Puppets: Always Tell the Truth

Always Tell the Truth

Moe:  Hey boys and girls! How are you? Great! You ready for Bible time? Me too!

Mooster: Hey everybody! Have you seen Monkey Moe? It’s time for our lesson and ---- OH! There you are, Moe! Wow – you are here already? You are early today!

Moe: Yep. Amazing, isn’t it?

Mooster: It certainly is. How did you get here so early? I thought the school bus doesn’t let you off until just before Bible time.

Moe: Uh, well, I uh…walked today. Yeah. I walked.

Mooster: You walked. From school?

Moe: Well of course from school. Where did you think?

Mooster: Well, it’s just that it’s a long walk to your school and you aren’t even sweating.

Moe: Oh…uh….that’s because I have a new anti-perspirant.

Mooster: Really? What brand is it?

Moe: Uh…. Left Guard.

Mooster: Moe, there’s no such brand name as Left Guard. Did you mean Right Guard?

Moe: Oh – yeah – that was it. Sorry. I had a hard time reading it in the dark.

Mooster: Why were you using it in the dark?

Moe: Well because I had to get up so early for school.

Mooster: Why did you get up early? The bus doesn’t come until 7:30. How long does it take you to get ready?

Moe: Oh…uh…well….what I meant to say was that it seemed early because of the new curtains my mom got me. Yeah. They make my room really dark so it seems earlier in the morning than it really is.

Mooster: Uh huh. Okaaaay.  When did your mom buy the curtains? They weren’t up yesterday.

Moe: Um. She went out and got them last night.

Mooster: She went out just for curtains?

Moe: Yep.

Mooster: So what time DID you get out of bed today?

Moe: Um…I don’t know it’s hard to say. My alarm clock … um….fell in the fish bowl.

Mooster: Really? When did you get a fish?

Moe: Yesterday.

Mooster: I was at your house for dinner last night and you didn’t have a fish then.

Moe: Uh…we went to the store after you left and got one.

Mooster: I thought you said your mom only bought curtains.

Moe: Um…my dad and I went out to the store for the fish and fish bowl.

Mooster: Uh-huh. So let me see if I understand this correctly so far. You got up early but it wasn’t really early it just looked early because of the curtains that your mom ran out last night and bought, apparently after I left. You aren’t sure what time it was because the alarm clock fell in the fish bowl that you and your dad ran out and got last night after I left. So both your parents went to the same store, last night, but in separate cars?

Moe: Uh…yeah that’s odd, isn’t it. Oh well. So how was your day?

Mooster: Fine. So what did you study in school today?

Moe: Oh! Uh…let’s see….um….we um….studied…..math, and spelling, and history.

Mooster: What are your teacher’s names this year?

Moe: Uh. Mrs. Migillicuddy….Mr. Mackelroy…..and …. Miss Lounge.

Mooster: Who teaches what?

Moe: Um. Miss Migillicuddy teaches math and

Mooster: I thought it was Missus?

Moe: Huh? Oh yeah. Missus Migillicuddy teaches spelling and Mr. Mackelroy

Mooster: You said a minute ago that she taught math.

Moe: Oh…uh…she teaches math and spelling.

Mooster: You know what I think, Moe? I think you didn’t go to school at all today. I think you slept late and missed the bus. That’s why you got here so early and why you aren’t sweating. You only had to walk here from your tree house. You didn’t walk all the way from school. How am I doing?

Moe: Oh…….okay, okay……you caught me. I didn’t go to school today. I slept too late. It’s true. I missed my first day of school this year.

Mooster: Why did you lie to me about it? You know it’s not right to lie!

Moe: Well yeah, but it’s so embarrassing! How many people sleep through their first day of school?

Mooster: Well why were you so tired?

Moe: Oh…well….I ….uh….found a puppy last night – AFTER you went home – laying in our backyard. And he was sick. So I brought him inside and took care of him all night long.

Mooster: Moe, I happen to know you are allergic to dogs, so you couldn’t have done that without being a huge drippy, red, watery mess. What did you really do – stay up too late watching movies or playing video games?

Moe: Yes.

Mooster: Which one?

Moe: Both.

Mooster: Moe! What will your mom say when she finds out?

Moe: I wasn’t going to tell her.

