Vacation Bible School
July 2020
“It’s Vacation Bible School Time!” exclaimed Pastor Walker.
Ten year old Catherine sent a puzzled look down the pew toward her mom and dad. “What’s that?” she mouthed the words silently with a shrug of her shoulders. Mom answered with a finger to her lips, instructing Catherine to wait and ask her questions after the service ended.
The pastor continued, “All the kids need to be here at 10:00 am that Monday morning, and all week through Friday. The daily program will last until 3:00 in the afternoon each day. Then on Sunday we will have our VBS awards service, and we hope to have lots of moms and dads in attendance on that day. We will need all hands on deck, bus workers, teachers, personal workers, and kitchen help. Our teens will be handling the skits and games. It will be a fun and busy week.”
When the service was over, Mom signed up to help with lunch and cookies each day during VBS. When they reached the back door of the church, Pastor Walker took time to shake hands and greet each one in the family. Their family had only been coming to church for the past couple of months, but the pastor was kind and friendly, and always took time to talk to everyone in the family.
“Pastor, Catherine was wondering what to expect next week during Vacation Bible School since we have never been part of one before,” Mom said just before they left.
“Oh, my! You just don’t know what you’ve been missing, Catherine! Why, we will have this place all decorated up, and the teens will be in their costumes for the skits. There will be games to play and songs to sing and verses to memorize. You are going to have an exciting week. I can’t wait for you to see what VBS is all about.”
Catherine smiled shyly and said goodbye to the pastor. All the way home from church she thought about what he had said. “I guess I will find out what it’s all about. At least it sounds like it will be fun,” she thought.
The days flew by, and soon it was the first day of Bible school. “Wow, the church looks so different with all these decorations that look like a stone castle! The teenagers are dressed in armor as soldiers from an ancient army, like pictures I’ve seen in history books.” Teen girls were dressed as maids in mobcaps and long dresses, and one of them showed Catherine to her seat on the girl’s side.
“There’s a flag flying high in the castle of my heart for the King is in residence there!” they sang, followed by, “I’m in the Lord’s Army.” The Sword of the Spirit was a big part of all the skits, and there was even a court jester to teach them a few lessons from Proverbs about the fool and the wise man. Each day there was a lesson, a craft, a game time, memory verse time, lunch, and just before they went home, Pastor had a devotion time with all the kids in the auditorium.
They memorized verses from Ephesians chapter 6, and by the end of the week, Catherine could easily recite the whole passage. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Each day that they attended VBS, they put the sticker of one of the pieces of armor on their soldier poster, and nobody wanted to miss a day and not have their soldier completely armed and ready for battle. There were lessons about being a good soldier, following orders from headquarters, and being skillful to use the Bible Sword.
But the final day of Vacation Bible School on Friday was the one Catherine would never forget. She had been listening carefully in Sunday School each week, and she was learning, little by little. Now she was at church every single day for a whole week and hearing teaching from the Bible. Suddenly it became very real to her, something that she had never understood clearly before. Pastor Walker acted out the story and made it seem so real, the battle that Jesus won for her soul on the cross of Calvary, to pay for her sin so she could go to Heaven someday, and never, ever have to worry about paying the price for sin in Hell.
There were tears streaming down her face as she listened to the verses about the simple Gospel message: that Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross, was buried, and rose again in triumph over sin and death. He did all that because He loved her. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“The Gift has been bought and payed for and it’s now offered to you. The tag says it’s for “Whosoever Will.” That means you, if you are willing to come and receive Jesus as your Savior. But it’s your choice to receive God’s gift, or to reject it.” “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9, 10, 13)
“God wants each of us to be a soldier in His army, but first we must be a born-again child in His family.” “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)
Have you been saved, born again as God’s child? Have you invited Jesus to come into your heart and forgive your sins? If you are not sure that you are saved and ready for Heaven, then today is the best time to pray like Catherine did and trust in Jesus to save you, and He promised that He would. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me and come into my heart just like You promised. I am trusting in You to take me to Heaven when I die, and to help me live the rest of my life for You. Thank You for saving me. I love you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Ten year old Catherine sent a puzzled look down the pew toward her mom and dad. “What’s that?” she mouthed the words silently with a shrug of her shoulders. Mom answered with a finger to her lips, instructing Catherine to wait and ask her questions after the service ended.
