Romans 10:17 – Where faith and life connect!
Romans 10:17 – Where faith and life connect!
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 26, 2011 AM
There are those who actually think that Vacation Bible School is old fashioned. Some in fact have tried to kind of “lie” about it and rename it “Summer Day Camp,” or “Children’s Week.” Vacation Bible School is still VBS, no matter how you try to repackage it. Nevertheless, is it still important for a church to continue to do? After all, it does take a lot of time, effort, and money. I believe it is extremely important for any church to do VBS because it is where faith and life connect!
In our modern world, we have become disconnected because of the advent of electronics and the use of things like E-mail, Twitter, Facebook, or Skype. We can stay kind of connected by these means, but they tend to be impersonal, fragmented, and an excuse not to know one another face-to-face. While some of these things can be used to keep loved ones connected, they are poor substitutes for the real thing. The same is true when presenting Biblical truth. You can have all the knowledge and means in the world at your disposal, but fail in reaching others for Jesus Christ. The Jews of Paul’s day were kind of like this. They were zealous for God, but in reality, they actually knew little about him and they hardly shared him with nonbelievers. They had sought to know righteousness apart from God. They had become disconnected. For Paul, righteousness is where faith and life connect!
READ: Romans 10:17
Paul would write, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NIV) With less than 10% of the population professing faith in Christ, this is why VBS is so vital. Let me share with you how. First, we have to…
I. Hear it!
1. Hearing is more than just listening!
1) We are reminded that Jesus told his listeners over and over, “He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15 NIV) If folks want to find the ultimate reason for life, they need to grasp who Jesus is. He is more than just a good guy or a fine spiritual teacher. In fact, Jesus told them to “"Consider carefully what you hear,” and he went on to relate that, “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.” (Mark 4:24 NIV) We become responsible for what we hear. This is vital, because Jesus admonished, “He who belongs to God hears what God says” and perhaps “The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47 NIV) Therefore, hearing the word of God is critical for someone to come to understand who Jesus is. This is also why Paul would ask, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14 NIV) We not only need folks to hear the word of God, but we need folks who will speak the word of God! Vacation Bible School does this! Children can come and hear the word of God from those who are willing to speak it! Hearing is more than listening!
EXAMPLE: My mother used to ask us boys, “Did you hear what I just said to you?” Charles Stanley does something similar by telling his audiences to, “Listen, listen to what I am about to say.” Jesus admonished his followers by telling them, “Therefore consider carefully how you listen,” and he told them to, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you!” (Luke 8:18 & 9:44 NIV) I guess hearing is more than listening because each of these folks wants their listeners to respond and to act upon what they were saying. Vacation Bible School allows those who have perhaps never heard the words of God to do so for the first time and then to act upon what they hear! VBS helps the lost to hear it!
However, there is more than just hearing the Bible during VBS. Did you know less than 15% of the population could honestly answer the question concerning what they truly believe spiritually? Why? I think it is because folks do not realize what faith means. I have discovered that VBS also gives children the opportunity to…
II. Believe it!
1. Believing is more than acknowledgment!
1) Perhaps the best example of believing is found in the honest answer of the father whose son was demon possessed. He desperately wanted his son healed. When Jesus offered a way to see this occur, Jesus told him, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23 NIV) The man honestly responds, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NIV) This is where most folks are in our day and age. They want to believe, but they are not sure how to believe. Many have a fuzzy appreciation of who Jesus might be. However, belief is more than a mere acknowledgment of Jesus, it is the total acceptance that he is whom he says he is. This is why Jesus asks Mary, the sister of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NIV) Her responding confession is extremely important, “‘Yes, Lord,’ she told him, ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.’” (John 11:27 NIV) Belief is placing one’s faith and trust in Jesus because he is the “Christ, the Son of God!” This is why Paul would write, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message.” It is the outcome of one placing their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Vacation Bible School gives whole families the opportunity to hear and then to believe in what they have heard! Believing is more than acknowledgment!
EXAMPLE: My father would take us swimming and one of the things he would do was stand in the water and ask us to jump into his arms. We had to trust him that he would always be there to catch us. Being a preschooler is when that kind of trust is developed. Many in our day and age say they believe there is a “God,” but many are also confused in understanding what that means. Jesus remarked, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1 NIV) Believing is more than acknowledgment. Vacation Bible School allows children and whole families for the first time to trust in God by trusting in Jesus.