Mooster: Moe, today’s Bible lesson is all about telling the truth.  Proverbs 6, verses 16-19, tell us that God hates lying! Listen to this: Prov 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Moe: Oh. Wow. I wasn’t trying to do something that God hates. I just didn’t want to admit what I had done.

Mooster: Moe, you should always tell the truth, no matter what.

Moe: Even when my Aunt Myrtle makes me the most hideous scarves for Christmas? Am I supposed to say, “Why, it’s lovely, Aunt Myrtle!” That would be a ginormous lie!

Mooster: Well you don’t have to lie, but you don’t have to hurt her feelings, either. You could say, “Oh thank you, Aunt Myrtle – this will keep me very warm this winter. And it will be special to me because you made it just for me!” See – that way you aren’t hurting her feelings but you aren’t lying, either.

Moe: Oh, yeah, I guess that is a better idea. Well what do I do about today?

Mooster: You have to tell your parents you didn’t go to school. And you need to ask God to forgive you for telling all these lies.

Moe: But I’ll be grounded for like a bazillion years. No more Banana Man Super Mario Games for weeks.

Mooster: Well, the Bible says we reap what we sow. If you sowed irresponsibility by staying up too late and playing games, then it’s only right for your parents to take them away for a while.

Moe: Yeah, I guess so…

Mooster: And tomorrow you have to go to school and tell your teachers what happened. And you might want to learn their real names and what classes they really teach, too!

Moe: I suppose you are right. Do you have a Bible verse that will help me remember to tell the truth this week?

Mooster: Sure do! This week’s memory verse is Proverbs 12:17  “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.” Remember kids – always tell the truth. Telling lies becomes confusing and it’s easy for people to see you are lying. Then no one wants to believe you, and that’s not a good thing.

Moe: Thanks Mooster. I’m sorry I lied to you, too. Thanks for being a friend and helping me see it’s better to tell the truth.

Mooster: You are welcome Moe! See you next time kids!

Moe: Bye!

Puppets: Singing Thru the Hard Times

Singing Thru the Hard Times

Mooster:  Good evening, kids! How are you? That’s great!

Monkey Moe: (from behind the curtains) Waaaaah! Oh woe is me!! Woe is me!!

Mooster: What on earth? Moe, is that you?

Monkey Moe:  (from behind the curtains) Waah! (sniffles loudly) yes.

Mooster: Moe, come on out here – what on earth is wrong with you?

Monkey Moe: (sniffling, pokes his head out) My whole world is collapsing! Everything is terrible!

Mooster: Monkey Moe, tell me what is wrong. It can’t be all THAT bad!

Monkey Moe: Yes it is. You have no idea! You can’t possibly understand. No one can. I’m the only monkey who has ever had troubles like this. (Starts singing, Nobody knows, the trouble I’ve seen….nobody knows my sorrow!)

Mooster. That’s not true, Moe. Jesus knows all about all of our troubles. But sometimes it helps to talk over our problems with another person. Tell me what is bothering you.

Monkey Moe: Oh it’s just too awful to tell! First off this morning, I got out of bed and stubbed my toe on the night table. Then I tripped on the rug and bumped my head on the door frame. By the time I finally got to the bathroom I looked like I had been hit by a truck. Then my favorite toothpaste was all used up. I had to call my mom for more toilet paper, there were no clean towels so I had to air dry and then I couldn’t do a thing with my hair.

Mooster: Is that it?

Monkey Moe: Oh no – there’s lots more where that came from, let me tell you. I can’t find my homework and the schoolbus was honking for me and I got on the bus and tripped going up the stairs and all the kids laughed at me. Even the busdriver. Then I get to school and I had to do math problems at the front of the class and I got them wrong. I felt so stupid. Then at lunch time I went to shake the ketchup bottle and it popped open and sprayed ketchup all over my new shirt!

Mooster: Oh, that’s terrible, Moe, but everyone has bad days and –

Monkey Moe: I’m not done! In gym class I couldn’t throw the ball very well and so I couldn’t get anyone out. But I got out lots of times. I’m so awkward. I’m a monkey, ya know? I’m supposed to be fast and limber and I’m not. It’s very embarrassing.

Mooster: Well Moe did your day get better when you got home?

