It All Comes Back to Jesus! This is the catchphrase for Lifeway’s Boomerang Express Vacation Bible School. We are in the middle of Bible School this week. I decided to give our adults a whirlwind presentation of Bible School in 37 minutes last Sunday. The children are learning about Peter, my favorite New Testament preacher. Peter I can identify with, becasue he was 100% human, yet 100% sold out for his Savior, Jesus Christ.
Each night the children look at a significant event in Peter’s life, and how it impacted his love for Jesus Christ. The nights are themed as follows:
1. Follow Him
Bible Story: Peter’s Invitation John 1:40-42
Becoming a born again Christian requires a decision. It is not left up to chance, or your works or even hope. You consciously decide by FAITH to see Jesus as your Lord and Savior. When you make that decision it is as significant as saying “I DO” at the wedding altar. Do you remember the song titled “I Met the Master”? by Dottie West
Like a babe when it cries
For its His mother
Like a child I was helpless and alone
Then I met the Master
And now I, I am one of His own
CHORUS
For all things were changed
When He found me
And a new day broke through
All around me
For I met the Master
Now I belong to Him
When you meet the Master, and your eyes are opened to His Deity, His Sacrifice His Resurrection, YOU KNOW IT!
Life Application: Because Jesus loves and chooses me, I can follow Him.
2. Worship Him
Bible Story: Peter’s Discovery Matthew 14:22-33
In this event Peter discovered what it means to worship Jesus. When Jesus saved his life, it brought a totally new perspective to his view of Jesus. And when the other disciples saw just a glimpse of who Jesus really was, they changed from seeing a ghost to seeing the “Son of God”
Life Application: Because Jesus is the Son of God, I can worship Him.
3. Confess Him
Bible Story: Peter’s Challenge Luke 22:31-34 Luke 22:54-62 Luke 23:44-46 Luke 24:1-12
Even though Peter knew Jesus was the Son of God, it took the sight of the empty tomb to wake him up to the unbelievable truth that Jesus truly is the Son of God. Until we see Jesus as He truly is, we are not able to confess Him as our Savior and Lord.
Life Application: Because Jesus died for me, I can confess Him as my Savior.
4. Serve Him
Bible Story: Peter’s Mission John 21:1-19
Even though Peter failed Jesus at His greatest hour of need, Jesus forgave Peter. But Jese did not allow Peter to continue to sulk and live with a defeatist circle of regret. He urged Peter to focus on what Jesus called him to do – Feed my sheep!
Life Application: Because Jesus forgives me, I can still serve Him.
5. Obey Him
Bible Story: Peter’s Obedience Acts 12:1-17
Even though the danger of death and martyrdom was facing Peter and the disciples, they continued to be faithful to Jesus. They continued to OBEY!
Life Application: Because Jesus helps me, I can follow God’s plan for me.
JESUS IS THE ROCK
There is a famous rock in Australia. Some call it Ayers, others Uluru. Uluru is one of Australia’s most recognizable natural icons. The world-renowned sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high (863 m/2,831 ft above sea level) with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures 9.4 km (5.8 mi) in circumference.
Uluru is notable for appearing to change color as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year, with sunset a particularly remarkable sight when it briefly glows red.
At the base of ULURU is an abundance of Bloodwood Trees. The Aborigines use the wood of the Centralian Bloodwood for spearheads and boomerangs.
The tree trunk and branches are thorned and become more gnarled with age, lending to it’s attractive appearance. The wood of the tree is heavy and extremely hard and dense. Freshly cut wood will readily sink in water. The sap of the Bloodwood tree is a deep red. The natives use it as a disinfectant.Campeche is a valuable dyewood, it is said to be ready for felling when about 8 years old. The wood, deprived of its bark and sap-wood, is sent the market in the form of large blocks and billets. The wood can dry out, yet still retain its potency. Both hematoxylin and hematein are still commonly used for bacteriological and histological stains. Bloodwood also has other interesting uses. In herbal medicine systems it is employed as a natural remedy for anemia, dysentery and diarrhea, intestinal parasites, tuberculosis, and for menstrual disorders. The bark is used internally for diarrhea, and dysentery; externally as an astringent disinfectant for wounds and skin ulcers.
Is Jesus your Rock? Has his precious, perfect blood cleansed you of your sin, and made you a born again child of God?
Come to the “Rock of Ages”
Boomerang Express Verse: In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9
God loves you! You are separated from God because of your sin. The wages of your sin is death and eternal separation in Hell from Holy God. God’s Love required that a way might be found, a way to redeem sinful man from this sin penalty, and at the same time, satisfy the righteous requirements of Holy God’s Law. God’s Love REQUIRED the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. Jesus Christ is the REASON that we know God loves us, wants to have a living relationship with us. Jesus Christ, and Him living in our lives is the RESULT when you come to Him as Savior. If you Confess Jesus Christ as your own savior and Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead- you shall be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom 10:9,10)
Is Jesus Christ YOUR Rock? Have you been born again? Does Jesus live in you? Do you KNOW without a doubt that you will spend eternity with God?
Following are pictures drawn by a friend of my family, David Melton. David drew these for the book “This Man Jesus”. I have two of the original drawings. I like the way David captured the essence of both Peter and Jesus. You may use them as you wish.
Loving the Word with the MudPreacher 