The pastor continued, “All the kids need to be here at 10:00 am that Monday morning, and all week through Friday. The daily program will last until 3:00 in the afternoon each day. Then on Sunday we will have our VBS awards service, and we hope to have lots of moms and dads in attendance on that day. We will need all hands on deck, bus workers, teachers, personal workers, and kitchen help. Our teens will be handling the skits and games. It will be a fun and busy week.”
When the service was over, Mom signed up to help with lunch and cookies each day during VBS. When they reached the back door of the church, Pastor Walker took time to shake hands and greet each one in the family. Their family had only been coming to church for the past couple of months, but the pastor was kind and friendly, and always took time to talk to everyone in the family.
“Pastor, Catherine was wondering what to expect next week during Vacation Bible School since we have never been part of one before,” Mom said just before they left.
“Oh, my! You just don’t know what you’ve been missing, Catherine! Why, we will have this place all decorated up, and the teens will be in their costumes for the skits. There will be games to play and songs to sing and verses to memorize. You are going to have an exciting week. I can’t wait for you to see what VBS is all about.”
Catherine smiled shyly and said goodbye to the pastor. All the way home from church she thought about what he had said. “I guess I will find out what it’s all about. At least it sounds like it will be fun,” she thought.
The days flew by, and soon it was the first day of Bible school. “Wow, the church looks so different with all these decorations that look like a stone castle! The teenagers are dressed in armor as soldiers from an ancient army, like pictures I’ve seen in history books.” Teen girls were dressed as maids in mobcaps and long dresses, and one of them showed Catherine to her seat on the girl’s side.
“There’s a flag flying high in the castle of my heart for the King is in residence there!” they sang, followed by, “I’m in the Lord’s Army.” The Sword of the Spirit was a big part of all the skits, and there was even a court jester to teach them a few lessons from Proverbs about the fool and the wise man. Each day there was a lesson, a craft, a game time, memory verse time, lunch, and just before they went home, Pastor had a devotion time with all the kids in the auditorium.
They memorized verses from Ephesians chapter 6, and by the end of the week, Catherine could easily recite the whole passage. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Each day that they attended VBS, they put the sticker of one of the pieces of armor on their soldier poster, and nobody wanted to miss a day and not have their soldier completely armed and ready for battle. There were lessons about being a good soldier, following orders from headquarters, and being skillful to use the Bible Sword.
But the final day of Vacation Bible School on Friday was the one Catherine would never forget. She had been listening carefully in Sunday School each week, and she was learning, little by little. Now she was at church every single day for a whole week and hearing teaching from the Bible. Suddenly it became very real to her, something that she had never understood clearly before. Pastor Walker acted out the story and made it seem so real, the battle that Jesus won for her soul on the cross of Calvary, to pay for her sin so she could go to Heaven someday, and never, ever have to worry about paying the price for sin in Hell.
There were tears streaming down her face as she listened to the verses about the simple Gospel message: that Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross, was buried, and rose again in triumph over sin and death. He did all that because He loved her. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“The Gift has been bought and payed for and it’s now offered to you. The tag says it’s for “Whosoever Will.” That means you, if you are willing to come and receive Jesus as your Savior. But it’s your choice to receive God’s gift, or to reject it.” “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9, 10, 13)
“God wants each of us to be a soldier in His army, but first we must be a born-again child in His family.” “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)
Have you been saved, born again as God’s child? Have you invited Jesus to come into your heart and forgive your sins? If you are not sure that you are saved and ready for Heaven, then today is the best time to pray like Catherine did and trust in Jesus to save you, and He promised that He would. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me and come into my heart just like You promised. I am trusting in You to take me to Heaven when I die, and to help me live the rest of my life for You. Thank You for saving me. I love you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
