“The Mark” sports camp Bible theme is based on Paul’s exhortation to young Timothy when he said, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

The original Greek word used here for “example” has several meanings. Here are some of them: a) the mark of a stroke or blow, print, b) a figure formed by a blow or impression, c) an example to be imitated.

The language Paul is using here is that when the Gospel has truly impacted a believer’s life, a real visible mark will be seen in that person’s life. It will be evident. There will be a figure formed by that blow or impression.

This Greek word is the exact same word John uses in John 20:25 when he describes Thomas’ response to the other disciples after the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord!” and Thomas’ response is: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Thomas is saying that he needed to see the mark left by those nails in Jesus’ hands when he was crucified to truly believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. Not long after, Thomas would see those marks left by the nails with his very own eyes, and it changed Thomas. Thomas himself was marked from that day forward.

• DAY 1: Be an Example in Speech
• DAY 2: Be an Example in Conduct
• DAY 3: Be an Example in Love
• DAY 4: Be an Example in Faith
• DAY 5: Be an Example in Purity

Includes:

• Bible Discussion Guides for Leaders (5 Sessions)
• Object Lessons & Illustrations
• Printable Playbook (handouts for youths)
• Logo Files & 4K Media Graphics
• T-Shirt Logo Design

The post THE MARK: Sports Ministry Theme appeared first on Outreach and Ministry Resources.

VBS Curriculum: Kingdom Come (The Lord’s Prayer)

This Kingdom Come VBS theme or children’s ministry Bible curriculum is based on the Lord’s Prayer. We work through five sessions, breaking down each principle in that prayer.

This resource was designed as a camp curriculum for 8-12 years of age but can also serve as a VBS theme, a 5-week Sunday morning children’s ministry teaching series, Sunday School curriculum, Backyard Bible club, or kids’ sports camp curriculum.

• (DAY 1) Our Good Father in Heaven
• (DAY 2) Thy Kingdom Come
• (DAY 3) Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
• (DAY 4) Forgive Us Our Sins
• (DAY 5) Lead Us Not Into Temptation.

Includes:

• Lesson Guides (5 Sessions)
• Inductive Bible Study Questions
• Group & Team Building Activities
• Object Lessons & Illustrations
• Craft Ideas & Music Playlist (*Links)
• Printable Booklet for Handouts (Talk Sheets)
• Logo Files & 4K Media Graphics
• T-Shirt Logo Design

*Contents does not include craft supplies or music audio files, only the craft ideas with links to suggested materials as well as a short playlist of ideal songs to go with each daily lesson theme.

SUMMARY

During the times of Jesus’ earthly ministry, people had many differing views on how to pray depending on their culture or learned traditions. Prayer was a pillar of Jewish piety. Public prayer, said aloud in the morning, afternoon, and evening, was very common. At the set time of prayer, pious Jews would stop what they were doing and pray, some discreetly, but others with pretentious display. 

Pagans used “heaped up empty phrases” while repeating the names of their gods or the same words over and over without thinking (1 Kings 18:26; Acts 19:34).

Jesus taught His followers that prayer wasn’t about some magical formula, mindless phrases, mechanical repetition, or being heard by God because our petitions are loud enough. And Jesus certainly didn’t explicitly forbid public prayer, as He Himself often prayed publicly. Rather, Jesus condemned the act of praying publicly with the intention of being seen by others and seeking praise, highlighting the importance of sincerity and a humble heart when praying in public. 

Many people misunderstand the Lord’s Prayer to be a prayer we are supposed to recite word for word. Some people treat the Lord’s Prayer as a ritual, as if the words themselves have some specific power or influence with God. The Bible teaches the opposite. God is far more interested in our hearts when we pray than He is in our words. In prayer, we are to pour out our hearts to God (Philippians 4:6-7), not simply recite memorized words to God. So, why did Jesus give His disciples a model for prayer?

The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. It could also be called “the Model Prayer,” since Jesus was using this prayer as a pattern for His disciples to follow. It isn’t about a ritual, but more about an example of how to find the heart of God in prayer. It helps us talk to God and understand what’s important to Him. The Lord’s Prayer should be understood as an example, or a pattern, of how to pray. It gives us the “ingredients” that should go into prayer. 

This model prayer teaches us a lot about how to connect with God and how to live as His followers. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key lessons we can learn from it:

This model of prayer underscores the unique relationship Christian believers have with God as their “Father” (Rom. 8:14–17; Gal. 4:4–7). “Our Father in heaven” is teaching us whom to address our prayers to—the Father. The Greek word for “Father” (patēr) would have been “Abba” in Aramaic, the everyday language spoken by Jesus. The idea of praying to God as “Our Father” conveys the authority, warmth, and intimacy of a loving father’s care, while “in heaven” reminds believers of God’s sovereign rule over all things. The theme of “heavenly Father” is found throughout the Old Testament (Deut. 14:1; 32:6; Ps. 103:13; Jer. 3:4; 31:9; Hos. 11:1). Jesus’ disciples are invited into the intimacy of God the Son with his Father. 

