1. John Jr and Jade read the Bible verse ""Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."  Foun in 1 Corinthians 16:13.  They pondered the meaning of Courage.  They thought about how courageous Jesus was to completely surrender His life to God. As a result, He made a way for all humanity to be saved from sin by being crucified.  John Jr told Jade that Jesus went about with boldness and confidence.  John Jr and Jade wanted to be more courageous like Jesus.
2..Jesus taught people not to fear but to be courageous because God is always with them.John Jr and Jade felt comfort in Jesus' teachings and decided to make a list on how to be more courageous.   They felt it was courageous to try new things, talk to people they don't know, speaking up, falling down and still keep going, facing difficulties/challenges even when hard. doing things on their own, and being  able to face discomfort or pain.
John Jr and Jade decided to put those courageous ways into practice
4.  Jesus praised John Jr and Jade for being so courageous and told them how pleased God was them.


COURAGE 

John Jr sitting under a big oak tree with a Bible open in front of him, Jade the green fox sitting beside him

One sunny morning, John Jr and Jade sat under a big oak tree. They opened their Bible to 1 Corinthians 16:13. The verse said, 'Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.' John Jr and Jade pondered the meaning of courage. They thought about how courageous Jesus was to completely surrender His life to God.

The Bible Verse

Jesus with a serene expression, standing with a cross in the background

Jesus made a way for all humanity to be saved from sin by being crucified. John Jr told Jade that Jesus went about with boldness and confidence. They admired how Jesus faced challenges without fear. John Jr and Jade wanted to be more courageous like Jesus. They decided to learn more about His teachings.

Jesus' Courage

John Jr and Jade sitting together, writing on a piece of paper with a list titled 'How to be Courageous'

Jesus taught people not to fear but to be courageous because God is always with them. John Jr and Jade felt comfort in Jesus' teachings. They decided to make a list on how to be more courageous. They wrote down ideas like trying new things and talking to people they don't know. They were excited to put these ideas into practice.

Learning from Jesus

John Jr adding to the list with Jade looking on encouragingly

John Jr and Jade continued to add to their list. They included speaking up, falling down and still keeping going, and facing difficulties even when hard. They also wrote about doing things on their own and being able to face discomfort or pain. Their list was growing, and so was their courage. They felt ready to take on new challenges.

Making the List

John Jr talking to new friends at the park with Jade standing beside him

John Jr and Jade decided to put their list into action. They tried talking to new friends at the park. They spoke up in class when they had questions. Even when they fell during a game, they got back up and kept playing. Each small step made them feel braver. They were proud of their progress.

First Steps of Courage

John Jr giving a presentation in front of his class with Jade peeking from the side of the stage

One day, John Jr had to face a big challenge. He was nervous about giving a presentation in front of his class. Jade reminded him of their list and how Jesus faced challenges with courage. John Jr took a deep breath and gave his presentation. He felt nervous, but he did it with courage. His classmates clapped and cheered.

Facing Challenges

Jade standing on a stage auditioning for a play, with John Jr encouraging her from the audience

Jade also faced her own challenges. She was scared of trying out for the school play. John Jr encouraged her by reminding her of Jesus' teachings. Jade took a deep breath and auditioned for the play. She didn't get the lead role, but she was proud of herself for trying. John Jr and Jade kept encouraging each other to be brave.

Encouraging Each Other

Jesus praising John Jr and Jade, who are standing proudly with smiles on their faces

Jesus praised John Jr and Jade for being so courageous. He told them how pleased God was with them. John Jr and Jade felt happy and proud. They knew that courage wasn't about never being scared, but about facing their fears with faith. They promised to keep being brave and helping others to be courageous too.