Virtual Vacation Bible School

Virtual VBS ~ Summertime Adventures 2019!

Week 2 ~Adventures with Paul~

SUPPLY LIST WEEK 2

  • BIBLE
  • JOURNAL (OPTIONAL)
  • WRITING UTENSIL SUCH AS PEN OR PENCIL
  • COMPUTER/TABLET/SMART PHONE FOR YOU-TUBE VIDEOS
  • PAPER OR CARD, STAMP, ENVELOPE
  • PEN OR PENCIL OR CRAYONS OR MARKERS 

LUKE – COMPANION OF PAUL

It was not easy traveling with Paul! Luke joined Paul on some of his missionary journeys and wrote down much of what happened in the early church and the work of Paul. Anytime one of Paul’s letters uses ‘we’ –it is because Luke was writing of his own experiences with Paul. 

Luke was an early gentile convert to Christianity. He was very well educated and could speak and write in classical Greek, Hellenistic Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. He was creative and talented. Greeks were well educated and trained in philosophy, mathematics, public speaking and writing. The romans respected and desired the Greek ways of education and oration. Greek writings, oratorical skills, and philosophers are still quoted, taught, and used to this day.

Luke was called by god and used his gifts to write the gospel of Luke as well as the book of acts. He is the only gentile author in the bible. Luke told the world about Jesus Christ as well as the beginnings of the new church, especially the journeys of Paul.

Luke was also a physician. Modern medicine had not yet been invented but Luke cared about the well – being of every person he encountered. His eye for detail gives us much insight into the early church as well as the life of Jesus based on his interviews with the apostles as well as Paul. Luke most likely lived in Antioch where the early church began to grow. Based on his writings, he is also an accurate historian, as his descriptions of towns and travels are well thought out.Luke is known for his unique perspective and inclusivity especially regarding women that Jesus encountered. Luke’s writings reach out to gentiles-welcoming all of the world into the Christian church. His writings make up just over 27% of the New Testament, more than any other New Testament writer. At the end of Paul’s life, only Luke was with him.

SCRIPTURE

Read 2 Timothy 4. Paul is in prison in Rome awaiting his death. Only Luke is with him. All others have left. This letter is one of his last messages encouraging the early church and its leaders to carry on with faith and courage. 

REFLECTION & JOURNAL

  1. WHO WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU AT THE END OF YOUR LIFE?
  2. HOW DOES FAITH IN GOD SHAPE YOUR APPROACH TO LIFE? 
  3. WHAT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR FINAL LEGACY TO BE?
  4. WHAT WORDS, LETTERS, OR ACTS DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR?

SONG & MEMORY VERSE

2 TIMOTHY 4:7 – “I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.”

OUR SONG IS: LORD PREPARE ME TO BE A SANCTUARY – ONE OF THE MOST LOVED BY OUR KIDS WHEN THEY GO TO CAMP. MAY GOD PREPARE YOU TO BE A LIVING SANCTUARY FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD. (WORDS IN OUR PRAYER BELOW).

CRAFT/SERVICE PROJECT

WRITE A LETTER OR DRAW A PICTURE FOR SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOVED BY YOU AND BY GOD. 

CLOSING PRAYER

LORD, PREPARE ME – TO BE A SANCTUARY, 

PURE AND HOLY, TRIED AND TRUE;

WITH THANKSGIVING, I’LL BE A LIVING SANCTUARY FOR YOU.

AMEN.

Week 1 ~Adventures with Paul~

SUPPLY LIST WEEK 1

  • BIBLE
  • JOURNAL (OPTIONAL)
  • WRITING UTENSIL SUCH AS PEN OR PENCIL
  • COMPUTER/TABLET/SMART PHONE FOR YOU-TUBE VIDEOS
  • ROCK – SMOOTH, LARGE ENOUGH FOR A MESSAGE, MAYBE MORE THAN ONE ROCK
  • PERMANENT MARKERS OR SHARPIES

THE APOSTLE PAUL

PAUL WAS BORN A ROMAN CITIZEN IN THE CITY OF TARSUS. HIS FATHER WAS A PHARISEE – WHICH IS SOMETHING LIKE A RELIGIOUS LAWYER. BOTH PARENTS WERE JEWISH. PAUL WAS SENT TO JERUSALEM TO STUDY WITH THE GREAT TEACHER, GAMALIEL, AND KNEW ALL OF THE INS AND OUTS OF THEIR LAWS AS WELL AS EVERY BIT OF SCRIPTURE. HE WAS A BRILLIANT SCHOLAR AND COULD SPEAK MANY LANGUAGES. HE WAS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR GOD’S MISSION TO THE WORLD. BUT, PAUL DIDN’T KNOW IT! HE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE REGION TRYING TO SQUASH A NEW RELIGION FOUNDED ON FAITH IN JESUS. BUT, GOD HAD OTHER PLANS. PAUL WAS HEADING TO DAMASCUS TO STOP THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY THERE WHEN HE AND HIS COMPANIONS WERE STOPPED BY A BLINDING LIGHT. PAUL COULD NOT SEE BUT HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS ASKING HIM TO STOP PERSECUTING HIS FOLLOWERS. HE WAS EVENTUALLY HEALED AND ENCOUNTERED JESUS AGAIN. HE BECAME THE GREATEST MISSIONARY EVER KNOWN AND THE NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR BIBLES ARE FILLED WITH MANY OF HIS LETTERS. HE WAS BEATEN, TORTURED, STONED, SHIPWREAKED, CHASED OUT OF TOWN, AND IMPRISONED FOR TEACHING AND PREACHING ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. 

SCRIPTURE

Read Acts 22 and/or watch the following you tube video:

REFLECTION & JOURNAL

  1. WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN WRONG ABOUT SOMETHING?
  2. HOW DID GOD SPEAK TO YOU?
  3. HOW CAN YOU SHARE GOD’S LOVE WITH OTHERS?

SONG & MEMORY VERSE

HOW DID PAUL KEEP GOING WHEN THINGS GOT TOUGH?

READ PHILIPPIANS 4:13. IT IS OUR MEMORY VERSE AND SONG.

LISTEN HERE BY COPYING THIS LINK AND LEARNING THE SONG:

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGHTENS ME.”       PHILIPPIANS 4:13.

WHEN PAUL WAS IN PRISON, HE WROTE A LETTER WHICH INCLUDED THIS VERSE TO HIS FRIENDS IN PHILPPI. HE WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT GOD WAS GIVING HIM STRENGTH AND COURAGE EVEN IN A COLD, LONELY PRISON CELL. GOD WILL ENCOURAGE US AND GIVE US STRENGTH, TOO.

 CRAFT AND SERVICE PROJECT

  • TAKE A ROCK AND USE PERMANENT MARKERS TO WRITE A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT SUCH AS PEACE, HOPE, LOVE, GRACE, DON’T GIVE UP!, YOU GOT THIS!  ETC.
  • PLACE THE ROCK IN A PARK FOR SOMEONE TO FIND.

CLOSING PRAYER

DEAR LORD, HELP ME TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE WITH ME.      NO MATTER WHAT CHALLENGES I FACE, YOU WILL SEE ME THROUGH. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY ROCK AND FOR GIVING ME YOUR STRENGTH, PEACE, HOPE, AND LOVE. AMEN.