Monkey Moe: Nope. Mom was mad about the ketchup stain so I had to scrub my own shirt clean. Can you imagine that? Treated me like a regular servant. Then, when I finished that, I went to get a cookie from the cookie jar and my baby brother had eaten them all. Then when I was riding my bike over here, I got a flat tire and I had to walk it the rest of the way. While I was walking, my shoelace broke and now my shoe is flopping all over the place.  Waaahhhhhh!! Sob..sniffle…I told you the world was ending!

Mooster: Okay, Moe, you sure have had a bad day. I completely understand why you are sad. But I want you to know that no matter how bad things are for you, God still loves you and He still has things in control.

Monkey Moe: Why did God let all those bad things happen to me today? I didn’t deserve it. I haven’t even been bad recently. I haven’t even eaten Mrs. Gooden’s bananas off her tree…even though they are ripe and she isn’t picking them yet and they’ll probably rot and fall off the tree….

Mooster: Moe, God doesn’t always allow bad things in our lives as punishment. Sometimes God is testing us.

Monkey Moe: Testing us? I’m not very good at tests in school. Why would God test me? Why does God test anybody?

Mooster: To help us grow and trust him more. Do you remember hearing about the apostle Paul?

Monkey Moe: Of course! He was the man God used to write a lot of the New Testament!

Mooster: That’s right, Moe. But he didn’t have an easy life. You think you had a bad day. Listen to this! Paul says in Second Corinthians that he had to work hard, was beaten often, left in prison many times, left for dead often, he was stoned, he was in three shipwrecks, spent a day and a night in the ocean, had to take long journeys on foot, had problems with robbers, had to run from people who wanted to kill him, had dangers in the wilderness, had times of hunger and times when he didn’t have enough clothing to keep him warm! Yet in all that, he knew God still loved him and cared for him.

MM: Wow….he went through a lot of hard times. I’ve never been really hungry. And I’ve certainly never been shipwrecked. Or left for dead. That would be awful!

Mooster: That’s the point, Moe – sometimes we get so caught up in our own troubles that we can’t see there are lots of people who have it worse than we do.

Moe: Yeah, I guess you’re right. There’s a kid in my class and his parents are getting a divorce. He’s really sad. Sometimes, when he doesn’t think anyone sees him, I see him crying. I feel bad for him.

Mooster: Yep, it is sad when folks divorce. It’s hard on the children. But God is there to comfort their hearts and give them strength if they know Him as their Saviour.

Moe: Yeah, but most of the time the parents don’t get back together. So the kids are still sad.

Mooster: That’s true. We can’t control what other people do, but we can trust God. Sometimes in other countries people are tortured and even killed just because they believe in Jesus. But God is their hope and strength.

Moe: That’s terrible! Why does God let people die for Him?

Mooster: Because many times when the unsaved people in a village or country see that people are willing to die for the Lord, they will be persuaded that what the Bible says is true, and many more will come to Christ. They know they wouldn’t die for their gods, so when they see someone is willing to die for Jesus Christ, they know Jesus must be the One True God.

Moe: Oh. That makes sense. Hey is that why sometimes God doesn’t heal people that are really sick? They stay sick for a long time…. and sometimes …they die. Is it so other people can hear about Jesus from them?

Mooster: That’s right! There are lots of people who have gotten saved because they worked in the hospital or a doctor’s office where a Christian was suffering and ill. The Christian was able to give their testimony to others. People could see that even through their great pain, they still had peace, and the unsaved people wanted that peace. So they got saved, too!

Moe: That’s cool. It just seems too bad that people have to suffer in order for other people to get saved.

Mooster: Well, not if we look at it from God’s eyes. God is going to be giving out crowns for rewards in heaven, and the Bible says those who died for the cause of Christ will receive special crowns. And they won’t be suffering in heaven. All pain and suffering and death here on earth is but for a short time – eternity is forever and there is NO suffering or death in heaven!

Moe: Well, I guess I should be thankful for what I have and not be so sad about when I have bad days.

Mooster: That’s true. You know what helps, sometimes?

Moe: What?

Mooster: Singing!

Moe: (Starts singing) Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream!..... I don’t feel any better yet.

