Answers VBSAnswers VBS

Answers VBS 2014 is here!

smckeever — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:45:35 +0000

Here it is—the moment you’ve all been waiting for! You’ve followed the clues and now it’s time to reveal what many of you guessed—the name of our 2014 Answers VBS program!

Grab your secret decoder ring and put on your rearview mirror glasses because next summer, your kids are heading to. . .

. . . the International Spy Academy where they’ll train to become special agents for the one true God! This exciting new Vacation Bible School program is filled with fun mysteries your kids will love and the Bible-based apologetics you trust to teach them truths they won’t forget!

The highly respected pastor and author A.W. Tozer said, “”What we believe about God is the most important thing about us.” That is so very true. What do the children who attend your VBS believe about the God of the Bible? Are they excited about His amazing attributes? Do they love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Do they know Him well enough to detect counterfeit ideas about Him when they see them?

When they hear that Jesus was just a good man, can they explain why Jesus is really God, a member of the Trinity?

When they watch a movie, can they tell if it teaches about the one true God or if it teaches that all is part of God?

When they listen to a teacher, can they tell if she’s talking about the one true God or if she’s saying there are many gods to choose from?

When they read a book, can they tell if it discusses the one true God or if it teaches there is no god at all?

When they talk to friends, can they tell if they’re talking about the one true God or a false god of a false religion?

Do they know how they can have a relationship with the one true God through His Son Jesus?

With International Spy Academy, your mission will be to instill in your children an understanding of the one true God of the Bible they can carry with them for the rest of their lives and share with those around them. They’ll uncover the clues that lead to the one true God who is the Creator of all and who calls people from every tribe and nation to have fellowship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ.

To find out more about this not-so-top-secret program, visit AnswersVBS.com/2014 and use the code 135ISA25 from now through July 31, 2013 to receive 25% off your preorder of a highly acclaimed Starter or Super Starter kit! And check out Pinterest.com/AnswersVBS for photos of decoration ideas!

Synchronize your watches for next summer and join us at the International Spy Academy, where your special agents will learn to know, love, and live for the one true God!

The Kingdom Chronicles Bonus Memory Verses

smckeever — Fri, 31 May 2013 19:18:02 +0000

For those children who want an extra challenge during your VBS week, offer them the opportunity to learn these bonus memory verses!

Bonus Memory Verses

★ Day 1: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

★ Day 2: Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

★ Day 3: And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

★ Day 4: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Ephesians 6:10-16

★ Day 5: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:10-18a

The Kingdom Chronicles Treasure Hunt Day 5

smckeever — Fri, 31 May 2013 19:10:18 +0000

King Things Treasure Hunt

Day 5

Good morrow, poppets! (That’s old English for “Hello, children!”) On our last day, let’s search for some king things. If you need to go outside, stay away from the parking lot and the pond when outside. Once again, you may work alone or in a group. If working alone, find the same number of items as your age. For instance, if you are seven years old, find any seven items on the list. If you are four, find four. If you are working in a group, find at least twelve items.

You have until 6:15 pm to complete the hunt and bring your items and list to the prize counter. One prize per person. No prizes will be given out after 6:15 pm, so get ready, get set, go!

1. A crown

2. A silver coin

3. A play castle

4. A stick horse

5. A gold wrapper or foil

6. A throne

7. Something purple

8. A feather pen

9. A silver serving dish

10. A knight

11. A book about the Middle Ages

12. A picture of a dragon

13. A play shield

14. Someone wearing red jewels

15. The greatest treasure of all – a Bible

The Kingdom Chronicles Treasure Hunt Day 4

smckeever — Fri, 31 May 2013 19:07:09 +0000

Middle Ages Treasure Hunt

Day 4

Hail, knights-in-training! Today, let’s find items that have to do with the Middle Ages. You’ll need to go both inside and out to complete this, but stay away from the parking lot and the pond when outside. Once again, you may work alone or in a group. If working alone, find the same number of items as your age. For instance, if you are eleven years old, find any eleven items on the list. If you are eight, find eight. If you are working in a group, find at least twelve items.

