🎉The Greatest Show of Grace

Testimony Moment

Invite a volunteer or child (with parent) to briefly share what VBS meant to them.

Introduction: A Week to Remember

This past week, our church was filled with laughter, games, memory verses, crafts, music, and the unmistakable energy of children discovering that Jesus loves them. But more than fun, we witnessed something holy: children stepping into a place where they were seen, loved, and invited to follow Jesus.

Let’s take a moment to acknowledge all who served—whether behind the scenes, in front of the kids, or on your knees in prayer. Thank you. VBS is not a one-person job; it’s a whole-church movement.

Luke 18:15-16

Luke 18:15–16 NIV

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Jesus Welcomes the Children

People were bringing even their infants to Jesus—not just toddlers or older kids. They wanted His blessing on their children. But the disciples rebuked them. In their minds, Jesus was too important. He had “bigger” things to do.

But Jesus stopped everything and said:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them...” (Luke 18:16)

What a statement! Jesus saw value in children when others saw a distraction. He saw potential when others saw noise. He saw worshipers when others saw wigglers.

Church, never underestimate the significance of a child in the presence of Jesus.

That child who learned a Bible verse for the first time this week?

That little girl who sang “Jesus loves me” with all her heart?

That boy who asked during small group, “Can I pray too?”

These moments matter to God. They’re not cute extras. They are Kingdom encounters.

The Kingdom Belongs to the Childlike

Jesus said:

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (v.17)

This isn’t just a lesson about kids—it’s a lesson from kids.

Children remind us how to:

Trust without needing all the answers.

Love without hesitation.

Receive with open hands.

We can learn from their faith.

And that’s one of the hidden blessings of VBS week: it doesn’t just teach the kids—it softens and revives the hearts of the adults too.

It reminds us that God is not impressed by credentials, but by surrender.

That spiritual hunger is often seen most clearly in a child’s wide-eyed curiosity.

So this week was for them, yes—but it was also a gift for us.

The Seeds We Plant Will Grow

Let’s talk now about what happens after VBS.

You see, this wasn’t the finish line—it was the starting line. We don’t celebrate as if the work is over. We celebrate because something has just begun.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6

During VBS, we planted gospel seeds:

Seeds of truth: Jesus loves you.

Seeds of identity: You are made in God’s image.

Seeds of hope: God has a plan for your life.

But like real seeds, these truths need watering, light, care, and time to grow.

So the question is: Who will help tend the garden?

This Is a Whole-Church Mission

Whether or not you were part of the VBS team this week, you are part of the follow-up.

Here’s how the whole church can be involved:

PRAY REGULARLY Continue praying for the children who came. Pick one name, one family, and lift them up each week.

FOLLOW UP WITH FAMILIES If you met a parent during drop-off or pick-up—reach out. Say hello if you see them again. Invite them to church events. Help them feel like this isn’t a one-time event but an open door.

VOLUNTEER IN KIDS OR YOUTH MINISTRY If VBS stirred something in your heart, maybe that’s God calling you to serve more regularly. The kids who showed up this week need people who will walk with them beyond the event.

INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS VBS brings new families to our campus. What if we built bridges instead of letting them fade away? Let’s be intentional in building friendship before follow-up.

CELEBRATE SPIRITUAL GROWTH When a child asks questions about baptism, faith, or Jesus—celebrate it! Help connect them to the next step. We’re not just creating moments—we’re building disciples.

Let Us Not Hinder Them

Jesus said, “Do not hinder them.”

Let’s be honest—sometimes we hinder unintentionally:

We assume kids are too young to understand.

We think the real ministry happens with adults.

We forget to follow up, or we move on too quickly.

But Jesus didn’t forget them. He stopped everything to welcome them.

This week, children stepped toward Jesus. It’s now our calling to keep the path clear.

Let’s be the kind of church where:

Kids are not tolerated—they are celebrated.

New families are not just welcomed once—they are woven in.

Seeds are not left to dry out—but nurtured into faith.

Next Steps: This Is Just the Beginning

Church, VBS wasn’t a show—it was a sowing. We put the gospel into the hands of children, and now we ask God to make it grow.

Let’s walk into this next season with hearts ready to disciple, to serve, to pray, and to celebrate the childlike faith that Jesus says is the key to His Kingdom.