Mooster: Not that kind of song, silly. The Bible says we are to speak to ourselves in songs and Bible verses, singing and praising God, and that will encourage us.

Moe: Oh. So singing songs that honor God will help me feel better?

Mooster: They sure will!

Moe: Well, I’m willing to try! Hey Mr. Songleader!!!

Songleader: Yes Moe?

Moe: Can you help me sing some songs that will help me feel better?

Songleader: Sure, Moe. How about Jesus Loves Me?

(everyone sings Jesus Loves Me)

Songleader: Now let’s sing “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart!”

(everyone sings that)

Moe: Hey – I do feel a little better. Thanks Mooster! I’m gonna walk my bike back home so my dad can fix it, and on the way home, I’m gonna sing some more songs about God!

Mooster: Good idea, Moe. Kids, when you feel down and discouraged and sad, try not to worry about what your problems are. I know it’s hard not to think about them, but if you start singing praises to God, it will help you feel better, even if you can’t change the problem. And remember to always talk to your mom or dad or other trusted adult when you have problems. They love you and will try and help you as much as they can!

Moe: Bye Mooster! Bye Kids!

Mooster: Bye Moe! Bye Kids! See you next time!

Puppets: Sharing

Sharing

Mooster: Hello everyone! Boy it sure is hot out today, isn’t it? How I would love an ice cream cone. Doesn’t that sound good? Mmmm…you know the ice cream truck doesn’t come around my neighborhood very often. What’s your favorite flavors? ……  My favorite is Moose Tracks! Hahaha – No surprise, huh? Yep, something cold and sweet would sure help me cool off today…. Hey – what’s that slurping sound I hear? Do you kids hear that?

Moe: (offstage, loudly slurping)

Mooster: Monkey Moe – is that you?

Moe: (Slurping offstage, but then comes onstage with a milkshake cup and slurps away). What? Oh yea, I’m just enjoying this fabulously cold – slllluuuuurrrrrrpppp - and delicious – sluuuuuurrrrrrrppp - banana milkshake! It’s the bomb! (more slurping)

Mooster: Wow! Sounds delicious! Banana, you say? I like banana shakes, too. (Listens to more slurping)…In fact, I sure wish I had one of those right about now.

Moe: Yep, well, that’s too bad for you that you don’t have one, isn’t it?  It’s really good. SLURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP! Burrrrrppp. Mmmmmm. That was deeeee-licious! (Smacks lips.) Ahhhh. So. What’s today’s lesson about, Mooster?

Mooster: (somewhat sarcastically) Sharing.

Moe: Oh that’s a great lesson! I love it when folks share with me!

Mooster: I’m sure you do.  How about when you share with other people?

Moe: Huh? Do what?

Mooster: Do you share with other people?

Moe: Ummm…well….I donated my used tea bags to the missionary box last month. Does that count?

Mooster: It most certainly does NOT! That’s terrible! Why would anyone want your used tea bags?

Moe: Hey now, they were only used ONCE! You could still get another cup of tea out of them. I use tea bags twice myself, so I figured if I only used the bag one time, then the missionary could use it the other time. And I had to carefully put the bags on a rack to dry so they wouldn’t be damp when I donated them.

Mooster: How thoughtful.

Moe: See? That’s what I’m saying!

Mooster: Moe, that is not what I mean at all! Giving someone your only-used-once tea bags is not an example of sharing. Here’s a better example: Sharing is when someone gives you something of value. For instance, if the missionaries needed a box of clothing, it would be nice if you donated things that were either new or in very, very nice condition. You would NOT donate things that needed mending, or were torn or stained or outdated. Items like that have no value. But the nice or new clothes DO have value, and they would be gladly accepted by the people who needed them.

Moe: Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. I guess that does make sense.

Mooster: I have another example for you. You know who the best example ever is of sharing?

Moe: Oh – I bet you are talking about God the Father!

Mooster: That’s right, Moe. God is in the form of three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They all work together and they are all part of God, but it’s like they are three pieces of a whole. So when God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins, that was the best example ever of sharing because God was sharing a part of Himself!

Moe: I know a verse that goes with that! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So God wanted to share His home in heaven with all of us, but He couldn’t do it because of our sins. Then Jesus came to pay for our sins, and now all we have to do is accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and ask God to forgive us of our sins, and we can enjoy heaven with God!

