The Heart f VBS: Evangelism Purpse Statement This 45 minute cnference plan is designed t help cnferees renew a cmmitment t building bridges t the spiritual rphans in their cmmunity thrugh ging back t the reasn we d VBS in the first place prclaiming the Gspel f Jesus Christ. Resurces t Cllect VBS 2014 Takin It Hme CD VBS 2014 ABC Memry Card VBS 2014 ABC Wristband VBS 2014 Agency D3 Family Headquarters VBS 2014 Agency D3 Pstcards The Gspel: Gd s Plan fr Me Cards Name tags Resurces t Prepare and Cpy Place a name tag in each chair. Handut (ne per cnferee) Fcal Wall Descriptin Place a VBS 2014 Supersized Backdrp n the fcal wall. Hang the VBS 2014 Visual Pack psters arund the rm. Rm Setup Descriptin Arrange the chairs in a semi-circle. Place cpies f the handut in each chair. Cver display tables with VBS 2014 Tableclths. Set ut elements frm the VBS Agency D3 Jump Start Kit, Preschl Starter Kit, and Kids Starter Kit. Decratin Suggestins The cnference rm shuld resemble a spy agency. Decrate the rm using a variety f resurces available including Quick Scene Decratin Punch-uts, Wall Art, and She Prints. 1
Audi Visual Needs Prjectr and Screen 1. Intrductin Ask cnferees: Why d we d VBS? Share that VBS was started as a way t teach the Bible t inner city kids wh did nt attend church. Talk abut: Churches may claim that their VBS is evangelistic. Churches may say that their VBS is a flagship evangelistic event. Cmment: We must truly embrace the purpse that VBS is a ministry designed t reach peple f all ages, leading them t knw and respnd t Jesus Christ as led by the Hly Spirit. As we lk arund ur cuntry: There are an estimated 313 millin peple living in US. (all cnferees stand) 98 millin adults and kids wh have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savir. (2/3 f cnferees sit dwn) 43% f all Americans wh accepted Jesus Christ as their Savir did s befre reaching the age f 13. (little ver half f remaining cnferees sit dwn) Accrding t Gerge Barna, evangelism is mst effective amng kids. 2. Be Intentinal abut Evangelism: Say: We can fllw the acrstic AGENCY D3 t investigatin if we are truly intentinal abut evangelism. Share the fllwing thughts: A stands fr Aware Ask: Are we aware f thse arund us that are utside f a persnal relatinship with Christ? Cmment: There are kids, families, parents, grandparents at ur churches and thse that even live within a mile f ur churches that are hurting, lst, sad, and need Christ. We can view them thrugh Christ s perspective and becme aware f their lst suls. G stands fr Give Say: When we ffer an evangelistic VBS it gives us a reasn t intentinally invite lst peple t ur church. It gives peple a bridge t the spiritual rphans in ur cmmunity. It gives us an pprtunity t clearly present the gspel. It gives peple an pprtunity t respnd t Christ in a public way. 2 E stands fr Enables Cmment: Being evangelistic enables the church t wrk tgether tward the Great Cmmissin. VBS Directrs, teachers, parents, SS teachers, and staff all wrk tgether t share the lve f Christ with kids and their families. Evangelism is the respnsibility f everyne. We are called t help fulfill the Great Cmmissin t this specific generatin. N stands fr Navigate Share: Being evangelistic navigates an entry pint fr unchurched peple. VBS gives peple an pprtunity, reasn, excuse, bridge, t cme t church. Peple are nt typically attracted t church, they are
attracted t prgrams fr their kids. We can get peple in the dr with a theme then we can teach them the gspel. The purpse f VBS is fr peple f all ages t hear the gspel and be saved. It is that gspel that makes VBS relevant. Withut the gspel, it is just fun and games. Once unchurched peple are in ur church, we need t help them navigate the gspel and hw it cnnects t their lives. We can teach kids t live gd lives and perhaps see changes in their behavir. Or we can teach them abut Jesus, the One wh has the pwer t change their hearts. C stands fr Cnnect Say: Being evangelistic helps churches cnnect with families. An imprtant aspect f the initial fllw-up cntact shuld be the discvery f the family netwrk. Once discvered, infrmatin shuld be passed n t