The King Has Spoken - Week 1

Week 1 @ BBC got off to a great start!  Sixty-two kids join this years Backyard Bible Clubs.  After sign in, they could play gaga ball or sew a game bag.  The game bag was a little difficult for many of the kids.  We had a lot of tangled yarn.  Had to rip out and re-sew a number of times.  BUT, everyone eventually FINISHED a bag!  Yeah!

This year's theme song is "The Bible Train Express".  It is a cool song.  As we sing the Books of the Bible, it sounds like a train is leaving the station, traveling down the tracks, and arriving at another station.  Hopefully, we will all learn the books of the Bible before summer ends.  

This week's Bible Memory Verse was 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  We threw the Memory Verse Action Die to review the verse.  The kids loved when the dice landed on "Fast forward while marching."  I always needed at least three breaths to say the verse! 








Our Bible Lesson was taken from Jeremiah 36.  The Lord told Jeremiah to write His words down on a scroll.  But when King Jehoiakim heard the Lord's words, he cut the scroll into pieces and burned it!  (Oh, No!)  Even though the king tried to destroy God's words, God made sure His words were preserved (protected from loss).  He did this by having Jeremiah write a new scroll. 

We learned that the Bible is God's true message to us.  The Bible shows us who God is and what He requires from us.  Therefore we must believe it and respect it. 


 We played a review game called "The King says." When a kid answered a question correctly, he earned 1,000 points AND got to choose a King Says card for more points.  If his team completed the command on the card, they earned more points. 

We also had snacks and played octopus tag and/or wrist band tag.  I didn't get any pictures of group game time this week.  I must find a new photographer since my one from last year got married in June. 

This kids received their first sticker for their wallets.  (see below)  Each week, they will receive a new sticker. 

Had a good first week.  I am looking forward to next week, when we will play a lot of water relays!  It is suppose to be an extremely hot week here in PA. 

Are you ready for some Backyard Bible Club?!?

Summer is a time for going to the pool, playing with friends, eating hot dogs, and going to. . .

What is Backyard Bible club?  It is a summer Bible club for kids entering Kindergarten through 6th grade.  Each Backyard Bible Club meets once a week for seven weeks throughout the summer.  Come as many times as you can.

Each day at club, you will. . .

·  make an amazing craft,

·  sing songs,

·  learn a Bible verse,

·  listen to a Bible lesson,

·  eat a snack,

·  play games,

·  earn Bible bucks and

·  Have an opportunity to purchase items at the club store. 

This summer we are going to learn all about God: The Creator King! 

Week  1: The King has Spoken!

Week  2: The King Creates.

Week 3: Sin Enters the King’s World

Week 4: How to Approach the King

Week 5:  Walking with the King

Week 6: The King Saved

Week 7: The King Judges

So, click here to register today!

To Rome By the Way of Malta

Will Paul EVER get to Rome? 

While Paul was in the Jerusalem jail, Jesus appeared to him and said, "Do not be afraid.  Just as you witness for me in Jerusalem, so you will witness for me in Rome."  Paul just couldn't ask the guard to free him so that he could travel to Rome.  So how was God going to keep his promise to Paul?  

Well last week, we heard how Paul ended up in Caesarea for his trials.  That is a little closer to Rome, but not much.  At the end of Paul's trial with Governor Festus, Paul appealed to Caesar.  Paul wanted the Roman emperor to decided his case.  So Festus made arrangements for Paul to be sent to Rome!
 

In time Paul was loaded onto a ship.  The guard in charge of him and the other prisoners was a Roman centurion named Julius.  This ship wasn't going to Rome, but to the region of Lyconia-Asia.  Still this was closer to Rome than Jerusalem.  When they reached port, they changed ships.  This ship had come from Egypt and WAS going to Rome.  There were 276 people aboard this ship.  This included the sailors, soldiers/guards, prisoners and other travelers.  Because the winds were against them, they had great difficulty making it to the island of Crete.  But finally they arrived at Fair Havens on the east side of the island.  By now it was the winter, not a good time to be traveling in the Mediterranean.  Paul urged Julius to remain in Fair Havens because God had told him if they continue there will be great lost (of ship and goods), but the sailors wanted to try to reach Phoenix on the other side of the island.  Phoenix was a better harbor.  Julius choose to listen to the sailors rather than Paul. 

