Large Group Instructions
Host and Co-Host enter dressed in overalls.
Host
Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! I hope you are ready for a fun day with Conductor Carl and his friends.
Co-Host stands on his/her tiptoes.
Host
Why are you standing on your tiptoes?
Co-Host
I’m trying to look taller. Engineer Earl was bragging about how special he is because he made himself tall. Jr. Conductors, can you tell which one of us is taller?
Stand next to the Host. Stand on your tiptoes, raise your arms, do whatever you can to seem taller.
Co-Host
I hope I’m the tallest. Jr. Conductors, why don’t you stand up and make yourself as tall as you can be.
Encourage the kids to raise their arms and stand up as tall as possible.
Host
You can sit on your pockets, Jr. Conductors. Being tall isn’t something to brag about because you can’t make yourself tall.
Co-Host
You can’t?
Host
Nope, each of us grows differently, which is just fine. Engineer Earl is wrong. Instead of bragging, he should thank God for helping him to grow up to be who he is.
Co-Host
That makes me feel a lot better. I wish I knew how to be better at thanking God.
Host
I have good news. We’re going to learn all about that today when we discover our Big Point. Be sure to listen closely. It's time to give us a big, “Choo-choo!”
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Mia did so well at her recital. Jr. Conductors, can you pretend to play a violin, like Mia?
Pretend to play an instrument.
Host
She did do a good job, but did she forget to do something? (Pause) Yes, she forgot to thank God. That’s what our Big Point reminds us to do. Let’s practice the Big Point again,
Host
I Will Praise God!
Co-Host
But doesn’t that mean just singing a song to God? Jr. Conductors, let’s sing one of our songs about God with lots of energy.
Play a portion of a praise song your group knows well.
Host
Singing is a great way to praise God, but singing isn’t the only way to praise, and not every song is a praise song.
Co-Host
Really?
Host
Let’s sing another song. Jr. Conductors, stand up and sing a fun song you may sing at school, “Bingo.”
Sing the song with the kids.
Host
Did that song praise God?
Co-Host
I don’t think so. Did you hear any words about God? (Pause) No, it was just a silly song about a dog.
Host
Singing only praises God when we talk to God and thank Him for His help.
Co-Host
It helps to know that we can praise God anytime when we talk to Him and tell Him, “Thank You.” We can praise Him when we sing or pray.
Host
The Bible can help us praise God. There’s a whole book of songs that talk about God. It’s called the book of Psalms. A king wrote most of the songs. Let’s see if Mia can learn to praise God.
For this Engage, your heart prop could be a heart-shaped paper cutout, pillow, balloon, etc. Any of these would work well.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Pirate Pete was really funny. Jr. Conductors, can you say, “Argh!” like a pirate?
Host
He and his friend, Polly the parrot, helped Mia learn today’s Big Point. Let’s say the Big Point again,
Host
I Will Praise God!
Co-Host
Pirate Pete shared a helpful verse from the Bible.
Co-Host
Psalm 9:1 (NIrV) says, “Lord, I will give thanks to You with all my heart.”
Host
That verse comes from the book of songs in the Bible, Psalms. A man named David wrote that verse. He loved to praise God.
Co-Host
What does it mean to give thanks with all my heart? Does it mean I have to give God my heart? Let’s pretend to throw our hearts. I need a friend to help me.
Choose a child to volunteer. Hold up the heart. Toss it back and forth several times to the child.
Co-Host
That was a fun game, but I don’t think I can give God my heart. I still need it. Can you place your hand over your heart, Jr. Conductors, and feel it bump?
Host
When we say that we give thanks with all our hearts, it doesn’t mean that we give God this heart that goes, “Bump, bump.” The heart the verse is talking about is the invisible part of us where we make choices and think about God. We don’t want any part of us to say, “No” to praising Jesus.
Co-Host
We can praise God with all of our energy, too. That would be a great idea now. Let’s stand and worship God with our whole hearts!
Play optional soft instrumental music.
Jr. Conductors, praying is a great way to tell God how thankful you are for all He does for you. Close your eyes and think about one thing that God has done to help you. (Pause) Quietly pray and tell God, “Thank You” for His help. (Pause) Good job, now I’ll pray for all of us. (Pray)
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
I’m so glad Mia learned to praise God and thank God for His help.
Host
She followed the Big Point. Let’s all practice our Big Point again,
Host
I Will Praise God!
Co-Host
That’s what David did! He praised God after he won the battle against the giant, Goliath. David knew that God helped him win, so David thanked God.
Host
You can tell your family about David fighting the giant when you do the Big Do this week.
Host
Sit with your family and read a Psalm from the Bible. Remember, a psalm is like a song. Talk about why it’s good to praise God.
Co-Host
Let’s see if we can work together to think of ten reasons why we can praise God. Do you think that we can think of that many? Let’s use some pictures to help us.
Show the pictures and help the kids think of a reason we can praise God based on each picture.
Heart: Jesus loves us.
Cross: Jesus came to save us. He paid for our sins on the cross.
Home: Jesus helps us have a place to live.
Family: Jesus gives us people who love us.
Food: Jesus gives us the things we need.
Bible: God gave us His Word, in the Bible, to teach us.
Church: God gives us friends we can worship Him with.
Brain: God helps us to learn new things and become wise.
Body: God helps us grow.
Earth: Jesus created the beautiful Earth for us.
Host
You did a good job thinking of reasons to praise Jesus. Let’s say our Big Point once more,
Host
I Will Praise God!
Did our Big Point say I Won’t Praise God or I Will Praise God?
Let’s pretend to be pirates. What does a pirate say? Argh! Let’s pretend to turn a boat by spinning the wheel. What did the Pirate at the Train Station have on his shoulder? A parrot What did Pirate Pete teach Mia? That worship means praising and thanking God
I’m going to say different parts of our body, and you point to it on yourself. (Point out different parts such as eyes, arms, elbows, ears, etc.) Psalm 9:1 (NIrV), “Lord, I will give thanks to You with all my (toes / heart).”
Use your hands to show me something small. Use your hands to show me something tall. Who was taller, David or Goliath? Goliath Did Goliath say kind words about God? No Who won the battle, David or Goliath? David Who did David praise after winning? God Can you think of one reason why we can praise God?
What did Conductor Carl tell us to do in the Big Do? Read a Psalm from the Bible and talk about why it’s important to praise God