ther members f the fllw-up team and t ther age grup classes. The team shuld then invite each member f the family t the apprpriate Bible study class and ministry pprtunities. Create a plan t have multiple cntacts ver the fllwing mnths. Y stands fr Yield Cmment: Being evangelistic truly helps us t yield and surrender ur heart t Gd s plan. Gd desires that peple knw HIm mre than we d. Kids are receptive t spiritual input. Peple wh have cme t VBS came t yur church, r came t yur backyard club. THEY came. 2.8 millin peple enrlled in VBS fr 2012. We can use bld, creative strategies t teach them abut Christ because peple separated frm Gd matter t Gd. 3 Ds als stand fr smething new Share: The first D stands fr Display. Our jb as churches is t display the Gspel. We are t be peple that are evangelistic. The secnd D stands fr Demnstrate. We are t demnstrate a life that fllws Christ. We are t d things that bring Him glry. The third D stands fr Declare. We are t share the gspel as we tell peple abut Christ. Cmment: In kid s terms, we are t Shw and Tell. 3. Evangelism Benefits Share the fllwing thughts: VBS takes time, effrt, and dllars. Our time, effrt, and dllars are best utilized when Evangelism is the fcus. Evangelism is the reaping frm thse wh are ready, nt the cnvincing f thse wh are nt. It is harvesting peple whm Gd has already prepared and it is helping thse wh are unprepared twards belief by teaching them mre infrmatin. 4. Evangelism Strategies Place yur mst utging, evangelistic members at the registratin table and have them serve as greeters. Use the same team t crdinate a fllw-up prgram after VBS. Offer a next step fr VBS guests and their families, such as a needs based class (Child Safety, Hw t Prtect Kids Online, Grace-Based Parenting, Develping a Child s Spirituality, etc.) 3
Fllw up with visitrs persnally with a quick in-hme visit, texting, email, etc. Different peple may be receptive t different things, but persnal cntact is essential. Cnduct VBS ut in the neighbrhds, trailers parks, apartments, parks, etc. This takes the church t the peple wh might therwise ignre the invitatin. Fllw-up is mre natural. VBS Family App VBS 2014 Agency D3 Takin It Hme CD Varius ther resurces frm LifeWay The Gspel: Gd s Plan fr Me -- Gspel: gd news, the message abut Christ, the kingdm f Gd, and salvatin. Gd rules. The Bible tells us Gd created everything, including yu and me, and He is in charge f everything. Genesis 1:1; Revelatin 4:11; Clssians 1:16-17 We sinned. We all chse t disbey Gd. The Bible calls this sin. Sin separates us frm Gd and deserves Gd s punishment f death. Rmans 3:23; 6:23 Gd prvided. Gd sent Jesus, the perfect slutin t ur sin prblem, t rescue us frm the punishment we deserve. It s smething we, as sinners, culd never earn n ur wn. Jesus alne saves us. Jhn 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9 Jesus gives. He lived a perfect life, died n the crss fr ur sins, and rse again. Because Jesus gave up His life fr us, we can be welcmed int Gd s family fr eternity. This is the best gift ever! Rmans 5:8; 2 Crinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 2:8-9 We respnd. Believe in yur heart that Jesus alne saves yu thugh what He s already dne n the crss. Repent, turning frm self and sin t Jesus. Tell Gd and thers that yur faith is in Jesus. Jhn 14:6; Rmans 10:9-10, 13 ABC - Admit, Believe, Cnfess GOSPEL G: Gd created us t be with Him. (Clasp bth hands tgether in frnt f yu) O: Our sins separate us frm Gd (Separate yur hands) S: Sin cannt be remved by ding gd deeds. (Shake hands still separated, like trying t get rid f the sin) P: Paying the price fr sin, Christ died and rse again. (Bth hands g dwn and hit thighs n "died" and bth hands raise like a field gal was cmpleted n "rse again." Kids shut "It's GOOD!") E: Everyne wh trusts in Him ALONE will have eternal life. (O hand pints t the palm f the ther hand, symblizing Christ's nail scarred hands) L: Life with Jesus starts nw and lasts frever. (Hands clasp back tgether n "NOW" and after "lasts frever" yu shake clasped hands and d the "victry dance!") 4
The Heart f VBS: Evangelism A: G: E: N: C: Y: TIPS: 5