Vacation Bible School 2012

July 23-27 9:00-12:30

Kindergarten—6th Grade

You must Pre-Register: Download the 2012_VBS_Registration_Form, fill it out and drop it off at church.

Want to know the Cost? Oh yeah, it’s FREE!

Did you miss last Sunday’s message, “Revive Us Again”? 

You can catch up on the first message in our Revival & Prayer Series on podcast or video.

Warm Up

As a youth, how did you handle others with authority such as teachers, police, etc.?

What about now?

How does how we submit to proper earthly authority reflect on our submission to God?

Hebrews 2:5

What does the phrase “the world to come” refer to?

Who has that age NOT been set in subjection to?

Reading on in v. 9, Who has it been set in subjection to?

What does this reveal about His identity; i.e. – Is He an angel?

Hebrews 2:6-9

The author quotes Psalm 8. Read the Psalm. What does David say there?

How does the writer of Hebrews use the Psalm; what point does he make from it?

David’s use of the word “man” here refers to humanity/mankind. What does he say was our original destiny?

What happened to God’s original plan/intent for us?

The writer of this letter takes the “man” of Psalm 8 & uses it prophetically of Who?

From the perspective of this passage, what did Adam & Eve lose in the Fall?

Who got it back?

What does that mean for us?

How is mankind a little lower than the angels?

What did that make possible for humanity in terms of God’s original intent for us?

Wrap Up

Though it’s not spelled out here, the author of Hebrews alludes to something we find occasionally in the NT – that Jesus is the Last Adam and that He succeeded where the First Adam failed. It’s our destiny to reign with Christ. He got back for us what Adam lost in the Fall. Glory forfeited by our first representative is reclaimed by our last.

Earth is in a kind of escrow as we await the return of Jesus to take possession of what He bought & owns. While we wait – what’s this life really about? What ought to occupy our attention? God’s original intent is that we’d rule. What ought we be intentional about?

INTRO / Warm Up

Have you ever gone boating or sailing?

Have you ever driven or piloted a ship / boat? If so, how was it different from driving a car?

What challenges does a lake or sea present to piloting a ship?

Hebrews 2:1-4

Have you had a period of ‘drifting’ (AKA ‘backsliding’) from the Lord?

If so, how long did it last?

What caused it?

How did you come out of it?

What ‘currents’ or pressures work on the followers of Jesus to make drifting possible?

What’s the special danger in drifting for a long time? How is it progressive?

What are some of the signs someone is drifting from the Lord?

What remedy does v. 1 give to avoiding spiritual drift?

What are some practical ways to “give more earnest heed to” the Gospel?

Wrap Up

What role ought we play in one another’s lives in regard to the danger of drifting?

Open

Many of the appliances that have become standard around the house have made life easier. What are some and how have they made things easier? Without them, how would life be different? What skills would we need to have & how much more time?

Digging In

Read John 10:7-18 & Psalm 23:1-4

Since Psalm 23 was well-known in Jesus’ day, when He claimed to be the Good Shepherd, what did the people understand He was claiming?

In this passage in John 10, what does Jesus says his being the Good Shepherd means for His people?

In v. 10, what does Jesus announce He came to bring?

Since everyone already has life (they’re alive) what does Jesus mean? (Consider what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3)

Why does He add, “. . . and that they may have it more abundantly”?

Why and how is the condition of sheep dependent on the quality of their shepherd?

What happens if a sheep decides to leave the flock and strike out on its own?

Wrap Up

In terms of our witness, why is it important for Jesus’ flock (His people) to not just survive, but to thrive? How does the  “more abundant” life Jesus came to bring attract the lost?

If we lived completely immersed in that life, what negative things would we be blessedly delivered from?

To Leaders – In these discussion sheets that will be provided for the next three months, feel free to use whatever questions you want. Don’t feel obligated to use them all. As you get to know your group, you’ll get a sense for what kinds of questions generate good discussion and which don’t. So be free to personalize the material as suits your group.

We will usually start off with some general questions that most if not all can answer because they require little Bible knowledge. This is to get the group to open up & share. They will usually relate to the study in some way (but not always). Then we’ll move into more interpretive questions & ask how points can be applied to our lives today.

INTRO / Warm Up

When and where did you first learn about angels?

If you were an angel, what would you like to do?

Have you ever inherited something? If so, did the process of inheritance set you at odds with other family members?

What do you think of when you hear the word “holy”?

Hebrews 1:2b

What does it mean when it says Jesus is the ”heir of all things?”

How does this establish His superiority?

What does this verse say Jesus made?

Read John 1:1-3. What does v. 3 say Jesus created?

What does this tell us about Who Jesus is?

Hebrews 1:3

Does it say Jesus “reflects” God’s glory, or “is (being)” that glory?

Is He an example of God – or God’s “express image?”

Read Colossians 1:16-17. What does this tell us about Jesus on-going work regarding creation?

In light of all this – what & Who must Jesus be?

Hebrews 1:4-14

In these verses, what/who does the author compare Jesus to?

In summary, he says, “Jesus is better than _________________.”

A couple times in this chapter, the author shows Jesus in what posture?

In contrast, what are the angels doing?

The Incarnation of Jesus as the God-Man is a difficult doctrine for us to fully understand because we are made to consider how the infinite & finite can be united in one Person. How can the eternal be linked to the temporal. For generations, theologians have acknowledged that the Incarnation is one of those beliefs that contains an element of mystery. We can apprehend it but notcomprehend it. The key to remember is that in the Incarnation, Man does not become God; rather, God takes on humanity. The finite could never become infinite, but the infinite could certainly take on aspects of finitude without harm to itself.

Do you find the Incarnation to be a difficult doctrine or is it something you embrace easily?

How does what we find here in Hebrews 1 help refute the teaching of the cults that Jesus is not God?

Wrap Up

Read v. 9 again. Note how the author says the Father anointed Jesus with the oil of gladness, because (therefore) Jesus loved righteousness & loathed lawlessness. In other words, happiness follows on holiness.

Do holiness and happiness seem opposed to each other to you?

How is true happiness really the product/result of holiness?

What negative emotions & consequences does a lack of holiness lead to?

In light of this, does your concept of holiness need to be edited?

How does the Holiness/Happiness reality affect the quality of our witness to the lost & even to other believers?

1.  Kingdom Center Ventura:  Is in need of volunteers to help with their upcoming golf tournament (May 21).  They need volunteers in various areas, both before the event and on the day of.  You can call Ken Duff at 660-5331 for details.

2. Kingdom Center Oxnard: Is in need of 3 new PC’s (desktop or laptop) and 1 All-In-One printer.  Their current PC’s and printer are failing and are in need of replacement.  You can call Jim Olaiz at 407-5337.

Using footage from the movie Saving Private Ryan and dubbing in our own dialogue, this promo shows the spiritual battle men go through and how they need prayer and worship to get through it. Enjoy.