I. SERMON: What I learned at VBS Luke 18:16, 17 July 28, 2002
II. INTRODUCTION
A. A group of people gathered together to talk about VBS and they began sharing stories
1. ILL.- One person shared a story about a young boy who went home after VBS and told his father about the Bible story they had studied The little boy began, “Boy it was a really cool story Dad. The Jews were being chased out of Egypt by the Egyptian who driving tanks. When the Jews came to the Red sea they couldn’t find a way to cross over the without getting wet so the Jews built this really big bridge and they crossed over it safely. When the Egyptians in their tanks tried to follow the Jews blew the bridge up with this huge atomic bomb and the all the Egyptians died.”
His father said, “Now son, Did the teacher really tell you the story that way?” The little boy replied, “No, but if I told you how he did tell the story, you’d never believe it.”
2. ILL.- Another lady said, “In our church’s VBS one of the 4-year-old rushed to her mother at the close of the evening activities and proudly announced that she had learned his Bible verse for the day, Psalms 46:1.”
“That’s great,” her mother said beaming with pride, “Let me hear it.”
The little girl slowly began to recite, “GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, AND OUR PRESIDENT’S IN TROUBLE.”
3. Well that may not be how the verse goes but the truth of the matter is the president is in a little bit of trouble right now and our VBS truly was unbelievable.
III. Prepared this week –
A. VBS is an undaunting task to undertake especially for a small church like ours I mean if you have been around children for any length of time you know if you get 20, 30, 40 or more children together and you have got your hands full.
1. As I reflected on that I thought I better began the week with a little extra time of prayer and bible study. I turn to my trusty concordance and began reading all the various scriptures about children..
(a) There are over 435 different references in our Bible about children – about the joys and challenges
(b) But what I really found interesting that there was one story, one story about children that is repeated in each of the gospels almost exactly word for word
(c) Turn with me if you will to Luke 18:16, 17
2. What was it about this story that made it so important in the life of Jesus that all three of the Gospels recorded it? What does it mean to come as little children before God? What could I learn this week in VBS about the kingdom of God.
B. I listened to stories and lessons the children were being taught.
1. On Thursday they learned about Prayer
(a) They studied the Lord’s Prayer
(b) They learned the Hand Prayer
(i) Thumb – pray for me
(ii) Pointer Finger – for those who point the way
(iii) Middle Finger – for those who stand tall – our leaders
(iv) The Ring Finger– for those you love
(v) The Pinky Finger – for the weak
(c) Made Prayer Journals
(i) As I read through some of the journals I was touched by their prayers
(a) Thank you God for letting me be borne
(b) Take care of my mommy, daddy, grandma, grandpa and pets
(c) Help my parents love me even when I am bad
2. On Friday they learned about the giving of Gifts for God’s glory
(a) Gifts of Favors
(b) Gifts of Love
(c) Gift of Thanks
(d)
3. And on Saturday they learned about Service
(a) Service not just to the poor and needy
(b) But in the church as well
(i) We are thankful for the Banner and Planters
C. But while the lessons were insightful and wonderful – the girls did a fantastic job
1. I didn’t think that was exactly what God wanted us to understand about coming to Him as little children.
2. So I began to really watch and listen to what the children were saying and doing and this is
IV. What I Learned at VBS
A. To be like a child in the kingdom of God you have to actively worship God with your whole body
1. Now Justin is a pretty active child (just ask anyone who was here this week) And in his hyperactivity you don’t always “see” God
2. But when they would begin to worship God through must it was amazing. Justin would become very focused very intentional and move, boy did he move, that boy can cut quite a rug
(a) His feet, his hands, his arms, his head moved every part of his being was moving
(b) But it was a different kind of movement, a different kind of movement activity. It was movement that was intended to worship God. I believe in those moments Justin understood how to worship God and in his movement I was moved me to feet of God
(c) Now I am not saying that we need to teach Bob how to dance down the aisle like justin
3. But what I am saying is that often for many of us worshipping God simply means we are present on Sunday, our eyes are open and the only movement we make to turn the page of the hymnal
4. As a child in the kingdom of God, as one worthy of the kingdom of God, God expects us to worship him with our whole body – with the mind, heart, soul and yes even sometimes with the physical movement of our body –
(a) God expects us to Move us to move actively in our worship by making decision about the sins and shortcomings in our life
(b) He expects us to Move us to actively to live differently – to
(c) Move us to move actively in our faith – it isn’t something you just feel - it is the two legs of humanity. When a person steps out in faith, the leg of faith moves out forward and then seoncd, the leg of deeds/of action is right there behind it coming up helping us complete the step.