Mooster: That’s right, Moe!

Moe: Can you explain to the kids here why our sins keep us out of heaven and why Jesus had to die?

Mooster: Sure Moe. See, God is a very holy God. He can have nooo sin anywhere near Him. If He allowed sin into heaven, then He wouldn’t be holy anymore, and that just can’t happen. So God said He needed a payment for all the bad things people were doing, called sins. When we lie or cheat or steal – we are committing sins. We needed some way of washing away all those sins.

Moe: So, it’s like saying our heart was black with sin and we needed Someone to wash it clean again, right?

Mooster: That’s exactly it – and Jesus Christ was willing to come to earth and take on the form of a man.

Moe: Oh! That’s when Mary was visited by the angel and the angel told her she was going to have a baby, even though she had never been with a man!

Mooster: That’s right! Mary was still a virgin when the Holy Spirit came to her and Jesus Christ took on the form of a baby within her womb. That’s what we celebrate at Christmas time.

Moe: Yep. Then Mary and her husband, Joseph, raised Jesus and when He was about 30 years old, He started preaching. He had 12 disciples, right?

Mooster: Yes. And He preached and taught the disciples for 3 years. Then the Pharisees decided He had to die – they didn’t like what He was teaching. But that was all in God’s plan. The Bible said Jesus had to die for our sins, so it was in God’s will for those Pharisees to plot Jesus’ death.

Moe: Jesus had to die in order to pay our sin debt and wash our hearts clean. We couldn’t do enough good works to pay our own sin debt. But Jesus was perfect and never sinned so He could pay for our sins! He died a horrible death on the cross, as payment for all of our sins. And then He rose again from the grave after 3 days!

Mooster:  That’s right – that’s why we celebrate Easter! The day Jesus rose again from the grave! He did all these things for us. The only thing He asks in return is that we repent of our sins -- that means ask His forgiveness for our sins and do our best not to do those same bad things again -- and ask Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior. Then God will see the sacrifice of Jesus as payment for our sins, and let us into heaven when we die! And of course, once we are saved, we should want to praise and give glory to God!

Moe: Wow – that is so simple, Mooster. Why do so many people make getting into heaven all hard and complicated? My uncle says God just has a big scale up there, and He’s going to weigh all of our good works and all of our bad works and then hopefully the good works will weigh more and that’s how he plans on getting into heaven.

Mooster: That’s not what the Bible says. And there’s no guarantee of heaven with what your uncle is saying! In 1 John 5:13 the Bible says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” See – the Bible says that if we believe on the Son of God, Jesus Christ, we can know for sure that we will live in Heaven one day.

Moe: Hey, thanks for that verse! I should tell my uncle about that one. He has a Bible, so I’m sure he would read it if I shared it with him.

Mooster: That’s a great idea, Moe! It’s always a good idea to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people who don’t know Him as Saviour. They won’t know how to get to heaven if no one tells them what the Bible says, or if they don’t read the Bible for themselves.

Moe: Well…you really helped me see there are lots of good things to share with people. We need to thank God that Jesus was willing to share Himself and pay for our sins. And we need to share that story with people who don’t know it, so they can be saved and have a home in heaven.

Mooster: Yep – God is definitely the best example of sharing.

Moe: Uh…Mooster?

Mooster: Yes, Moe?

Moe: I have to tell you I’m sorry for earlier. I’ve been thinking about it. I should have offered you some of my banana shake. That was mean of me to finish it off without offering you any, especially since it is so hot and you had just said you would have loved something like that. I’m sorry.

Mooster: That’s okay, Moe. I forgive you.

Moe: And…I won’t be saving anymore used tea bags for the missionaries. From now on, I’ll buy brand new boxes to send them.

Mooster: That’s a great idea, Moe.

Moe: Mooster – Bible story time is about over – would you like to go get a milkshake with me? My treat! You can pick any flavor you want!

Mooster: Oh wow! Thanks, Moe! I would love that. Okay, boys and girls – your memory verse for this week is 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Work hard on memorizing it! And remember to share with your friends!

Moe and Mooster: Bye!

