Transcript (Not word for word)

 I am super excited because next week I get to spend some time teaching children about Jesus at vacation bible school! Today’s podcast is about VBS. I think that VBS is one of the most important ministries that the church has to offer. Children come to VBS from all over town and from child care centers and are brought by their grandparents and babysitters. This one week may be the only chance they get to go to church at all. As volunteers, we must take our jobs seriously while also having fun. I hope this podcast will encourage you as you serve the Lord at VBS. 

While VBS is meant to be a fun time for kids, it is also a time of preparing children for their future lives. As volunteers we should always be careful to think about what we say, our tone of voice, and our body language while with children at VBS. We don’t want to do anything to leave these kids wishing they had not gone to VBS. I know that’s a lot of pressure, but we are truly serving the Lord as we volunteer, so use that as your motivation to be on your toes. Our number one goal is to show these kids that God loves them. 

There is a battle raging for our children’s minds and hearts both in the culture and in the spiritual realm and VBS is a very powerful way to protect children by teaching them the truth at a young age. VBS is a unique opportunity to plant seeds of faith in God and create lasting memories that can build upon as they grow. There will also be many children who are brought to VBS simply as a summer activity. Their parents may not be believers. But children take home what they learn at VBS and you never know when a parent might decide to visit church due to their child’s excitement about God. 

Many Christian adults recall the impact that attending VBS as a child had on their lives even if they did not become Christians right away. When you serve in VBS, you are not just providing a fun summer activity. You are sharing the message of God’s love from the Bible by combining a fun, encouraging, and supportive environment with a demonstration of faith, prayer and Bible truths. 

You might be surprised how serving in VBS will strengthen your own faith. For example, My BFF was adopted by and raised by non-practicing Jewish parents. Later when she had her own children, she volunteered to serve at VBS for some reason and it was by teaching the lessons that she learned about Jesus and became a Christian! 

Here are three things we want children to get out of their short time with us this summer. First and foremost, we want children to leave VBS with a positive feeling about being at church itself. We want them to think of church as a good, safe, happy, and loving place to be. Through fun activities, engaging lessons, and welcoming environments, our goal is to create a joyful and inviting experience that leaves a lasting impression on their hearts.

Secondly, though our time together is brief, we strive to cultivate a positive relationship between the children and the Christian adults and teen volunteers. This may be the only time that some of these children spend in the company of believers. We should think of VBS as an opportunity for children to interact with caring and loving Christian leaders who serve as role models. By demonstrating kindness, patience, and genuine care, these adults help shape children’s perceptions of what it means to be a follower of Christ. This can also help counteract any negative things they hear in their daily lives about church or Christians. 

Thirdly, it’s essential for children to know that God is good, loves them unconditionally, and is real. Through Bible stories, songs, and interactive discussions, we emphasize God’s love for them and His faithfulness. While we do not want to make promises that God will always do what they want, we want them to learn that no matter what happens, God is always good and has their best interests in mind. We want children to leave with the assurance that God is always there for them, ready to guide, protect, and provide.

VBS introduces children to the basic language of the gospel at their age level. We want them to understand that Jesus loves them dearly and desires a personal relationship with each of them. Trusting in Jesus becomes a fundamental message as they learn that placing their faith in Him can bring peace, hope, and salvation. We will be presenting the gospel to children of all ages. Some will understand the concept now and some won’t until later. That’s okay! We just want them to hear it and let it sink into their minds. The Word of God is powerful! It will bear fruit. 

And Finally, we want to impress upon children that prayer is a powerful tool in their daily lives. One way to do that is by demonstrating prayer at VBS, including other children and adults. They learn that they can talk to God, knowing that He listens attentively and desires to help them. Prayer becomes a meaningful practice, encouraging children to seek God’s guidance, express their gratitude, and find comfort in His presence. Teaching them to pray could be the one thing that helps them turn to God at some point in their future. 

When it comes to teaching children, it’s important to understand how they learn and process information. They are curious and open to hearing what we have to say at this age, but we don’t want to shut them down with too much information at once. Younger kids have short attention spans and need to be given information in small bites. Children can learn best when critical information is repeated, kept simple, and presented in an engaging way. VBS provides the perfect opportunity to do just that! A good VBS program will have age appropriate activities that are tailored to different levels of maturity and intellectual development. 

In short, we should present the fundamental truths of the Gospel in a way that resonates with children’s experiences and comprehension level. If a child asks you deeper questions, however, do your best to answer them! If you don’t know the answer, tell them you will find out or send them to someone who can help. We certainly do not want to make them think their questions are not important. 

It’s important to create an engaging and interactive VBS program. Children learn best through hands-on activities, songs, games, and creative storytelling. By incorporating these elements, we capture their attention and make learning about God’s love and the teachings of Jesus an enjoyable adventure.

We also need to be mindful of the themes and content we present during VBS. While it’s essential to address important biblical truths, it’s equally crucial to avoid introducing complex or negative themes that may frighten, confuse or overwhelm children. Children today are growing up in a high-tech, anti-religious, secular humanist world. They are taught in secular education and the media that science and technology and government have replaced faith in God. VBS may be the only place that some of them hear that there is an alternative to that worldview. They may have family or friends that talk negatively about faith, God, and church. Let’s keep the focus on the positive aspects of faith and the love of God. As they mature and grow they will be introduced to more complex theology. 

Repetition is key! Children benefit from hearing and experiencing key messages multiple times. By reinforcing core concepts of faith and love throughout the VBS program, we help solidify their understanding and ensure this message sticks with them long after VBS concludes.

In summary, as we plan and implement VBS, let’s remember that children learn best when critical information is repeated, kept simple, and presented in an engaging way.  VBS is not the time to focus on guilt, shame, or judgment. We should avoid complex theology and negative themes, focusing instead on the positive aspects of faith.

As we conclude our episode, let’s recap the key takeaways from VBS. We want children to leave with a positive feeling about the church, a positive feeling about Christian adults, the knowledge that God is real, good, and He loves them, the basic language of the gospel centered on Jesus’ love and trust in Him, and the understanding that they can pray to God, knowing He listens and wants to help them. 

Thank you for listening . I  hope this episode has provided valuable insights into the power of Vacation Bible School. Remember, VBS is not only about teaching children, but also about creating lifelong connections with God and His loving community. We look forward to having you tune in next time. Until then, may God bless you on your own faith adventure!