You have until 6:15 pm to complete the hunt and bring your items and list to the prize counter. One prize per person. No prizes will be given out after 6:15 pm, so get ready, get set, go!

1. Did you know one castle had a wall that was 80 feet thick? Find a castle wall and make a rubbing of it on the back of your paper.

2. Horses were a knight’s best friend. Find a horse and draw it on this paper.

3. What room in a castle was called the privee? Go stand in there for ten seconds and write the name of the room on this line. ___________________________________________________

4. In the Middle Ages, people used a round, flat piece of bread as a plate. Find our version of a plate.

5. In honor of April Fool’s Day, which began during the Middle Ages, tell someone a joke.

6. Salt was very expensive, so only important people at a feast got to sit by the salt. Find some salt.

7. Only powerful nobles were allowed to wear purple silk. Find something purple.

8. LATIN (the most common language in use at that time) WASWRITTENALLINCAPITALSANDWITHNOSPACES. WRITEYOURNAMETHATWAYONTHELINEBELOW.

______________________________________________________________________________

9. These are some items that were invented during the Middle Ages: stirrups, windmills, cannons, and the printing press. The printing press made it easier for people to print and distribute Bibles. Find a Bible and then write where you found it on the line below.

_______________________________________________________________________________

10. Seven-year-old boys from royal families could leave home and begin working toward becoming a knight. Find a seven-year-old-boy and have him sign below.

______________________________________________________________________________

11. Knights practiced acrobatics to keep their skills up. Can you do a somersault?

12. Go and tell the concession stand workers “Gramercy”! (which means “Thank you”!)

13. Try to juggle three wadded napkins.

14. Go find a town crier (a baby who is crying).

15. Try to say this tongue twister five times fast: Red banner, blue banner.

The Kingdom Chronicles Treasure Hunt Day 3

smckeever — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:46:23 +0000

Here’s to Shoes Treasure Hunt

Day 3

Welcome back! For Day 3, we’ll be talking about a part of the armor that has to do with our feet – shoes. So our treasure hunt today has to do with feet and shoes. You’ll need to go both inside and out to complete this, but stay away from the parking lot and the pond when outside.

Once again, you may work alone or in a group. If working alone, find the same number of items as your age. For instance, if you are eleven years old, find any eleven items on the list. If you are eight, find eight. If you are working in a group, find at least twelve items.

You have until 6:15 pm to complete the hunt and bring your items and list to the prize counter. One prize per person. No prizes will be given out after 6:15 pm, so get ready, get set, go!

1. Use your feet to get from the concession area, to the auditorium, and back in a hurry. Check it off once you’ve done it. Go!

2. Find someone wearing tennis shoes with green on them. Have them sign their name below.

_____________________________________________________________________________

3. Jog in place while saying Ephesians 6:14.

4. Find someone wearing shoes and black socks. Have them sign their name below.

_____________________________________________________________________________

5. Stand straight, then bend and touch your toes. Repeat 20 times.

6. Find someone wearing white sandals. Have them sign their name below.

_____________________________________________________________________________

7. See if you can touch your foot to your elbow. Have someone who sees you do it sign their name on the line.

___________________________________________________________________

8. Find someone wearing black flip flops. Have them sign their name below.

_____________________________________________________________________________

9. Sit down with your legs straight out. See if you can touch your toes. Repeat 10 times.

10. Find someone with her toe nails painted bright red. Have her sign her name below.

_____________________________________________________________________________

11. Tickle a friend’s feet!

12. Count how many shoes are in your group. Write the number here. ______________________

13. Speed walk to the outside sidewalk and back to the gym stage.

14. Flip this paper over and trace around a friend’s foot.

15. On the bottom of this page, draw a picture of your shoe.

The Kingdom Chronicles Treasure Hunt Day 2

smckeever — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:41:51 +0000

Belts and Bibles Treasure Hunt

Day 2

Good day! Time for another round of our treasure hunts. Since we are talking about a special belt today that is discussed in the Bible, our treasure hunt has to do with belts and Bibles. Some of the items on the list will require you looking something up in the Bible. You may use a Bible to help out on those. Other items are ones you’ll have to run around and find.