Puppets: Pray for Your Enemies

PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES

Moe: (Grumbling)….not fair….grumble grumble….always picking on me…..grumble grumble….just because I’m different….

Mooster: Well, howdy Moe!  You’re here early. You all ready for Bible time?

Moe: ratsum fratsum grumble bumble….

Mooster: Huh? Um….Moe? You okay?

Moe: NO! I am most definitely NOT okay. There’s a kid in my class that I just can’t stand. (Starts crying) In fact, I… I… I HATE him!

Mooster: WHAT??? Moe! Shame on you!! You should never say you hate anybody!

Moe: (still crying a little and sniffling) Mooster, you just don’t understand! He’s so mean to me. He picks on me all the time. He’s always calling me names, like “banana brain” and “long tail” and “Moe the Toe”….he’s just plain mean. He picks on me because I’m the only monkey in my class.

Mooster: Well, it’s mean of him to pick on you, but you shouldn’t say you hate him.

Moe: Well, but …that’s how I feel! He hurts my feelings every day! I don’t know why he picks on me. Sometimes he takes my lunch money. If I bring a bag lunch he tries to smash my bananas. Sometimes he rips pages from my books. He hides my gym shoes so I’m always late to gym class and then I get in trouble for being late. He even painted all over my art project and ruined it. It hurt my feelings a lot because I was going to give it to my grandma. After he ruined it, I couldn’t, and I had to work hard to make something else.

Mooster: Have you told your teachers or your parents?

Moe: Mooster, I can’t tattle on him. That will just make it worse for me. He’ll be all the meaner. Plus, then everyone will think I’m a huge tattletale or call me a baby and they won’t want to be my friend anymore. There’s nothing I can do except let him make me sad and miserable.

Mooster: It’s not right for you to be bullied like that. You SHOULD tell your teachers. You can tell them you don’t want him to get in trouble, because you are afraid he’ll be even meaner to you. You just want them to know what he’s doing so maybe they can watch and catch him being mean to you or ruining your stuff or taking your things. If they don’t even know this is happening, they can’t help you. If they catch him bullying you or someone else, then he’s just getting himself in trouble – you are doing the tattling.

Moe: Well…..I guess I could try that. I hadn’t thought of just asking them to keep an eye out for me. If they don’t say anything to him that I told on him, then maybe he won’t figure it out and it won’t be worse for me.

Mooster: You should also tell your parents. That’s what moms and dads are for! They love you and want to help you. But if they don’t know someone is bullying you, then they can’t help you!

Moe: Yeah, I guess you’re right about that too.

Mooster: Now, there’s one more thing. You need to stop hating him.

Moe: What? Why in the world should I stop hating him?

Mooster: Moe, have you accepted Jesus as your Saviour?

Moe: Yep – I sure did! About two years ago. Why?

Mooster: Because the Bible tells us many times that we should love those that are against us. Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say unto you --Jesus is speaking here -- love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Luke 6:7 says about the same thing, “But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.”

Moe: But that stuff is HARD! How can I do all that? Why would God tell me to do that?

Mooster: Do you know that you may be the only Bible someone ever sees? If you return meanness with more meanness, do you think that is how Jesus would do things?

Moe: Um….I don’t know….

Mooster: Yes, Moe, you do know. What did Jesus pray when He was on the cross?

Moe: He prayed to God the Father and said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Mooster: That’s exactly right. They were cruel to Jesus – beating him, and pulling out his beard, and sticking thorns in His head, and hanging Him on a cross to die.

Moe: Yea but Jesus had to go through death to save us!

Mooster: You are right, He did. But He didn’t deserve it – we did. Jesus took our punishment for us and asked God to forgive those who were hurting him.

Moe: Ohhh….yeah….

Mooster: Also, if Jesus had been mean to people, do you think anyone would have listened to Him?

Moe: Probably not. People came to hear Him speak because He was so different. He cared about people. The Bible says lots of time that He was moved with compassion and then either healed people or fed people.

Mooster: Yep – and if we are like Christ, then people will see Him in us. That’s one of the ways that we can witness to people and help them see their need of salvation.

Moe: Well….I guess that makes sense. Okay. I won’t be mean back to him.

Mooster: And, there’s something else.

Moe: MORE????

Mooster: Yep. You need to pray for him.