“Hallowed be your name” is telling us to worship God, and to praise Him for who He is. We are to respect and honor God’s name. It reminds us that God is holy and deserving of our reverence. We want to impart upon kids the importance of using the Lord’s name with reverence, as they respect God’s power and authority. 

The phrase “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a reminder to us that we are to pray for God’s plan in our lives and the world. We want God’s ways of kindness, peace, and justice to spread everywhere. We are to pray for God’s will to be done, not for our own selfish desires to succeed. 

We are encouraged to ask God for the things we need in “give us today our daily bread.” This reminds us to trust God for our needs, big and small. God provides for us every day, whether it’s food, shelter, or anything else we need to live.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” reminds us to confess our sins to God and to turn from them, and also to forgive others as God has forgiven us. A Christ-centered faith understands that forgiveness is essential in our relationship with God and others. Just as God forgives us, we are called to forgive others, no matter how hard it may be.

The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” is a plea for help in achieving victory over sin and a request for protection from the attacks of the devil. It reminds us we need God’s help to make good, Christ-honoring choices in our lives. We can’t make wise choices on our own. We need God’s help to avoid things that are wrong and to stay safe from harm.

“For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever” informs our prayers to always seek God’s glory. We learn that God is the King, and He has all power and glory forever. Everything belongs to Him, and we are to honor Him in all things..

The post Bible Camp Theme or VBS Curriculum: Kingdom Come appeared first on Outreach and Ministry Resources.

VBS Curriculum: LIT (Genesis 1-11)

This Genesis VBS theme or children’s Bible curriculum (Genesis 1-11) is based on the Old Testament origins of creation, fall, and redemption. We look at how God created the earth, gave light over the darkness, and formed mankind in His own image. We also see how humanity turned from God’s wisdom, evil became rampant, and God ultimately destroyed the earth with a flood and later scattered people from the Tower of Babel. Each session has a New Testament gospel connection that points to Jesus Christ as the “Light of the world.”

This resource was designed as a camp curriculum for 8-12 years of age but can also serve as a VBS theme, a 5-week Sunday morning children’s ministry teaching series, Sunday School curriculum, Backyard Bible club, or kids’ sports camp curriculum.

• (DAY ONE) God Lit the World With His Goodness
  
• (DAY TWO) Breaking God’s Rules Leads to Broken Lives
  
• (DAY THREE) Sibling Rivalry and Pleasing God
  
• (DAY FOUR) God Saves Noah From The Flood
  
• (DAY FIVE) The Tower of Babel
  

Includes:

• Lesson Guides (5 Sessions)
• Inductive Bible Study Questions
• Group & Team Building Activities
• Object Lessons & Illustrations
• Craft Ideas & Music Playlist (*Links)
• Printable Booklet for Handouts (Talk Sheets)
• Logo Files & 4K Media Graphics
• T-Shirt Logo Design

*Contents does not include craft supplies or music audio files, just craft ideas with links to suggested materials as well as a short playlist of ideal songs to go with each daily lesson theme.

Download

SUMMARY

God creates a good world and commissions humans to rule it, but they choose rebellion again and again. When God looks at the world he made, he declares it good. He installs humans as his partners in ruling creation, but the humans choose to do what is good in their own eyes, leading ultimately to death.

The first eleven chapters of the Bible record God’s goodness and humanity’s repeated rebellions, which introduce violence, disorder, and the founding of Babylon. It’s these first chapters that set the plot in motion for God to respond to human evil with his redemptive plan.

Translated as “origin” from Greek, the book of Genesis sets the stage for the redemptive storyline of the Bible.

The story opens with God confronting chaos and disorder to bring order and beauty in creation. Humans are formed and appointed to participate in God’s divine rule of the universe. As his representatives, humanity can choose to trust God for wisdom to rule, resulting in blessing for the entire world.

However, the humans choose to define good and evil on their own, which begins a destructive cycle that reintroduces chaos and disorder back into God’s good world. The first eleven chapters of Genesis show a repeated theme of rebellion, from the garden to Cain and Abel, the “sons of God,” the flood, and finally Babylon.

God continues to give humanity the chance to bring blessing into the world, and they continually choose their own way. Yet God promises, even in our rebellion, that a wounded victor will come to defeat evil at its source. It’s this plan that God sets into motion beginning in Genesis 12.

The post Bible Camp Theme or VBS Curriculum: LIT (Genesis 1-11) appeared first on Outreach and Ministry Resources.

Throughout scripture we find God calling out “Playmakers” to make a difference in their world. Nowhere in the Gospels do we see Jesus calling his disciples to partial obedience or halfhearted devotion. Playmakers are those who give everything they have and leave it all on the field to change the game for others.

This graphics kit is fitting for a sports camp theme, sports ministry teaching concept, youth camps, VBS theme, Bible camp theme, young adult Bible study theme, Super Bowl outreach, or church sermon series theme.

