The Toy - VeggieTales.com

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What do you THINK?
ristmas
What is the
STORY about?
Larry the Cucumber is
Minnesota Cuke, a children’s
museum curator and parttime detective hired to find
the famous Noah’s Ark. But
his search gets complicated
when he learns of Noah’s
mysterious and powerful
umbrella…and a clever villain
who wants it for his own
selfish gain! Will Minnesota
find the confidence to
continue the search, face
the villain and protect the
umbrella—or will all hope of
finding the ark be washed
away for good?
●● A Lesson in Confidence
●● Key Passage: Genesis 6-9:17
●● Running time: 50 minutes
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●Name some times when others laughed at Larry/Minnesota Cuke.
(When Larry prayed before eating at Burger Bell, returning stolen
fish, falling and wearing a dress and clown wig, going to Mexico
to look for clues, Minnesota’s singing abilities with Julia, climbing
up the pyramid backwards, holding Julia’s purse, singing clues at
Kuman Inn and stepping on tiles in the right order, helping the poor
man, praying before eating cookies.)
● W
hat was the word Julia used to describe people who do the right thing?
(Righteous)
● H
ow did Minnesota Cuke overcome and ignore the teasing and laughing? (He
remembered that God was smiling on him when he was doing the right thing.)
●By following the clues and doing what was right, Minnesota Cuke was able to
find Noah’s umbrella. What treasure did he find in the umbrella?
(The Bible verse from Psalm 5:12 “For surely, O Lord, you bless the
righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”)
What does the BIBLE say?
Genesis 6-9:17 tells the biblical account of Noah’s Ark. Read portions of those
chapters to your group OR tell the story in the following condensed version.
Noah was a righteous man living among unrighteous people. God saw how wicked
the people had become, so he decided to wipe mankind from the face of the earth.
But Noah and his family loved God, and God showed favor toward them. God
instructed Noah to build an ark because God was going to destroy the earth with
a great flood. Noah and his family would be safe in the ark. God also told Noah to
take two of every animal—male and female—with him into the ark. Noah followed all
of God’s instructions. Finally, the time came for Noah and his family to enter the
ark along with the animals. Then God closed the door. It rained, and rained, and
rained…for forty days and forty nights! Every living thing on earth was destroyed—
men and animals and birds. Only Noah and those with him in the ark remained safe.
When the flood waters went down, Noah sent out a dove to see if it was safe to
leave the boat. The third time he sent out a dove it did not return, and Noah knew
the earth was completely dry. So Noah and his family and all of the creatures came
out of the ark. Noah built an altar as a “thank you”
to the Lord. God blessed Noah and his sons and
sent a rainbow as a promise that He would never
again destroy the earth with a flood.
ACTIVITY
You will need one umbrella for this sit-down review activity. Have
the children seated on the floor near you. Open the umbrella and
stand beneath it as you begin the story…Minnesota Cuke was
playing hide and seek with his friend Martin. He was hiding in
a tree house when he heard three scallions talking about…Ask
for a volunteer to come and stand under the umbrella (while you
sit down) to continue with the story. After the
volunteer has completed a few more sentences of
the story, ask for another volunteer to continue
the tale under the umbrella. Allow as many
children as possible to hold the umbrella and
contribute to the story. (Prompt the children with
parts of the story they may have forgotten or left
out.) Continue until the story is complete. End the session by
singing Noah’s Arky-Arky Song (“Arise and Shine”).
What can we DO?
Recall again the times in the show when others laughed at Larry/
Minnesota Cuke (Listed in the THINK section.) Ask the children for
examples of times when others have laughed at them in a ridiculing
way. (Tripping or falling, making a mistake when speaking in front
of a group or doing something in front of an audience, not knowing
the answer to a question.) Encourage discussion with the following
questions:
● How do you feel when someone laughs at you?
● How do you react when others laugh at you?
● Have you ever made fun of someone by laughing at them?
● How can you overcome teasing and ridicule from others?
(Remember that God is smiling on you if you know you are doing
the right thing.)
3 3
Things to
remember
about Noah
1. Noah was a RIGHTEOUS man
2. He OBEYED God’s instructions
3. The ARK provided safety for Noah and
his family during the great flood
KEY VERSE
(Proverbs 29:25) “Being afraid of people can
get you into trouble, but if you trust in the
Lord, you will be safe.”
KEY NUGGET
God will help us overcome our fear of
ridicule in the service of doing the right
thing.
Help the children find
these Bible verses to read aloud.
●● Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my
salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is
the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be
afraid?”
●● Joshua 1:9 “…Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go.”
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