Moe: WHAT!?

Mooster: Moe, if you pray for someone every single day, did you know that you will eventually stop hating them? You may not like the deeds that they do, and they may be doing things that go against what the Bible teaches, but you can still show them love and kindness. The Bible says in John 3:16 that God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to pay for our sins. That’s a lot of love. So if we follow Christ, we must try to love others  - even those who are not kind to us.

Moe: Pray for him every day? Wow. I don’t know…

Mooster: If you pray for him every time he’s mean to you, he may stop. Just tell him you are praying for him. Right there. Tell him, “You are being mean to me, but I want you to know that Jesus can make you love people. I’m praying that God will change your heart.” It might take a long time for him to see things differently, but in the meantime, God will bless you for praying for him.

Moe: And praying makes me feel closer to God, too. I always feel better after I talk to God!

Mooster: Me too.

Moe: Well, Mooster, will you help me memorize Matthew 5:44? That verse sounds like it will help me remember to pray for him. Do you really think it will make him stop being mean to me?

Mooster: If he sees that you are always returning his meanness with kindness, then he may very well ask you one day why you are being so nice to him. Then you can tell him about Jesus. I can’t guarantee you that he will stop being mean or that he will get saved. But I can tell you that you will be doing what Christ would want you to do. And I can tell you that you will be making him think about his actions. We can’t control what other people say or do, but we CAN control how we respond. And if we are Christians, we need to respond in love, even if the other person is acting in hate.

Moe: Okay, Mooster. Thanks! You’ve really helped me a lot!

Mooster: Kids – do you ever have other kids treat you mean at school or bully you or pick on you because you wear glasses or are a different shape or size or color? Children can be very mean to each other sometimes. We need to make sure that WE don’t behave that way toward others. And we can pray for those who do mean things to us.

Moe: Thanks, Mooster! Bye kids!!

Mooster: Bye Moe! Have a great week kids!!

Puppets: Learning about Aphids and Gratitude

Learning about Aphids and Gratitude

Mooster:  Hello, kids! I’m Mooster!  Wow…look at all the pretty flowers around here today. I’m so thankful God gives us beautiful things to enjoy!  Are you thankful for what you have? Some of us may have a lot of things while others may not have so many, but we should all be thankful for what we have! Hey Monkey Moe! Are you home today?

Monkey Moe:  (rummaging around in the flowers) yes – I’m down here!

Sheepy: I’m here too!

Mooster:  Hi, Sheepy! Thanks for joining us today! Moe - why are you in the flowers?

Monkey Moe: I’m watching the bugs.

Mooster: What kind of bugs?

Monkey Moe: They’re funny little green bugs. They’re really packed on here, too. Some of them have wings but not all of them. They seem to be attached to the plant stem.  

Mooster: Hmm…..sounds like aphids.

Sheepy: Yuck! I don’t like eating bugs.

Monkey Moe: No, I don’t think they’re all named David.

Mooster. No Moe! Aphids. AAAAA – phids.  That’s the name of that type of bug.

Monkey Moe: Oh. Well aren’t they hurting the plant? Looks like they’re eating it.

Mooster: That’s exactly what they are doing. They’re eating the sap and making a food called honeydew.

Sheepy: What’s sap?

Mooster: That’s what’s inside of a plant to make it grow. Kind of like blood is inside of you, making you live and grow.

Monkey Moe: Ohhh…and that’s where we get honeydews? I thought those green melons grew on a vine…

Mooster:  This is a different kind of honeydew. It’s not a melon.

Monkey Moe: Oh, good. I was trying to figure out how these little green guys could make a huge melon. And how would they carry it? It would be like a bazillion times their size…

Sheepy: I love honeydew melons!

Moe: Me, too! Especially when mom sticks it in the fridge and gets it cold…

Sheepy: My daddy eats it with salt! Ha ha – I think that’s yucky.

Mooster: Guys!! – let’s get back to the aphid’s honeydew.  It’s not a melon – it’s a small drop of liquid sugar that the aphid produces. You know how bees produce honey? Well aphids produce liquid sugar drops.

Moe: That’s cool. I wish I could do that. Well, actually, I’d like to make banana flavored drops. That would be really awesome!

Sheepy: I wish I could produce chocolate drops!

