it means that God has broken His promise. (Cut the rope)
Start the trick by folding the rope in half and place the folded end in your palm. Pull the small piece of rope up from your palm so that it seems like it’s the folded end of the rope. Then cut the small piece of rope. It appears that you’ve cut the long rope, but in reality, it’s still intact.
Host
That’s not true. No matter how long it takes, we can be sure that God never forgets a promise. (Slide your hand down the rope. As you do, hide the small rope in your palm again and present the intact piece of rope)
Co-Host
Isn’t it great that God never forgets a promise? He’ll always do what He says He will do. That’s a great reason to worship God. Let’s stand and praise God now.
Big Story
Play optional soft instrumental music
Jr. Conductors, let’s all practice telling God, “Thank You” in our prayers. Quietly pray and talk to God at your seat. Tell Him, “Thank You” for all of the good things He has done for you. (Allow the kids to pray) I’ll pray for all of us. Dear God, thank You for always keeping Your promises. We praise You because You always do what You say You will do. We love You, Amen.
Engage 3Materials: Overalls (2), Train Hat (2), Handkerchief (2), Balance Pods (2-3)
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Lionel enjoyed playing at the music show. I’m glad that he waited for Conductor Carl to keep his promise.
Host
Conductor Carl didn’t let Lionel down, just like God doesn’t forget His promises. Let’s all practice our Big Point again,
Host
I will Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!
Co-Host
David made a wise choice when he believed God and waited to become the king. David’s patience showed he trusted God, and just like He always does, God kept His promise to David.
Host
You can tell your family about King David when you do the Big Do this week.
Host
Play “King of the Couch” with your family. See if you can knock everyone else off the couch and be the king. Then tell your family how David waited for God to make him king. Be careful; you don’t want to hurt your mommy or daddy.
Co-Host
Let’s play a fun game to see if we can balance on these pods, like you’ll have to do when you play the Big Do game with your family. But instead, let’s work together. Each Jr. Conductor will stand on one pod but hold hands with someone not standing on a pod. Let’s see if they can stand for ten seconds. We can count for them.
Pick 2 or 3 kids to play. Have other kids or volunteers help them keep their balance in the game. Help the audience count to 10 as they play.
Host
Great job! Let’s say our Big Point once more,
Host
I will Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!
Big Review
Did our Big Point say I will Praise God Because He Forgets His Promises or I will Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises?
Let’s pretend to play a drum with our hands. Now pretend to play it with your feet. Who promised Lionel that he could play his drum at the Train Station? Conductor Carl Did he keep his promise to Lionel? Yes
I’m going to point to all of you. (Only point at one or two) Did I point at some of you or all of you? (Pause) Right, only some of you. (Point at everyone) Did I point at all of you? Yes! Psalm 145:13 (NIrV), “The Lord will keep (some / all) His promises.” (If you have a very large group, you can say you’ll point at 10 and only point at 2, or something like this)
Can you show me what it looks like to wait? (Pause) Who waited to become king in our story? David Who promised David that he would be king? God Did David trust God to keep His promise? Yes Why can we wait with a happy heart for God’s promises?
What did Conductor Carl tell us to do in the Big Do? Play “King of the Couch” with your family and talk about how David waited to become king
Clean Up
