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Step Right Up: 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: Elementary & Preschool 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 a 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 Step Right Up: a 4-Day Teaching Series for Children's Ministry TOPIC: Spiritual Gifts SCRIPTURE: New Testament DECORATING THEME: Carnivals AGE GROUP: Elementary & Preschool Come one! Come all! Step Right Up and see the marvelous wonders waiting for you at the carnival! Carnivals are more than a place for entertainment-they're an invitation to see something extraordinary. The best part? Everyone is invited! In this four-day series, kids can accept this invite from Jesus himself to be a part of something wonderful. As we do, we'll discover how Jesus invites us to use the gifts God gave us, show God's love to someone new, thank God for forgiveness, and share God's story with everyone! BIG IDEAS & BIBLE STORIES Use the gifts God gave you! ( Jesus Calls Fishers : Luke 5:1-11 ) Show God's love to someone new! ( Jesus Calls a Tax Collector : Luke 5:27-32 ) Thank God for forgiveness! ( Jesus Writes on the Ground : John 8:1-11 ) Share God's story with everyone! ( Jesus Comes Back to Life : John 20:1-18 ) WEEKLY CURRICULUM SUMMARIES: On Day 1, Jesus calls fishers to step right up and follow! Every carnival needs performers with different skills-acrobats, jugglers, and ringmasters-all playing their part to make the show spectacular! Today, we'll see how Jesus invited a few tired fishermen to use their ordinary skills for something extraordinary-fish for people. They discovered they had gifts they didn't even know they could use, and this story encourages us to use the gifts God gave you! On Day 2, Jesus steps right up to spend time with a tax collector. Inviting someone new to the fair might just turn out to be the best part of their day-and yours! Today, we'll learn how Jesus surprised everyone by choosing to hang out with someone nobody liked. When we reach out to people who feel left out, we can show God's love to someone new. On Day 3, Jesus steps right down to write on the ground when the crowd is ready to punish someone. When a trapeze artist takes a tumble, the crowd gasps-but the safety net is there to catch them. Today, we'll hear about a woman who made a mistake and expected punishment, but instead found forgiveness in Jesus. Just like a safety net, Jesus is always ready to catch us with grace when we fall, so let's thank God for forgiveness! On Day 4, Jesus invites us to step right up and share the story of how he came back to life! Imagine if the most amazing carnival act ever was kept a secret-that's how it would be if we didn't tell people about Jesus! Today, we'll celebrate the good news where Jesus comes back to life and tells his friends to spread the word. The story didn't end at the empty tomb-it was just the beginning, and it's time to share God's story with everyone! MEMORY VERSE: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

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