Through the music, the games, the crafts, the snacks, and the Bible study Vacation Bible School is a means to present the gospel. Less than 20% of Christians have ever actually shared their faith with someone else. Herein is the real problem of the Christian church today, few witness. However, VBS is a perfect means to…
III. Connect it!
1. Connecting is more than feelings!
1) Jesus related to his followers that there was a very good way to discover whether or not a person’s faith was genuine. He said, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:19-20 NIV) Wow! Does this mean we should burn every believer to see if his or her faith is real or not? No, but there will come a day when we will personally discover if it is true or not. Jesus went on to teach, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV) Connecting our faith means putting it all together in our lives! Connecting our mind, will, and emotions and giving it all to Jesus. When Paul related, “the message is heard through the word of Christ,” he meant that, it was shared through our words and actions! We would deliberately tell others and we would deliberately do those things that showed the world we believe in Jesus! As James would write, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV) This why Paul warned, “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13 NIV) Vacation Bible School allows believers to connect with others and to connect their faith with their life. Connecting is more than feelings!
EXAMPLE: Hunting down electrical problems can be a real hassle. I remember one time when we were trying to get things wired right at the church. We began by simply flipping the switch on the wall, then looking at the circuit breakers. Finally, we had to remove some of the outlets, look inside the wall only to discover that there was no wire connection! It is tough trying to get power to an outlet when there is no possible means of connection! Putting it all together where our faith is concerned is actually very similar. We can say we love Jesus; we can go through the motions of worship, coming to church, and being in Bible Study, but without connecting it all together in our lives, it could mean there is a real problem. Connecting is more than feelings. Vacation Bible School helps believers to connect with their faith and it also helps those who have never heard of Jesus to connect with him. Now, have you made the connection of just how important VBS is to our church and community?
Conclusion:
Vacation Bible School helps others, and us with our faith, to hear it, believe it, and to connect it! Now, will you prayer walk today for VBS, will you serve, will you give to VBS?
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2011 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 26, 2011 AM
There are those who actually think that Vacation Bible School is old fashioned. Some in fact have tried to kind of “lie” about it and rename it “Summer Day Camp,” or “Children’s Week.” Vacation Bible School is still VBS, no matter how you try to repackage it. Nevertheless, is it still important for a church to continue to do? After all, it does take a lot of time, effort, and money. I believe it is extremely important for any church to do VBS because it is where faith and life connect!
In our modern world, we have become disconnected because of the advent of electronics and the use of things like E-mail, Twitter, Facebook, or Skype. We can stay kind of connected by these means, but they tend to be impersonal, fragmented, and an excuse not to know one another face-to-face. While some of these things can be used to keep loved ones connected, they are poor substitutes for the real thing. The same is true when presenting Biblical truth. You can have all the knowledge and means in the world at your disposal, but fail in reaching others for Jesus Christ. The Jews of Paul’s day were kind of like this. They were zealous for God, but in reality, they actually knew little about him and they hardly shared him with nonbelievers. They had sought to know righteousness apart from God. They had become disconnected. For Paul, righteousness is where faith and life connect!
READ: Romans 10:17
Paul would write, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NIV) With less than 10% of the population professing faith in Christ, this is why VBS is so vital. Let me share with you how. First, we have to…
I. Hear it!
1. Hearing is more than just listening!
1) We are reminded that Jesus told his listeners over and over, “He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15 NIV) If folks want to find the ultimate reason for life, they need to grasp who Jesus is. He is more than just a good guy or a fine spiritual teacher. In fact, Jesus told them to “"Consider carefully what you hear,” and he went on to relate that, “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.” (Mark 4:24 NIV) We become responsible for what we hear. This is vital, because Jesus admonished, “He who belongs to God hears what God says” and perhaps “The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47 NIV) Therefore, hearing the word of God is critical for someone to come to understand who Jesus is. This is also why Paul would ask, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14 NIV) We not only need folks to hear the word of God, but we need folks who will speak the word of God! Vacation Bible School does this! Children can come and hear the word of God from those who are willing to speak it! Hearing is more than listening!