5. Faith and Deeds move together, actively worshipping God – helping us to worship with our whole body
B. And I learned this week that you have to practice to learn
1. Rosie was talking about all she had learned this week – All the children the whole way home – talking, talk, talk – I would have thought by then they would have dropped off to sleep – but no they were so excited about all that had happened all that they had learned they talked incessantly the whole way – most of the time in fact all were talking at the same.
2. One afternoon Rosie and I were talking about VBS and working on cutting out paper dolls like Jessica had made when Rosie first attempt came out looking like Larry Boy
3. So we talked about limbs, and proportions
4. But after several efforts Rosie made a chain of paper dolls and she made this profound statement. “You know what Momma you have to practice to learn.
5. Practice to Learn – I thought we learned by coming to church and listening to the Sunday School teacher and listened to the preacher, I thought you. But children and teachers know Learning isn’t a sedatary activity – I mean that’s why teachers give homework right – so you can practice and learn.
6. If we are truly going to learn about God’s kingdom, if we are going how to pray, how to live like God, we are going to learn how to forgive others and ourselves – then we have to practice.
(a) Practice everyday or at least once a week we need to practice reading our Bible
(b) Practice praying – writing, reading, saying out loud
(c) Practice forgiveness with our family, friends and employers
(d) We have to Practice loving unconditionally
(e) To Learn to really learn how to be a child in the kingdom of God we have to practice,
C. And I learned this week that learning and worshipping God is fun and exciting
1. Alex and Nickie
2. All of our children and adults who participated in VBS had fun –
(a) Coming to church doesn’t have to be should be a drudgery
(b) And if it is then we need to begin by examing ourselves
(i) Our attitudes about church about God
(ii) You need to talk to me, work with me help Bob and I make worship and coming to church something you look forward to, something you enjoy.
(iii) Coming to church shouldn’t be a have to, a chore
(iv) If should be something you want to do, something you look forward to doing every week
3. When you looked out at this children this week, you saw them smiling, you heard them laughing, talking excitedly, raising their hand (ooh, ooh I know the answer)
4. They enjoyed coming, they couldn’t wait to come
5. Miguel –
(a) on Thursday, wantedwhy are we going to eggelesia today
(b) On Friday, are we going to egglesia again
(c) Saturday can we go to egglesia today, Yes Are we going to go tomorrow – yes Miguel – can we go the next day – No you have to go to school – why can’t we go to church I want to go to church that day
6. Worshipping God, coming to church, should be something we want to do, we enjoy doing,
(a) It should put smile on our face, a song in our heart and laughter in our soul
D. And I learned this week in VBS as a child in the kingdom of God we have to come with innocence of open hearts and minds
1. Children have an amazing capacity to openly accept and understand the mystery of God
(a) Don’t misunderstand me, they don’t take everything at face value – they ask questions
(i) Why did the widow only have two mites – didn’t she have any money?
(ii) Why do we call Jesus Father, he’s not my daddy?
(iii) Why did Jesus break up the bread so much that the people could eat it all?
2. But in all their questions, in all their wondering they don’t have to have all the answers
(a) Nick said the other day his mother’s favorite answer to questions about why was ---Because I’m the mother and I said so
(b) When it’s all said and done, when we can’t come up with any more reasonable answer for their questions then “Because God said so” is enough for a child
(c) A child is willing to accept that – willing to believe it – open to the mystery of God that doesn’t explain everything, that doesn’t always make sense
(d) A child’s heart has the ability to understand God in way many of us never come to understand him
(e) Danny Dutton is 8 years old, He is from Chula Vista, California, for a third grade writing assignment he decided to "Explain God." This is what he wrote
One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn’t make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way, He doesn’t have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.
God’s second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times besides bedtime. God doesn’t have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off. God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn’t go wasting His time by going over your mom and dad’s head asking for something they said you couldn’t have.
Atheists are people who don’t believe in God. I don’t think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren’t any who come to our church. Jesus is God’s Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn’t want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind like His Father and He told His Father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said OK.
His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn’t have to go out on the road anymore, He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary only more important. You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to hear you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the times.
You should always go to Church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there’s anybody you want to make happy, it’s God. Don’t skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong! And, besides, the sun doesn’t come out at the beach until noon anyway.
If you don’t believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can’t go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He’s around you when you’re scared in the dark or when you can’t swim very good and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids. But you shouldn’t just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases.
And that’s why I believe in God."
V. Closing
VS 17
May we all become like little children – actively worshipping God with our whole body, practicing our faith every day that we might learn how to become more like God, loving and enjoying church and being open to the mysteries of God by not having to have all the answer but by accepting God for God.
May we truly be children of God.
Amen!
