A MIGHTY FORTRESS (Vacation Bible School 2017)

Who is Hezekiah?  Ask the children who attended our Vacation Bible School tonight!  (But don't be surprised if they reply, in a sing-song voice "Nanny, nanny boo, boo" )  Tonight's lesson was based on 2 Kings 18.  They made shields, had sweet and salty treats and knocked down castle walls as they learned about King Hezekiah.  Was he victorious?  Ask the kids and see!

Sheep -- VBS by Pastor Ronnie Koch

Sheep were a part of daily life in Bible times. David, went from being a boy who watched the family’s sheep, to being the great King of Israel. The angels announced the birth of Jesus first to people who were out watching sheep by night.

1. Our Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd

By Jesus comforting words, we are led to believe that He cares about each one of us

A statue of Jesus from the
Catacombs in Rome
A.D. 200

personally, and fully. He says, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” John 10:11 & 14

2. Jesus -- our Shepherd forever.

On the last day we are told that Jesus will judge the world, separating people like a shepherd would separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:21-36). Those of us who believe in Him look forward to that last day because we will hear Him say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (verse 34). Our Savior Jesus has been at work since even before He was born, preparing the Kingdom for us and preparing us for the Kingdom.

3. Jesus wants you to stay in His flock.

Jesus told Peter his disciple to “feed my lambs.” Today, Jesus has his pastors and teachers feed the lambs of his flock by preaching and teaching His word of grace and truth. Keep listening to Jesus word. Keep coming as a family to the green pastures of still waters that God has for you in His Divine Service at church.

Doves -- VBS by Pastor Ronnie Koch

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Mark 16:16

1. Doves are a symbol of peace & hope.

Doves are a common symbol in religious and civil ceremonies. They are sometimes released at weddings. Great flocks of them are released at the start of the Olympics. The dove is a familiar symbol of peace. It makes one feel peaceful to see a dove fly away free and hopeful for a good life ahead.

2. A dove showed Noah the flood was over.

When the rain had stopped for a while, Noah sent out a dove from the ark and it returned with a fresh olive branch, a sign that the newly cleaned dry land was producing green, new life.

Noah’s flood reminds us of baptism. See 1 Peter 3:20-21. Remind those in your family about this connection.

3. The Holy Spirit comes like a dove.

When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came to Him in the form of a dove. In our baptisms we have the promised Holy Spirit. Like a dove bringing feelings of peace and hope, the Holy Spirit has blessings for us. You and your family can review those blessings in the catechism’s explanation of the 3^rd Article of the Creed:

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.

Dinosaurs and Dragons - VBS by Pastor Ronnie Koch

Many children are enthralled with Dinosaurs and Dragons. Ancient bones that have been dug up seem to tell stories of great beasts that once roamed the land, sea and sky. In our Vacation Bible School today we talked about three important lessons the Bible has about Dinosaurs and Dragons.

1. God Created All Creatures.

Genesis 1: 24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.

There are no beasts or monsters that are outside of God’s creation or outside of God’s control.

Byzantine painting of Adam Naming the Animals.

2. God Cared for All Creatures.

Especially in the days of Noah God protected them from the flood.

Genesis 7:14-16 every beast, according to its kind, and all the livestock according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind, and every bird, according to its kind, every winged creature. 15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in.

3. All Creatures Praise God.

Dinosaurs and Dragons teach us how powerful and wise our Creator is.

Psalm 148:7 & 10 Praise the LORD from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all deeps,

Beasts and all livestock,

creeping things and flying birds