About this resource

I Wonder: a VBS Event Guide for Children's Ministry EVENT CATEGORY: VBS SPIRITUAL HABIT: Spend Time with God, Spend Time with Others, Use Your Gifts, Share Your Story AGE GROUP: Preschool & Elementary For a well-rounded and holistic approach to your ministry events, there are 10 different kinds of events we recommend including in your annual event strategy. The category for this event is VBS. This type of event is a week-long summer "vacation Bible school" experience for kids. Through fun Bible stories, skits, crafts, activities, and more, kids will practice all four spiritual habits! There is something special about a VBS (Vacation Bible School) experience in children's ministry. A week spent at VBS is an opportunity to impact kids' faith and relationships in bigger and more lasting ways than you could anywhere else. When done well, a strategic VBS experience can be the perfect way to end or kick off a school year. It could be the catalyst that brings a kid to trust Jesus for the first time, or an opportunity for kids to renew their trust in Jesus all over again. Whether you've organized VBS at your church for years or it's your very first time, this Event Guide is designed to give you just about everything you need to make it happen - and make it happen fast! All our events are built to be flexible! You can customize this event to your ministry's needs, but here's how we recommend using this one: Use this event as a fun outreach and spiritual growth event for kids. You can do this at your church or in your community. The event includes crafts, games, activities, teaching, and more! This event includes I Wonder: a 4-Day Teaching Series for Children's Ministry TOPIC: Spiritual Gifts SCRIPTURE: New Testament DECORATING THEME: Science, technology, engineering, & math (STEM) AGE GROUP: Preschool & Elementary What makes you wonder? What sparks your curiosity? What makes you want to explore, discover, and experiment? Wonder and curiosity draw us in and make us want to learn more! That's why, in I Wonder..., we're going to engage kids' imaginations! Kids will not only wonder about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-they'll get curious about the God who created it all! They'll hear from Early Church leaders like Paul, Peter, John, and Timothy, who helped the first Jesus-followers wonder what made their stories unique, what gifts God gave them, what they could learn from others, and how they could spend time with God. BIG IDEAS & BIBLE STORIES I wonder what makes my story unique? (Created and Saved by Ephesians 2:4-10) I wonder what gifts God gave me? (Using Gifts from God: 1 Peter 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:6-7) I wonder what I can learn from others? (Loving Like God: 1 John 4:11; 1 Peter 4:8) I wonder how I can spend time with God? (Living for God: Colossians 1:9-12, 3:16, 4:2-3) WEEKLY CURRICULUM SUMMARIES: On Day 1, kids discover that we've been created and saved by God so we can live with purpose and grace. From fingerprints to galaxies, everything God made is one-of-a-kind-including you! Today, in Ephesians 2:4-10, we'll discover that God created us with purpose and love. Like engineers designing something special, God designed your life to be part of a bigger story, and it starts by asking: I wonder what makes my story unique? On Day 2, kids discover how they can use the gifts God gave them to help others and share God's love. Every part of a robot has a role-some parts light up, some move, and some hold other parts together. Just like that, God gave each of us special gifts that work together to make a difference. Today, we'll learn that our gifts are meant to be used to help others and serve God. That's why we're asking: I wonder what gifts God gave me? On Day 3, kids discover how they can love others deeply and unselfishly-because God loved us first. Some of the best discoveries happen when we watch, listen, and team up-and that's true in life too! Today, we explored 1 John 4:11 and 1 Peter 4:8 to see how loving others helps us learn and grow. Whether someone is different from us or sees the world in a new way, we grow when we ask: I wonder what I can learn from others? On Day4, kids discover how they can live for God by knowing and showing others who Jesus is. When you have a hobby you love-like coding, building, or solving puzzles-you want to spend more time doing it. That's how it can be with our relationship with God, too! Today, we'll explore how prayer, worship, and learning help us stay connected to Jesus every day. It all starts when we ask: I wonder how I can spend time with God? MEMORY VERSE: "Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us." - Psalm 40:5a (NIV)

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