VBS MOTTO: God’s Truth Never Changes!
THEME VERSE: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. -Proverbs 3:5
Bible Story: The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-27)
Today’s Point: Everyone needs Jesus.
Some People Say: Being a good person gets you into heaven.
God Says: Everyone sins and needs a Savior.
Items Needed:
- Bible
- Memory Verse Poster
- Cross with Magnets already attached to them
- Jewel Stickers
- Sea Shells
- Glue
- 10+ Pairs of Flip Flops
- Basket
Leader Devotion
As a child, I was always intrigued with the story of the Rich Young Ruler. Looking back, I was hung up on the thought of fitting a camel through the eye of a needle. In elementary school I was on a problem-solving team that competed internationally to solve potential future problems. I had the mindset that where there’s a will, there’s a way. Surely we could put our heads together and find a way to get that camel Jesus was talking about to go through the eye of a needle. I was completely missing, yet completing proving, what Jesus was explaining. Fast forward to my early twenties. I was crossing the Niger River on a ferry headed to my West African home on the edge of the Sahara Desert. An entire caravan of about 50 camels boarded the ferry with us. After that hour-long ferry ride, this Bible story clicked. I knew getting any one of those camels through the eye of a real needle would be 100% impossible – no matter how great my problem-solving skills were.
It’s not uncommon for people to believe being a good person gets you into heaven. In fact, that was my basic belief as a child before I understood sin and Jesus’ sacrifice. If someone has lived a life of being kind to his neighbors, giving money to charities, and being the model parent, doesn’t he deserve the gift of spending eternity in heaven? Jesus debunked this belief in His discussion with the rich young ruler. Just as the conversation was getting started, Jesus proclaimed that no one is good except God alone. The conversation of being good could really stop right here. Being good doesn’t get a person into heaven because, well, no one is good. Even that generous, patient, volunteering parent has sin in his life, preventing him from entering the kingdom of God.
Pause to Reflect: Do you believe being a good person gets you into heaven? What did Jesus say about this belief in today’s passage?
So if “good” people can’t get into heaven on their own, how does anyone get to heaven? The rich man was told to sell everything he had so that he could have treasure in heaven. We want children (and ourselves) to understand that being wealthy and having a lot of possessions wasn’t the young man’s problem. Jesus knew his heart. Jesus knew he cared about his possessions so much that he wouldn’t give them up to follow Jesus. The rich man didn’t completely understand it, but he needed Jesus. Everyone needs Jesus because everyone sins and needs a Savior.
Pause to Reflect: Is there something in your life you’re choosing to value over your relationship with Jesus? Ponder over this question with God. Ask Him to show you any changes or decisions you need to make to follow Jesus completely.
Mark gives us a beautiful description of how Jesus approached the young man as He explained a difficult truth. “Looking at him, Jesus loved him” (Mark 10:21). Jesus could have said, “Dude, are you kidding Me? You’re not getting into heaven just because you’ve kept all the commandments.” Jesus didn’t shy away from the truth, but He said it with love and compassion. We are surrounded by people who believe misconceptions, half-truths, or complete lies about God’s Word. Some days we might even believe them too. Let’s make it a habit to open God’s Word first to know the truth, and share the truth because God’s truth never changes.
Pause to Reflect: Ask the Holy Spirit to give you boldness when you see friends or family members believing lies instead of God’s truth. Look for opportunities to love people even as you share hard truths with them.
6:30-7:00 Bible Story, Bible Verse Game, & Song
Hey kids! Welcome to Day 3 of Adventure Week VBS! If this is your first night here, we’re so excited to have you. If this is your third night here, welcome back! Today we’re learning about a story of a rich, young ruler and a conversation he had with Jesus! Today’s point is Everyone Needs Jesus. Can you say that with me?”
PDF: SMALL GROUP BIBLE STORY LESSON
BIBLE STORY GAME: Everyone Needs Jesus Freeze Dance
When the music starts to play, find someone who needs Jesus and go move to the music together. When the music stops, you should freeze. When the music starts again, find someone new who needs Jesus.” (Ensure that all kids find a partner to dance with.) As kids move to the music, remind them that everyone needs Jesus, so they can pick any friend!
WORSHIP SONG
MEMORY VERSE GAME: BEACH BALL
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. -Proverbs 3:5
Say the verse together with the kids. Use the following motions:
- Trust (clasp hands in front of them)
- Lord (point up to the sky)
- Heart (cross arms over heart)
- Understanding (point to head)
Explain that boys and girls will get to practice saying the verse together as they play a game. Give one preschooler a beach ball and tell him that when the music starts, he will pass it to the person next to him. Explain that they will keep passing the ball until the music stops. Whoever is holding the ball when the music stops will get to go point to the words on the “Memory Verse Poster” while everyone says the verse together.” Play until preschoolers have repeated the verse several times.
7:00-7:15 Craft: Treasure the Cross
Give each kid a cross with a magnet already attached to it. Have an assortment of jewel stickers and seas shells in the middle of the table. Kids can decorate their cross using those items and glue.
Today we learned about the rich young ruler and how our real treasure is not about money or the things we own, our real treasure is following Jesus. That is more precious than any gold or gems! We learned that God sent Jesus to save us. We become a part of God’s family by believing in Jesus and obeying Him – nothing else! You can put this cross on your fridge to remind you that Everyone Needs Jesus.”
7:15-7:45 Games
Game 1: Flip Flop Frenzy
Hide flip flops all around the room. Kids race to find matching pairs and bring them back to the bucket.
Game 2: Crab Soccer
Kids have to walk like crabs and try to score with a balloon or beach ball.
7:45-8:00 Snack & Daily Wrap Up
Remind kids of Today’s Point: Everyone needs Jesus. Invite boys and girls to say the Today’s Point with you.
Tell preschoolers to say their names when you point to them. Say the point, replacing the word “everyone” with each child’s name.
Ask: “Who needs Jesus?”
Guide kids to say: “Everyone!”
Ask preschoolers to pray with you and thank God that He sent His Son, Jesus, because we need Him