Moe: Okay - enough about aphids and honeydews and drops….I thought today’s Bible story was going to have something to do with being grateful? Isn’t that what you told me yesterday, Mooster?

Mooster: You’re right, Moe, today’s story is about being grateful, but aphids are a part of it!

Moe: No kiddin’. How are they part of being grateful? I wouldn’t think gardeners would want aphids. Looks like they could do a lot of damage to their plants.  

Sheepy: Yeah, gardeners try to get rid of them.

Mooster: Well, that’s true. Aphids do destroy plants. So gardeners probably aren’t happy to have them. But aphids play an important role in the lives of so many other bugs. And, as you know, we have to have bugs in the food chain because bugs feed birds and other animals.

Moe: So who’s thankful for aphids?

Mooster: Well, we should be. You know how the Bible tells us to be thankful for everything?  Well, even with aphids there’s something to be thankful for. And we can learn lessons from them. They are a great helper to the ants.

Sheepy: The aphids helped your Aunt Helen and Aunt Sharon?

Mooster: Not MY aunts!  I’m talking about the little bugs that live in colonies!

Moe: Oh – those ants. Doesn’t the Bible say we are to study the ants to learn about hard work?

Mooster: Yep, that’s right, Moe! Ants are not lazy and they are very hard workers. They can carry a lot of weight for a long distance. But what happens when you work really hard? Do you get hungry?

Moe: Yep. I get hungry enough to eat a … a … a Moose! Ha ha ha ha haha!

Mooster: Very funny. Well the ants get hungry too.

Sheepy: I’m hungry. Can I have a melon?

Moe:  Can’t the ants just go “out to eat” ?  Ha ha ha!

Mooster: No, Sheepy – no melons right now. Moe, the ants need food right where they are so they can keep working. And the aphids produce the food for them. The ants eat the honeydew drops that the aphids make. So while the ants are working and the aphids are eating, when the ants get hungry they can go visit the aphids, get some sugar water, and go right back to work. Neat huh?

Moe: Oh yeah! I guess the ants are thankful for the aphids, huh?

Mooster: I guess so! The ants will fight off other attacking bugs to defend the aphids and they will protect them. Sometimes they’ll even build little ant fences around a plant where the aphids are eating. They want to help their aphid friends. And in return, the aphids are thankful for the ants’ protection, and so they are happy to feed the ants. It’s a great relationship.

Moe: Sounds awesome. Is that how God intends for us to live too?  

Mooster:  That’s exactly right, Moe! God uses the relationship of the ant and the aphid to show us how we are to be thankful for each other and to help each other. Are you thankful for your mom and dad?

Moe: Yes I am.

Mooster: How could you show your gratitude?

Moe: Well, I guess I could obey faster. Maybe take out the trash without being asked. Or feeding the dog first thing in the morning.

Mooster: Those are all great ways to show your folks you are thankful for them.

Moe: Guess I better try a little harder to show my folks I’m grateful for all they do for me.

Mooster: That would be a good idea.

Sheepy: I’m thankful for Farmer Jones, so I share my wool with him! Is that a good example?

Mooster: It sure is, Sheepy!

Moe: And people in church – they should be willing to love each other and help each other to show thankfulness, too, huh?

Mooster: Right again. Do you know the example we are following when we do that?

Moe: Yep. God’s example. God loved us so much that He wanted to help us and save us from Hell. So He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins so that we can go to Heaven. The Bible says that we have to believe that Jesus did that for us, and that we need to pray and ask forgiveness for our sins and ask God to save us. Then we can live forever in Heaven one day!

Mooster: Very good, Moe! You got that exactly right. God has done so much for us  - we should be grateful and be willing to do much for Him. And we should always be thankful for what He gives us.

Sheepy: Mr. Songleader – can you teach us John 3:16?

Songleader: I sure can! Kids, let’s all learn the verse together! John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Mooster: Thanks, Mr. Songleader! Moe, will you work on memorizing that verse this week?

Moe: I sure will! Sheepy, will you help me?

Sheepy: Yep! Hey children – we can all learn this verse, and come back next time and say it all together!

Mooster: Great idea, Sheepy. Bye kids!

Moe and Sheepy: Bye everyone!