Was Julius choice going to prevent Paul from getting to Rome?  Nothing we or anyone else does will prevent God from keeping his promises.  He promised Paul that he would get to Rome.  God never fails.  He ALWAYS keeps his promises.  

Almost as soon as they set sail, a northeaster came on them.  Rain. Wind. Darkness.  It was a horrible storm.  And who was right in the middle of it on a ship?  PAUL!  God never promises that those who love him will not have storms in their lives.  But He does promised He will never leave us alone (Hebrews 13:5).  Even in this horrible storm, God was with Paul.   But one night in the midst of the storm, an angel of God visited Paul.  

"Paul, you will get to Rome.  And God will even spare the lives of the 275 people you are traveling with.  But the ship will be destroyed."  The angel told Paul.  

Paul shared this hope with the 275 people on board the ship.  Still the storm continues.  The sailors threw overboard everything they didn't need.  Soon they even threw overboard the ship's tackle.  Finally, they realized they were approaching land.  They didn't know where they were.  But when the sailors were convinced that land was nearby, they tried to sneak off the boat in the life boats.  But Paul told Julius about it.  Julius had the soldiers cut the lifeboats loose before anyone could use them.
On the 14th day, Paul encouraged everyone to eat.  He reminded them that God had told him that none of them will die.  Only the ship will be destroyed.  Then he gave thanks to God and ate bread.  When everyone else saw Paul eat, they also ate.

The next morning, they saw the approaching island had a beach.  The captain tried to make a run for the beach, but hit a reef instead.  Soon the ship was sinking.  Julius prevented the soldiers from killing all the prisoners.  He gave the orders for everyone to swim (or hold onto some wood & paddle) to shore.

ALL 276 people made it alive!  They had landed on Malta.  The natives helped them make a fire to dry off.  While Paul was putting wood onto the fire a snake came out of the pile and bit him.  The natives thought he was a murderer.  "This man has escape from the sea, but now the gods are punishing him."  they said.  But when he didn't die they decided "he must be one of the gods."

After three months on Malta, a ship was leaving for Rome.  Paul and Julius were on that Ship.  Finally Paul reached Rome just as God had promised him.  God never fails.  He always keeps His promises.


Our last week of club began with rain!  So Backyard Bible Club became Basement Bible Club.  In spite of the rain 38 kids arrived.  One great thing about being in the basement was the singing was GREAT!  For games we played "Mouse Trap" and "Pass the Pig".  The kids enjoyed "Mouse Trap" so much I played the same game for my Tuesday and Thursday clubs.  We also played with Hula Hoops.  Jinger and I even got a small hoop to role through a large hoop!

We had a really good last week of club.  The kids spent TONS of Bible Bucks they had saved until this week. In fact I had to go to the store for more candy on Wednesday so that my last two clubs would have something to buy!  Almost 30 kids learned all eight verses of the Roman Road.  Each of these kids chose a book from the book box.  It really has been a great summer following Paul throughout the Roman empire.  

Ceasarea

This week, we traveled with Paul to Caesarea.  Governor Felix has agreed to listen to Paul's case.  The Jewish leaders accuse Paul of three things.  First, they claim he has caused riots all over the Roman empire.  Secondly, Paul is accused of being disrespectful of the temple and the Jewish religion.  Thirdly, he is a leader of the people who follow Jesus of Nazarene.  Paul defends himself by stating that he had come down to Jerusalem 12 days prior.  While in Jerusalem, he brought money to give to the poor and he was worshipping God according to the Jewish laws.  At no time did he instigate a riot.  But Paul did agree with the Jews that he is a follower of Jesus of Nazarene who died and rose again.  Although Governor Felix realizes Paul is not guilty of any Roman law, he doesn't want to offend the Jews so he decided to make no judgement until the Roman captain who sent Paul to him arrives as give his statement.  So Paul is sent to jail.  

