Turning to Jesus!

A Vacation Bible School Curriculum by Barry McWilliams
an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America

Curriculum Overview

Overall Theme: When I follow Jesus, I must turn away from sin.

DAILY SUB THEMES:

1. Faith is believing and following Jesus
2. Faith in Jesus brings forgiveness for our sins
3. Faith is Trusting and obeying Jesus rather than what we see.
4. Faith is Believing in Jesus' power to save
5. Faith is Holding fast to Jesus whatever the cost to us.

Bible Lessons

The Lessons and Stories:

Day One: Jesus Calls His disciples to follow Him.
Main Texts: Mark 1:9-32, John 1:35-41
Story: "The Fishermen who were Caught"
Teaching method: Stick puppets or Pictures in Sequence

Day Two: The Paralytic Man lowered through the roof.
Main Texts: Mark 2:1-17, Luke 5:17-26
Story: "The man who came in the roof"
Teaching Method: Flannelgraph

Day Three:.Jesus feeds 5,000 and Walks on Water (Peter sinks)
Main Texts: Mark 6:30-56, Matt 14:13-36
Story: "A long hard day of miracles"
Teaching Method: Pantomime (Act it out story)

Day Four: Jesus' disciples and The Boy with the Evil Spirit
Main Texts: Mark 9:2-32, Matt 17, cf. Mark 11:22-25
Story: "The demon who wouldn't come out"
Teaching Method: Dramatic Story telling

Day Five: The Rich Young Ruler
Main Texts: Mark 10:13-31
Story: "The boy who was too rich"
Teaching Method: Puppet Story





Memory Passage: Mark 8:34b-38

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the Gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

One of the main goals of the VBS is the memorization of Mark 8:34b-38. This passage will be worked on as a whole during the entire week of the VBS in a variety of fun ways. The detailed description of the method will show you how this will be accomplished. Learning sessions will focus on "faith" and "repentence", and how these operate in our daily lives.



Object Lessons:

The Object Lessons illustrate aspects of these saying of Jesus and are to be prepared and given by the Pastor or VBS Team Leader during a Morning Assembly.

Day One: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
This lesson should stress that taking up our cross is turning from selfish concerns and trusting Jesus.

Day Two: For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the Gospel will save it.
This lesson should stress that we must hold fast to Jesus and his commandments rather than to our selves and selfish interests.

Day Three: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
This object lesson should stress that seeking after anything else may forfeit Christ.

Day Four: Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
This object lesson should stress that we have nothing to offer God, that we need his Son given on the cross if we are to have forgiveness, eternal life and be his disciples.

Day Five: If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
This lesson should face up to the peer pressures and other obstacles that might keep us away from Jesus.

© 1989 Barry McWilliams and Mission Church Fellowship,
Hypertext Version © 1996 Barry McWilliams
This Curriculum may be downloaded, copied and used by churches and other Christian organizations without charge with permission from Barry McWilliams.
Donations will be accepted.
Contact Barry McWilliams at eldrbarry@eldrbarry.net
http://www.eldrbarry/vbs/3/gali3.htm