Five Elements to Look for in a VBS

Concordia’s VBS Focuses on Christ and His Word

Saint Louis, MO—In this day and age, our culture is rife with messages about self-esteem, dealing with bullies, and fitting in. Rather than focusing on societal woes, personal problems or labels, Concordia’s VBS concentrates on Christ and His Word.

“VBS should be a safe haven for kids, where everyone is equal in the eyes of the Lord and all are loved and welcomed. Kids don’t need more labels—they need Jesus,” says Jessica Stetson, experienced VBS leader and Christian educator.

Stetson suggests that when selecting a VBS, you should look for these five elements:

Volunteer friendly. VBS is a big job so Concordia designs a curriculum that makes it easy to plan, prepare, and produce a VBS. Supply lists, scripts, “how-to” videos, daily devotions, appreciation ideas, and a dedicated volunteer webpage all help the Director lead and support everyone involved in putting on a successful VBS.

Law/Gospel, Christ-centered lessons. Each VBS lesson should focus on Jesus, rather than concluding the program with a single climactic revelation. VBS competes with a lot of summer activities resulting in spotty attendance at times. Some kids may only show up for a few days so it’s vital that each lesson presents the Gospel message. That’s another benefit of Concordia’s Law/Gospel focus: salvation through Jesus is present in every lesson.

Biblical theme. The theme should be pulled from the Bible. Concordia’s VBS starts with God’s Word—so it’s a real theme from the real Bible about a real Savior. Identifying a biblical theme that is relevant with kids today helps them connect current times with biblical times. Bring kids into the Word and His Word will meet them where they are.

Correct Scriptural context. Some VBS curriculum craft Scripture to fit cultural issues instead of using the correct historical and biblical context. With Concordia’s VBS, leaders can be assured that great care is taken with the application of Scripture for Bible lessons.

Engaging, enriching content. If VBS focuses solely on fun, what value is left when the ‘entertainment’ is gone? Far from being boring, Concordia’s VBS makes learning interactive with storytelling—where kids dress up and get involved in the story! Concordia’s engaging Bible challenge, crafts, and snacks provide a fun, active, responsive way to memorize and reinforce the Scripture. And the music has tunes that even the 10 year old boy will enjoy!

“VBS is about sharing the Good News of Jesus,” says Stetson, “That, ‘while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ With Concordia’s VBS curriculum, regardless of what issues the child is dealing with, every day children leave VBS knowing the Savior and that His name is Jesus.”

Visit cph.org or call 1.800.325.3040 to order your VBS Starter Kit today. Starter Kits are also available at your local Christian bookstore.

Concordia Publishing House is the official publisher of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For more than 140 years, CPH has striven to be the premier publisher and provider of choice for products and services that are faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

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Deaconess Training

With guests Deaconess Grace Rao, Director of Deaconess Ministry LCMS, and Deaconess Sandra Rhein who talk about their recent trip to Liberia, Africa, to train deaconesses.

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Biblical Text Study

With guest Rev. William Mons from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Iowa City, IA.

Romans 16:17-27

¹⁷I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. ¹⁹Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

²⁰The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

²¹Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

²²I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

²³Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. ^[24]^[a]

²⁵Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, ²⁶but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from^[b] faith— ²⁷to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.