It’s Time for Bible Class

hh2“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16

Summer’s here and that means two probable things––you’re out of school, and it’s VBS time! These things offer the perfect opportunity to help out in your church body. It’s important, as mentioned in the verse above, that each part of the body does its work, so that the entire body can function. That includes you!

Vacation Bible School

If your church is participating in a Vacation Bible School program, there are many things you can do to be involved and help out. Most likely, there will be a volunteer sign-up or an announcement asking for helpers and teachers. This is your chance to speak up. VBS offers many different areas for any gifting you may have. If you love to teach, volunteer to teach a class, or team-teach with someone else. Teachers are often needed, or at least volunteer to be a helper in one of the classes.

If teachers and assistants aren’t needed, there are plenty other things you can do to help out with VBS. Offer to make or bring refreshments. Cookies, brownies, and Rice Krispie treats are always a big hit––and easy to make. Provide some drinks for snack time, and then volunteer to stay at the table to pour and serve.

Vacation Bible School often means several other activities also, so discuss your ideas with the person heading up your VBS this summer. Love crafts? Organize a special craft project to go with the theme of VBS. Enjoy acting? Do a Bible character puppet show or skit with some friends for the younger children. If your VBS ends the week with a fun night, you could volunteer to organize several games for the kids, or to set up a face painting table if you’re artistic. Whatever God has gifted you with, use it!

hh1Finally, if all else is taken care of, volunteer to do what everyone else will certainly want to avoid––cleanup. Sometimes these forgotten, mundane tasks are the ones that leave the biggest impressions on others. Offer to clean up after VBS is over. Gather trash, clean up the kitchen, vacuum crumbs and glitter. Even if no one else gives you credit, remember that you are doing it to glorify God (1 Peter 2:12) and ultimately, that’s all that matters.

Bible Class

No VBS? Ask some of the teachers if you could help them with Bible school classes. They may enjoy a break for the summer while you take over the class. Or they may appreciate something as simple as you helping them to prepare Bible memory games or crafts that go with the lesson each week.

It’s important that we don’t just sit back and wait for others to volunteer for things that need to be done in the body, or wait for someone to approach us for help. We need to take notice and offer to do the things which we are able to do, so that we can help the church grow by using the talents with which God has gifted us.

In addition to helping, also start noticing when others in the body are doing body-work, and acknowledge it. Let them know how much you appreciate that they took the initiative to get things done. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

By Lisa Grimenstein

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