📌 Closing Challenge

Choose one child or family from this week to pray for by name.

Ask God how you can be part of the watering process—not just planting.

Be ready to serve again. God’s not done using you.

🙏 Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for what You did this past week. Thank You for the laughter, the joy, the gospel, and the grace poured out on this place.

We pray now for every child who came—that the seeds planted in their hearts would take root and bear fruit in time. And we ask for Your help, Lord, to be faithful in tending those seeds. Help us as a church to walk alongside families, to disciple children, to create a community where no child is overlooked.

We don’t want to hinder what You’re doing—we want to join in. So use us, Lord. As we move from the celebration of VBS into the calling of everyday ministry, may we carry the heart of Jesus with us.

In His name we pray, Amen.

Youtube

Certainly! Here's a YouTube description for Sermon 2: “The Greatest Show of Grace” that aligns with your updated version and includes VBS celebration, church-wide involvement, and the seed-sowing message:

🎉 The Greatest Show of Grace | Post-VBS Sunday Sermon

VBS week has wrapped up, but the mission has just begun! In this message, Pastor Ryan reflects on what God has done through our Vacation Bible School and calls the church to continue nurturing the seeds of faith planted in the hearts of children.

📖 Text: Luke 18:15–17 💬 Theme: Jesus welcomes children—and so should we. The Kingdom belongs to the childlike, and our role is not just to celebrate the moment but to walk with them as they grow in faith.

🌱 In this sermon, we explore:

What Jesus teaches us about the value of children

How childlike faith shapes our own walk with God

Why the work after VBS matters just as much as the event itself

How every member of the church can be part of the discipleship process

🙌 Whether you volunteered during VBS or simply prayed behind the scenes, this message reminds us all: the celebration is just the beginning. Let’s keep sowing, watering, and believing that God will bring the growth.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe! 📲 Learn more about our ministry: [Insert church website or social link] 🙏 Need prayer or want to connect? Visit: [Insert contact link]

#VBS2025 #ChildlikeFaith #TheGreatestShowOfGrace #Luke18 #VacationBibleSchool #ChurchFamily #SeedSowingFaith

Let me know if you’d like a shortened version for Instagram or Facebook!

Notes

Certainly! Here’s a sermon notes page designed for your congregation to follow along and interact with your message, “The Greatest Show of Grace.” It includes blanks for engagement, reflection questions, and room for personal application.

📝 Sermon Notes

🎉 The Greatest Show of Grace

Luke 18:15–17 Pastor Ryan | Post-VBS Sunday

💡 Big Idea:

VBS is more than a week of fun—it’s a glimpse into the heart of Jesus and a call for the whole church to keep sowing and nurturing seeds of faith.

I. Jesus Welcomes the Children

“Let the little children come to me...” – Luke 18:16

What did the disciples try to do when people brought children to Jesus? 🟩 They tried to ____________________________.

But Jesus stopped and gave them His attention. Why is that significant?

✍️ What does this teach me about how I view and value children in the church?

II. The Kingdom Belongs to the Childlike

“Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” – Luke 18:17

What qualities of childlike faith do we often forget or lose?

☑️ Trust ☑️ Openness ☑️ _____________________ ☑️ _____________________

✍️ Where in your life do you need to return to childlike trust in Jesus?

III. The Seeds We Plant Will Grow

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6

VBS was the beginning—not the end. Now we must help those seeds grow.

🪴 Ways the whole church can help water the seeds:

_______________________ for a child or family from VBS.

Follow up with a family or new connection.

Serve in children’s or youth ministry.

Celebrate spiritual conversations and questions.

Build friendships with new families.

✍️ What seed might God be calling you to help nurture this summer?

IV. Do Not Hinder Them

Jesus' warning reminds us that the church can unintentionally block spiritual growth in children by:

🚫 Neglect 🚫 Assumptions 🚫 Inconsistency

✍️ How can I be someone who opens the way for a child to know Jesus more deeply?

📌 This Week’s Challenge:

✅ Choose one child or family to pray for. ✅ Write one follow-up note, message, or invitation. ✅ Reflect daily on how childlike faith can renew your own relationship with Jesus.

🙏 Closing Prayer Prompt:

“Lord, help me not just to celebrate what happened at VBS, but to stay faithful in the follow-up. Give me eyes to see where I can help tend the seeds You’ve planted.”

