VBS – Day 3

Grace throwing a water ballon at a VBS volunteer

 

There are two sides to our walk with Christ.  One side is a serious, respectful and contemplative side.  We should fear God, bow before His feet and realize that we are sinners.  Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  This is a humbling statement.  Christian life requires self-sacrifice, dying to self, and even times persecution because of our faith.  This is the serious or “adult” side of our faith.     

The other side to our Christian faith is filled with praise, thanksgiving, joy, excitement and FUN!  Where scripture is very clear about the serious side of our faith, scripture is just as clear about the positive side as well.

 

“Shout for JOY to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music”                     -Psalm 98:4  

 

“Sing JOYFULLY to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.”            -Psalm 33:1  

 

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his JOY went and sold all he had and bought that field.”             -Matthew 13:44       

 

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your JOY may be complete.”            -John 15:11     

 

“And the disciples were filled with JOY and with the Holy Spirit.”      -Acts 13:52     

 

Jesus said, “And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”          -Matthew 18:3     

Some of our preschool kids experiencing what it is like to live in a tent.

 

Joy cannot be separated from our relationship with Jesus Christ!  Joy, excitement and fun are essentials to our faith!  Last night of VBS was a night of FUN!  Whether it was dancing and singing praises to God through the worship, throwing water balloons at the adults, walking through a tent (to experience what it is like to live in Haiti), or playing dead bug in the gymnasium while it was pouring down rain.  The kids had a blast. Being filled with joy and experiencing genuine Christian fellowship is one of the greatest attributes of being a Christian.  Knowing that we our saved and living a life of joy with other brothers and sisters in Christ is what church is all about.      

 

So we have two more nights of FUN at Vacation Bible School.  We will have fun to honor Christ and give thanks for the wonderful sacrifice that He gave for us all!      

Everyone singing during main session

 

What is God’s Will for You?

Every month at Crosspoint we’re challenging the congregation to memorize a verse together.  The memory verse for the month of my is 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18:

 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Many books, many sermons and many teachers have tried to presents answers to the question, “What is God’s will for my life?”  Many have come up with complex formulas that believers should follow in order to determine God’s will for their lives.  Paul when wrapping up with his letter to the church in  Thessalonica gives us on of the simplest answers.

When the outside world looks in on the church do they see us living out a life of joy, prayer and thankfulness?   Or do they see the opposite?  Depression, guilt, and complaining?  What the world needs is not another plan of salvation, 3 point sermon, or feel good message.  What the word needs is Jesus Christ.  When Jesus fully takes center stage in someone’s life they cannot help but to be joyful, live a life of prayer and to be thankful?  Why?  Because salvation give the greatest joy!  It starts with knowing the God of all creation, the Alpha & Omega, the greatest conceivable being loves you and sent his Son to earth to die for you and for the forgiveness of sins.  And not just that!  He came that you would have life and life to the fullest.  Not just in heaven but here on earth.  And not just that!  Through the Spirit of God, Christ dwells within us.  No greater joy can be found other than knowing that!

The other attributes fall into place after knowing the love and grace of Jesus Christ.  Who could not have joy?  Who wouldn’t want to continually connect to the Father in prayer?  Who wouldn’t be thankful of it all?  God’s will for us is that we live our life in such a way that others can see through our emotions and actions that Christ does dwell in us and we have salvation in him.

So this month’s memory verse is not just about memorizing 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, it’s about fully embracing Christ and through Him living in you, you will not just memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, you will live it.