Sun 23 April 2023

[ Introduction: leader picks child to knock on bin, everyone calls 'come out Stinky!', Stinky comes out singing his intro tune ]

STINKY: Hello little children!

LEADER: Hello Stinky! I hope you had a good Easter. Did you eat lots of chocolate easter eggs?

STINKY: Oh, yes... they were yum...

LEADER: Hey, you sound a bit down. How are you?

STINKY: Oh... I'm feeling silly and embarrassed.

LEADER: What happened?

STINKY: Because some other puppets made fun of me.

LEADER: Why did they make fun of you?

STINKY: Because I said I followed Jesus. They laughed, and I felt ashamed.

LEADER: Oh, it's hard when that happens.

STINKY: Ms Pat, is following Jesus really worth it?

LEADER: That's a big question! I think playing a game will help us answer it -- and it might cheer you up!

STINKY: Oh, I like games! Can I win?

LEADER: Well... let me explain the game first. You get to pick between two prizes.

STINKY: Oh I love prizes!

LEADER: Ah, but there's a catch. One prize you'll see clearly, but the other prize you'll see as a shadow. I want you to think about which one is worth more. Once you choose, I will reveal the hidden prize so you can see what it's really worth.

STINKY: OK, but could the children help me please? My eyes aren\'t very good - they\'re made of plastic.

LEADER: Of course. Children, look carefully at the shadow of the prize, and tell Stinky which prize is worth more. Ready?

STINKY: Yes, show me the prizes please!

LEADER: OK, choose between... this rubber band...

[ hand it over to Stinky ]

STINKY: Oooh, I like it -- it's a bright colour like me. I'll take this prize!

LEADER: Wait Stinky, let me show you the other prize... [show]

STINKY: Eh... That shadow doesn't look very special. At least I know the rubber band is useful sometimes. I don't want to give it up...

LEADER: What do you think kids? Which is worth more?

[ Get kids' answers ]

LEADER: OK Stinky, it's time to choose a prize. Which one is worth more?

STINKY: Eh... The rubber band!

LEADER: OK, you can keep your rubber band...

STINKY: Thank you!

LEADER: Now, let me reveal the shadow prize so you can see what it's worth... [lift up]

STINKY: Oh no, that's worth a lot more!

LEADER: I'm afraid so Stinky.

STINKY: That was a bad choice - I feel silly and embarrassed now!

LEADER: Well, you don't need to feel silly or embarrassed, because you've made the right choice with the most important decision!

STINKY: Really? Which decision?

LEADER: Well, let me read the Bible to you. This is what Jesus said to his disciples once:

[ SLIDE (verse): If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What could you give to get back your soul? Don\'t be ashamed of me and my message among these unfaithful and sinful people! If you are, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:34b-38 ]

STINKY: What does that mean?

LEADER: Jesus is reminding us that following him will have a cost, but he's worth it.

STINKY: I guess so... I just wish I could be sure.

LEADER: You know, the disciples weren't sure either at first. But after God raised Jesus from the dead, they could see clearly who Jesus was. They followed him through hard things, because they were sure that life with Jesus was worth it. Now God has revealed Jesus to everyone.

STINKY: Oh, like the shadow prize!

LEADER: Yes! When we see Jesus clearly, we see he\'s worth more than anything else: people liking us, having money, or even the whole world.

STINKY: So ... I don't need to feel silly and embarrassed when people tease me for following Jesus?

LEADER: Right! You can feel glad to listen to what Jesus says and follow him, because he's worth it. Let's see our Bible Bite:

[ Slide: Bible Bite: Jesus is worth more than the whole world, so be glad to follow him. ]

LEADER: Stinky, can you have a go at saying it?

STINKY: Eh... If you put a rubber band around a chocolate egg, you'd be silly to eat it.

LEADER: Oh Stinky! Let's read it all together again.

[ Read aloud: Jesus is worth more than the whole world, so be glad to follow him. ]

LEADER: So Stinky, what do you think now -- is it worth following Jesus?

STINKY: Yes Ms Pat, he's really worth it!

LEADER: I'm glad to hear that. Now, I wonder what I can do with this chocolate prize...

STINKY: I know! I like how the children helped me play the game. Give it to them!

LEADER: Good idea, I'll give it to the leaders to share.

STINKY: I better go now. Bye bye little monkeys!

Category: scripts Tagged: Jesus