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 Power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16-4:6)
Today’s Point: The Holy Spirit changes us.
Some People Say: Follow your heart to be good.
God Says: The Holy Spirit will teach you what is good.
Items Needed:
- Bible
- Memory Verse Poster
- Four buckets
- Large Sand Shovels (Kids Size)
- Large pom poms or soft balls (lots)
- Pool Noodle for each kids
- At least 30 balloons blown up ahead of time (decorate like sea animals if time allows)
- Masking tape (to make a line for the kids to run down for the balloon pop)
- PER CHILD (Cup and Streamers)
- Sea Animal Stickers
Leader Devotion
It’s amazing how quickly people believe something to be true just because they read it on social media or heard it somewhere. We’ve forgotten how to consider the source and discern what is true from information that has been twisted to deliver a desired message. How reliable is the source? How close is the source to the facts or events? What’s in it for the messenger?
When we turn to the Gospels, we discover many details about the life and ministry of Jesus. In God’s Word we are presented with corroborating facts from four men, two who were disciples and two who were close personal friends of men who knew Jesus well. Three writers were Jewish and one was a Gentile. Four unique personalities wrote as inspired by the Holy Spirit so that we can know God’s Son, our Savior.
While the first three Gospels give details about the miracles and teachings of Jesus, John’s Gospel provides a different approach. John focuses on identifying Jesus as the Son of God and what our response to that truth should be. John describes the time Jesus told them, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus came to pay the penalty for our sins. His way is the only way. His death is the only sacrifice needed. His victory over death and the grave proves that Jesus, who is “the life,” can provide eternal life for those who believe in Him.
Pause to Reflect: Culture tries to claim that there are many ways to go to heaven. Why is this message so dangerous?
Chapters 18 – 20 continue John’s first-hand account of the final hours leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, the description of His death and burial, and then the glorious account of Resurrection Day. Take a few moments to read John 18 -20. If you can, read them aloud. Can you almost hear John’s voice describing the harrowing events of those hours and days? John must have wrestled with the roller coaster of human emotions wondering why the Son of God didn’t simply say, “Stop.” John’s reflection on all the details from arrest to resurrection helps us understand the powerful love that drove our Savior to complete His mission. God, the ultimate Author of all Scripture, inspired John to write these things so we may believe. (See John 20:31.)
Pause to Reflect: Did you read John 18 – 20 or skim over verses you’ve read many times? Why is slowing down to focus on Scripture passages important? Imagine John talking to you. What expressions do you think you would see in his face or what would you notice in his body language? What difference does it make when you listen to someone who knows the truth?
John stood with the other disciples on the Mount of Olives and witnessed Jesus’ ascension back into heaven. He heard Jesus promise the power that would come with the Holy Spirit. And he heard the promise that Jesus would return. John wrote it down, at least as much as possible, because if everything Jesus did were written down, “I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25).
To verify truth it helps to have multiple sources, which we do. And it helps to have eyewitnesses, which we do. John signs his affidavit, so to speak, in John 19:35, “He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth.”
Pause to Reflect: How does knowing the truth about what Jesus did refute culture’s claim that there are many ways to get to heaven?
6:30-7:00 Bible Story, Bible Verse Game, & Song
“Hey kids! Welcome to Day 4 of Adventure Week VBS! Tonight is our last night together so we’re very glad you’re here! Today we’re learning about a very special person called the Holy Spirit. Today’s point is The Holy Spirit Changes Us. Can you say that with me?”
PDF: SMALL GROUP BIBLE STORY LESSON
BIBLE STORY GAME: Fill My Heart Relay
Divide kids into 2 teams. Each team needs two buckets – one empty at the end of the line (representing our hearts) and one filled with colorful pom-poms or soft balls (representing God’s love/power) at their starting line. Children take turns racing to scoop items and fill the empty bucket. Say: “Just like we filled this bucket, the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with God’s love and power!
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: Holy Spirit Wind Sock
Items Needed
- PER CHILD
- 1 paper cup (9 oz or 12 oz work well)
- 6-8 colorful streamers or crepe paper strips (cut about 12-18 inches long)
- Sea Animal Stickers
Give each child a paper cup and colorful streamers. Have them glue the streamers to the bottom of the cup to create flowing “wind.” Decorate the cup with stickers. When they blow on it or wave it around, the streamers dance like wind! Teach them that just like we can’t see the wind but we see what it does, we can’t see the Holy Spirit but we can see His power working in our lives.
7:15-7:45 Games
Game 1: Pool Noodle Balloon Blast
Divide kids into teams and form a circle. Each child is given a pool noodle. Toss balloons into the middle of their circle. Kids should try and keep the balloons up with the pool noodle.
Just like the kids use the pool noodles to keep the balloons floating and moving, the Holy Spirit gives us power to do amazing things! The balloons represent all the good things God wants us to do – like being kind, helping others, and loving Jesus. Without the pool noodle (representing the Holy Spirit), the balloons would just fall to the ground. But with the pool noodle’s help, they can fly high and stay up! The Holy Spirit helps us stay strong in our faith and do wonderful things for God.
Game 2: Balloon Pop
Divide kids into two teams. Kids race down to pop balloons in a relay style event.
Just like these balloons needed our help to move and pop, we need the Holy Spirit’s help to be strong followers of Jesus! The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts and gives us power to love others, be brave, and make good choices. When we ask Jesus into our hearts, the Holy Spirit comes to live with us forever!
7:45-8:00 Snack & Daily Wrap Up
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