EXAMPLE: My mother used to ask us boys, “Did you hear what I just said to you?” Charles Stanley does something similar by telling his audiences to, “Listen, listen to what I am about to say.” Jesus admonished his followers by telling them, “Therefore consider carefully how you listen,” and he told them to, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you!” (Luke 8:18 & 9:44 NIV) I guess hearing is more than listening because each of these folks wants their listeners to respond and to act upon what they were saying. Vacation Bible School allows those who have perhaps never heard the words of God to do so for the first time and then to act upon what they hear! VBS helps the lost to hear it!
However, there is more than just hearing the Bible during VBS. Did you know less than 15% of the population could honestly answer the question concerning what they truly believe spiritually? Why? I think it is because folks do not realize what faith means. I have discovered that VBS also gives children the opportunity to…
II. Believe it!
1. Believing is more than acknowledgment!
1) Perhaps the best example of believing is found in the honest answer of the father whose son was demon possessed. He desperately wanted his son healed. When Jesus offered a way to see this occur, Jesus told him, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23 NIV) The man honestly responds, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NIV) This is where most folks are in our day and age. They want to believe, but they are not sure how to believe. Many have a fuzzy appreciation of who Jesus might be. However, belief is more than a mere acknowledgment of Jesus, it is the total acceptance that he is whom he says he is. This is why Jesus asks Mary, the sister of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NIV) Her responding confession is extremely important, “‘Yes, Lord,’ she told him, ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.’” (John 11:27 NIV) Belief is placing one’s faith and trust in Jesus because he is the “Christ, the Son of God!” This is why Paul would write, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message.” It is the outcome of one placing their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Vacation Bible School gives whole families the opportunity to hear and then to believe in what they have heard! Believing is more than acknowledgment!
EXAMPLE: My father would take us swimming and one of the things he would do was stand in the water and ask us to jump into his arms. We had to trust him that he would always be there to catch us. Being a preschooler is when that kind of trust is developed. Many in our day and age say they believe there is a “God,” but many are also confused in understanding what that means. Jesus remarked, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1 NIV) Believing is more than acknowledgment. Vacation Bible School allows children and whole families for the first time to trust in God by trusting in Jesus.
Through the music, the games, the crafts, the snacks, and the Bible study Vacation Bible School is a means to present the gospel. Less than 20% of Christians have ever actually shared their faith with someone else. Herein is the real problem of the Christian church today, few witness. However, VBS is a perfect means to…
III. Connect it!
1. Connecting is more than feelings!
1) Jesus related to his followers that there was a very good way to discover whether or not a person’s faith was genuine. He said, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:19-20 NIV) Wow! Does this mean we should burn every believer to see if his or her faith is real or not? No, but there will come a day when we will personally discover if it is true or not. Jesus went on to teach, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV) Connecting our faith means putting it all together in our lives! Connecting our mind, will, and emotions and giving it all to Jesus. When Paul related, “the message is heard through the word of Christ,” he meant that, it was shared through our words and actions! We would deliberately tell others and we would deliberately do those things that showed the world we believe in Jesus! As James would write, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV) This why Paul warned, “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13 NIV) Vacation Bible School allows believers to connect with others and to connect their faith with their life. Connecting is more than feelings!
EXAMPLE: Hunting down electrical problems can be a real hassle. I remember one time when we were trying to get things wired right at the church. We began by simply flipping the switch on the wall, then looking at the circuit breakers. Finally, we had to remove some of the outlets, look inside the wall only to discover that there was no wire connection! It is tough trying to get power to an outlet when there is no possible means of connection! Putting it all together where our faith is concerned is actually very similar. We can say we love Jesus; we can go through the motions of worship, coming to church, and being in Bible Study, but without connecting it all together in our lives, it could mean there is a real problem. Connecting is more than feelings. Vacation Bible School helps believers to connect with their faith and it also helps those who have never heard of Jesus to connect with him. Now, have you made the connection of just how important VBS is to our church and community?
Conclusion:
Vacation Bible School helps others, and us with our faith, to hear it, believe it, and to connect it! Now, will you prayer walk today for VBS, will you serve, will you give to VBS?
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2011 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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