Contents:

• PSD and PNG logo file for custom editing

• PDF exterior shell for church bulletins and worship guides

• PowerPoint template and ProPresenter slides

• 4K hi-def graphics for banners, flyers, inserts, and promos

• Cutsom banner for website and/or social media platforms

Download

The post PLAYMAKERS: Sports Ministry Theme appeared first on Outreach and Ministry Resources.

VBS Curriculum: KING DAVID “A Different Kind”

This Bible camp theme and VBS curriculum is based on the Old Testament story of David. His story teaches us that when God wants to use someone for a great purpose, He doesn’t choose them based on outward appearances, He looks at their heart. David was a “different kind” of teenager, soldier, musician, friend, servant, and leader. Though he was imperfect and made many mistakes in his life, he sets an example of overcoming evil with good. This curriculum focuses on his early life and how it ultimately points to a “different kind” of love and the new life we find in Jesus. 

This resource was designed as a camp curriculum for children 8-12 years of age but can also serve as a VBS theme, a 5-week Sunday morning children’s ministry teaching series, Sunday School curriculum, Backyard Bible club, or kids’ sports camp curriculum. Each lesson has a “Gospel Connection” connecting David to Jesus and what that means for us.

• (DAY ONE) A Different Kind of Heart
  
• (DAY TWO) A Different Kind of Courage
  
• (DAY THREE) A Different Kind of King
  
• (DAY FOUR) A Different Kind of Love
  
• (DAY FIVE) A Different Kind of Life
  

Includes:

• Lesson Guides (5 Sessions)
• Inductive Bible Study Questions
• Group & Team Building Activities
• Object Lessons & Illustrations
• Craft Ideas & Music Playlist (*Links)
• Printable Handouts (Talk Sheets)
• Logo Files & 4K Media Graphics
• T-Shirt Logo Design

*Contents does not include craft supplies or music audio files, just craft ideas with links to suggested materials as well as a short playlist of ideal songs to go with each daily lesson theme.

Download

David is one of the Bible’s most powerful characters… flawed, incredibly human, yet called “a man after God’s own heart.”

We can learn a lot from the life of David. In Hebrew, the name David means “beloved.” David was born in 1040 BC, and was the youngest son of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:10-11). He is described as handsome and ruddy with beautiful eyes (1 Samuel 16:12). He was anointed as a boy to be God’s chosen king by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel. 16:13), and from that day forward, the Holy Spirit remained with him for the rest of his life.

David started life as a shepherd-boy. He quickly grew into a brave teenager who protected his flock from hungry lions. He defeated a giant named Goliath when all the King’s soldiers were too scared to fight. He was very musical, playing a harp, the nearest thing they had in those days to a guitar. His psalms are masterpieces, capturing human guilt, longing, joy, hope and faith.

David was kind and respectful to King Saul, even though Saul was jealous and tried to kill David numerous times. David wasn’t overcome by evil, but overcame evil with good. Like other flawed human beings, David made some big mistakes in his life, but he knew how to say sorry and put things right. He became the most famous King that Israel ever had!

His story teaches us that when God wants to use someone for a great purpose, He doesn’t choose them based on outward appearances, He looks at their heart.

The post KING DAVID: Bible Camp Theme or VBS Curriculum appeared first on Outreach and Ministry Resources.

VBS Curriculum: JONAH

This Bible camp theme and VBS curriculum is based on the Old Testament story of Jonah. Jonah’s story as a runaway prophet getting swallowed by a “great fish” resonates with children in many ways. Jonah had to learn the hard way that God loves those we might not like, and calls us to demonstrate mercy in the same manner in which we have received mercy.

Jonah’s story is about someone being rescued by God. Yes, the Ninevites were spared God’s wrath, but the story also shows that God did not give up on Jonah. God gave Jonah a second chance (and more). He didn’t let him run away, and he didn’t let him drown. He could easily have called someone else more faithful to go to Nineveh, someone who had some compassion and mercy toward others. Maybe he used Jonah because Jonah needed God’s rescue―not just from drowning, but from his hard heart.

This resource was designed as a Bible camp curriculum for children 8-12 years of age but can also serve as a VBS theme, a 5-week Sunday morning children’s ministry teaching series, Sunday School lessons, Backyard Bible club, or kids’ sports camp curriculum.

• (DAY ONE) Jonah Runs From God
  
• (DAY TWO) God Rescues Jonah From a Dark Place
  
• (DAY THREE) God Gives Jonah a Second Chance
  
• (DAY FOUR) Jonah Points to a Real Superhero (JESUS)
  
• (DAY FIVE) Jonah Learns About Compassion and Mercy
  

Includes:

• Lesson Guides (5 Sessions)
• Group & Team Building Activities
• Object Lessons & Illustrations
• *Craft Ideas & Music Playlist
• Printable Handouts (Talk Sheets)
• Logo Files & 4K Media Graphics
• HD PowerPoint Template
• T-Shirt Logo Design
• Staff Devotions

*Contents does not include craft materials or music files, only links to craft ideas and short playlists with suggested songs to go with each daily lesson theme.

Download

The post JONAH: Bible Camp Theme or VBS Curriculum appeared first on Outreach and Ministry Resources.