One day Governor Felix and his wife Drusilla invites Paul to talk to them.  Paul shared the Gospel (the good news about Jesus) with them.  He preaches righteousness, self-control and the judgement.  Governor Felix is NOT righteous.  He is a corrupt ruler.  In fact he hopes that Paul will give him a bribe for his release.  He does not have self-control.  Drusilla is Governor Felix's third wife.  He stole her from her first husband.  So when Paul talks about the coming judgement for sinners, Governor Felix quickly dismisses Paul.                                                                                                                      As far as we know, Felix and Drusilla never put their trust in Jesus.  Does that mean Paul was a bad witness for Jesus?  No!  God had told Paul that he would witness to Rome just as he had witness to Jerusalem.  Paul was obedient.  He told Felix and Drusilla about what he had seen and heard about Jesus.  The result of Paul's witness/testimony is up to God.

After two years, a new governor was appointed.  Governor Festus visited Jerusalem soon after he arrived in the area.  Immediately the Jewish leaders talked to him about Paul.  They wanted Paul to be brought back to Jerusalem for his trial.  They were planning to ambush him and kill him before he arrived at Jerusalem.  But Governor Festus told them he would oversee the trial in Caesarea because that was were Paul was in prison and that was where he was headed to next.  

The day after Governor Festus arrived in Caesarea, he heard the complains against Paul.  Upon realizing that the Jews were angry over Paul due to some religious argument, he asked Paul if he wanted to go to Jerusalem for his trial.  Paul said "No, I appeal to Caesar."  Since Paul was a Roman citizen he had the right to ask to be tried in the highest Roman court in Rome.  Governor Festus said, "To Caesar you will go."  

But before Governor Festus could arrange for Paul to be sent to Rome, he had visitors.  King Agrippa and his sister came to Caesarea.  Festus told King Agrippa about Paul.  King Agrippa wanted to hear Paul.  So the next day, Festus, King Agrippa, his sister and all the leading men of the region gathered to hear Paul speak.  Immediately, Paul shared his story of how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.  He told them that Jesus commanded him to be His witness to the Jews and Gentiles.  Then he pointed out to King Agrippa that the Jews were looking forward to the Messiah.  Their Scripture told them that the Messiah would suffer and die.  This is what Jesus had done.  

"King Agrippa, don't you believe the prophets?  I know that you do!"  Paul said.

"What do you think in such a short time you will make me a Jesus follower."  King Agrippa asked.

"Short or long.  I pray that everyone who is listening will become as I am - a Jesus follower - except for these chains."  Paul states.

Quickly King Agrippa stands and leaves.  Everyone else follows.  But as the King is leaving, he said, "This man would have been set free except that he has appealed to Caesar."  

We have seen Paul was obedient in being God's witness to the Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews), to the poor lame man and to King Agrippa.  He took every opportunity to share Jesus with others.  We need to do the same.  

For crafts this week, the kids made a Gospel Flipper Flapper.  They were challenged to share the Gospel with the Flipper Flapper with someone this week.  The Gold circle reminds us of God, who has no beginning and end.  The circle also reminds us that He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 5:8).  The gold color is a symbol of Heaven, God's home.

The next flap is a dirty heart.  There is one thing that can't be in Heaven - sin.  Unfortunately we all are sinners (Romans 3:10, 3:23, 5:12, 6:23).  The Punishment for sin is eternal death - Hell.

The next flap is a red cross.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in this while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."  Romans 6:23 tells us eternal life is a gift from God.  Jesus, God the Son, died for the sins of the world and rose again to show death's curse is broken.

The final flap is a clean heart.  Romans 10:9, 13 tells us that we need to declare, believe and call to be saved from eternal death.  Declare - to make a commitment to let Jesus be in control of your life.  Believe - to be convinced that Jesus truly died and rose again.  Call - to ask Jesus to save you from eternal death.  If we do these things, then we are promised salvation (saved from eternal punishment).  Have you declared, believed and called on Jesus?  You can do that right now.

 Here are some pictures of week 6:  My husband gave me a bunch of pool noodles for Christmas.  I made them into huge Lincoln Logs.  This kids enjoyed playing with then.  After a while the building turned into a full war with them throwing and hitting each other with the noodles.  It is a good thing the noodles are soft!

Our game of the week was Pool Noodle Hockey.

We played a matching game for our review game.  After a child answered a question correctly, he had a chance to find the different gospel symbols and match them.