VBS 2026

If you have your Bibles, please turn to John 1:1-5

John 1:1–5 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Heart of Creation: God's Love in Every Detail

Bible Passage: John 1:1–3

Summary: In John 1:1–3, we are introduced to the preexistence of Christ, illustrating how He was present at the beginning of all things. This profound text shows that God created everything through His Word, emphasizing His intentionality and the purpose behind creation, which is rooted in love for His creation, including humanity.

Application: Through this sermon, children can learn to view the world around them as a reflection of God's love, seeing His presence in nature and everyday life. They will understand that they are not just a product of random chance, but intentionally made by a loving Creator, empowering them to recognize their value and purpose.

Teaching: The sermon teaches children that God has a deliberate plan for each creation, meaning they are part of His special design. It encourages them to observe God's work in the world, fostering a sense of wonder and appreciation for all that He has made, reinforcing their identity as loved creations of God.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage positions Christ at the very heart of creation, affirming His unique divinity and His role in making all things. Recognizing Christ's omnipresence in creation frames our understanding of His sacrifice and love shown in the Gospel, underscoring our connection to Him as part of His beautiful creation.

Big Idea: Creation is an expression of God's love, inviting us to discover His purpose and cherish every part of our world.

Recommended Study: While preparing this sermon, consider delving into resources within your Logos library that address the theological implications of 'Logos' in John 1:1-3. Explore how this concept connects to early church writings that view creation not just as an event but as an ongoing expression of God's character and love. This perspective can help you craft a compelling narrative for children about their place within creation.

1. Beginning: Jesus’s Presence

John 1:1

Perhaps you could begin with the idea that Jesus, the Word, was there "in the beginning." Explain that this means Jesus is incredibly special and important even before the world existed. God loves us so much that He wanted Jesus to create everything, including you! This shows how God’s love planned for everything, ensuring all of us are included in His big, wonderful world. Encourage kids to think about how special they are because they were thought of by God right from the start.

2. Bonds: Jesus’s Connection

John 1:2

You might illustrate that Jesus was "with God" from the start. His closeness to God shows that Jesus’s love is also God’s love. This connection explains how God’s heart longs for a relationship with us. Emphasize how Jesus being with God in creation means He understands us perfectly and desires for us to feel close to Him, expressing His love continuously. Suggest to children that every little thing in the world reminds us of this love.

3. Beauty: Jesus’s Creation

John 1:3

Maybe point out that "all things were made through him." Explain how this means everything beautiful, like trees and animals, was made with love. God put care into everything, big or small. Encourage children to appreciate and admire God’s creativity, realizing they, too, are precious masterpieces. Invite them to explore the world and see God’s signature of love everywhere, from the tiny insects to the vast sky.

The Little Things Matter: How God Works in Small Ways

Summary: This sermon theme focuses on the various instances in the Bible where God achieves significant outcomes through small actions and people, emphasizing the power of seemingly insignificant deeds.

Application: This message will encourage children to recognize that even small acts of kindness, obedience, or faith can have a big impact in their lives and the lives of others. They will see that God can use them, no matter how small they feel, to spread love and goodness.

Teaching: The sermon will teach that God often uses the humble and the small for His grand purposes, illustrating that every individual can play a vital role in God's plan, regardless of age or size.

How this passage could point to Christ: Throughout the Bible, Christ embodies this theme by being born in a humble manger and performing miracles with everyday elements like bread and fish, showing that God’s kingdom often comes through the overlooked and ordinary.

Big Idea: God uses the smallest things and the simplest acts to accomplish magnificent purposes, reminding us that no action or person is too small to make a difference in His kingdom.

Recommended Study: Consider exploring how God’s use of small elements contributes to His overarching narrative. Look into stories like the boy with loaves and fishes in John 6 and the parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13. Using Logos, you can find various commentaries and lesson plans that connect these stories to illustrate the theme for children effectively.

2. A Boy's Lunch: Thousands Fed

John 6:5–13 NIV

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

You might explore how a small offering—a little boy's lunch of five barley loaves and two small fish—fed thousands. This passage illustrates to children how God can multiply even their tiny contributions to create abundance. It suggests that they should never underestimate what they can offer, as God can do great things with their small acts of generosity and sharing, reinforcing the idea that God values what comes from their hearts, no matter how small.

3. Mustard Seed Miracles

Matthew 13:31–32 NIV

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Consider explaining how Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed, tiny yet growing into a large tree. This metaphor could encourage children to see that their small actions or faith can have a huge impact over time. It highlights that God often chooses small beginnings for his divine plans, reassuring children that their seemingly small faith can be the start of something extraordinary in God's eyes.

Let us look at some small miracles that God gives us to point to Him.

Giraffes have a sponge in their brain that protects them from passing out when they bend over to drink water.

Elephants have 1000s of whiskers on their truck that give them all kinds of special abilities. They can give pick up a potato chip with out breaking it

Tree Frogs clean their own feet with a self cleaning gel, that keeps them from slipping off trees and falling down.