Would you like this styled in a printable PDF or slide format for your bulletin or digital handout?

Bible Study

Certainly! Here's a 4-day Bible study to go along with your sermon “The Greatest Show of Grace” based on Luke 18:15–17. It includes daily reflections, Greek word studies, and life application, helping participants carry the message into their week and continue to engage with the post-VBS mission of discipleship.

📖 The Greatest Show of Grace

A 4-Day Devotional Based on Luke 18:15–17

🔹 Day 1: Let the Children Come

Read: Luke 18:15–16

Reflect:

The disciples tried to stop people from bringing children to Jesus. In their minds, children weren’t important enough, spiritual enough, or maybe mature enough to matter. But Jesus completely flipped that idea.

He welcomed them. He blessed them. He honored them.

Greek Word Study – “Prosepherō” (προσφέρω) This word means "to bring to, to offer, to present." It’s used here for how the people brought their children to Jesus—not passively, but intentionally.

These children weren’t just present. They were presented—brought with purpose, offered in faith.

What barriers might keep us from bringing children to Jesus today?

Have you ever underestimated the value of children in the church or community?

What would it look like to “bring” a child to Jesus today—through words, prayer, or relationship?

Apply:

Take a moment to recall the children you interacted with during VBS. Pray for them by name if possible. Consider writing a short note or making a follow-up invitation to their family.

🔹 Day 2: Do Not Hinder

Read: Luke 18:16 (especially the second part)

Reflect:

Jesus’ words are both welcoming and warning:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them…”

We often picture Jesus as gentle and soft—but here, He gives a clear command. Don’t block the path to Him.

Greek Word Study – “Kōlyō” (κωλύω) This verb means “to hinder, restrain, or prevent.” It implies intentional or even unintentional roadblocks placed in the way of someone’s progress.

Sometimes we hinder not by harshness, but by neglect, inattention, or low expectations.

What kinds of attitudes or behaviors might unintentionally hinder kids from growing in faith?

Have you ever dismissed the spiritual hunger of a child or teenager?

What might “clearing the way” for kids to meet Jesus look like in our church?

Apply:

Ask God to show you if there are any ways—direct or indirect—you’ve made it harder for children or youth to grow spiritually. Confess anything the Spirit brings to mind. Then ask Him how you can be a pathway, not a roadblock.

🔹 Day 3: The Kingdom Belongs to the Childlike

Read: Luke 18:17

Reflect:

Jesus makes a bold statement:

“Anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

It’s not just that children are welcome in the Kingdom—it’s that adults need to learn from children how to enter it.

Greek Word Study – “Dekomai” (δέχομαι) This word means "to accept, receive, or welcome something or someone with deliberate readiness." It’s an open-handed, open-hearted posture.

Children often receive love, truth, and help without skepticism. They come as they are. That’s how Jesus says we must receive Him and His Kingdom.

Where in your spiritual life do you need to recover childlike faith?

Are there places where skepticism, pride, or self-sufficiency have crowded out simple trust?

What might childlike trust look like in how you pray, serve, or give?

Apply:

Take 5 minutes in silent prayer. Approach Jesus today “as a child”—no eloquent words, no posturing. Just come to Him honestly, openly, dependently. Thank Him for loving you as you are.

🔹 Day 4: From Seeds to Discipleship

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:6–9

Reflect:

VBS was full of sowing: truth, joy, Scripture, kindness, and the gospel. But spiritual seeds don’t grow overnight. They need a church family to help them grow.

Paul reminds us: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

Greek Word Study – “Auxanō” (αὐξάνω) This verb means “to cause to grow, increase, enlarge.” Paul uses it to make the point: we can’t force spiritual results, but we can be faithful gardeners.

Who planted seeds in your life as a child or young believer?

Who are the children or families in your life now that you can “water” through love, teaching, and invitation?

How can you be part of the growth process without becoming discouraged?

Apply:

Identify one child or family from VBS that you can commit to praying for, checking in with, or inviting back to church. Remember: growth is God's work, but faithfulness is ours.

✝️ Closing Prayer Prompt:

“Lord, thank You for the joy of serving You this past week. Help me not to walk away from VBS as if the work is done. Let me carry a childlike faith into every part of my life, and help me walk faithfully with those You’re growing around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”