You may work alone or in a group. If you are working alone, find the same number of items as your age. For instance, if you are ten years old, find any ten items on the list. If you are five, find any five items. If you are working in a group, find at least twelve items.

You have until 6:15 pm to complete the hunt and bring your items and list to the prize counter. One prize per person. No prizes will be given out after 6:15 pm, so get ready, get set, go!

1. Find someone wearing a brown belt. Have them sign on the line below.

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Look up Ephesians 6:10 and write down the first eight words.

___________ ______ ____________ ______ ___________ ______ _______ ________.

3. Find someone wearing a white or red belt. Have them sign on the line below.

__________________________________________________________________________

4. Look up Ephesians 6:14 and draw the part of the armor that it mentions in the space below.

5. Find someone wearing a woven belt. Have them sign on the line below.

__________________________________________________________________________

6. How much of the armor of God are we supposed to put on? Look up Ephesians 6:11 for a clue and write it down.

___________________________

7. Find someone wearing a belt that has a gold belt buckle. Have them sign on the line below.

__________________________________________________________________________

8. See what John 17:17 says about God’s Word. Write it on the line below.

Your Word is ________________.

9. Find someone wearing a skinny belt. Have them sign on the line below.

__________________________________________________________________________

10. What’s a good reason to learn God’s Word? Check out Psalm 119:11 and write it on the line below.

So I might not __________ _______________ __________.

11. Find someone who doesn’t have a belt on. Have them sign on the line below.

__________________________________________________________________________

12. In the space below, draw a picture of the only perfect book in the whole world.

13. Find someone with something hanging from a belt loop. Have them sign on the line below.

__________________________________________________________________________

14. In the space below, draw yourself wearing the belt of truth.

15. Find someone wearing a black belt. Have them sign on the line below.

__________________________________________________________________________

The Kingdom Chronicles Treasure Hunt Day 1

smckeever — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:32:16 +0000

Here’s a fun way to give your kids something to do while they’re waiting for VBS to start!

Dark and Light Treasure Hunt

Day 1

Hail, young knights and fair maidens! Today at VBS, we’ll be talking about two kingdoms – the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. Our treasure hunt, then, has to do with finding items that are either dark or light. You may look for the treasures either inside or out, but stay away from the parking lot and the pond. You may work alone or in a group. If you are working alone, find the same number of items as your age. For instance, if you are ten years old, find any ten items on the list. If you are five, find any five items. If you are working in a group, find at least twelve items.

You have until 6:15 pm to complete the hunt and bring your items and list to the prize counter. One prize per person. No prizes will be given out after 6:15 pm, so get ready, get set, go!

1. Dark candy wrapper

2. Light candy wrapper

3. Dark piece of paper

4. Light piece of paper

5. Dark bug

6. Light bug

7. Dark crayon

8. Light crayon

9. Dark sock

10. Light sock

11. Dark hair

12. Light hair

13. Dark drink

14. Light drink

15. Dark dessert

16. Light dessert

The Kingdom Chronicles Costumes

smckeever — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:30:56 +0000

We know you’re ready to have a royally fun time at The Kingdom Chronicles next summer! And we know you’re ready to get started on the preparations as soon as possible! So here’s a list of costume ideas, along with a list of the drama characters and their costumes, to get you started!

Drama Characters and Costumes

IDA: Frilly long-sleeve blouse with vest, long skirt, apron.
MORINDA: Dark medieval-style long dress with a long black, hooded cloak, tiara.
GWENDOLYN: Medieval-style long dress (long cloak for Day 1 optional).
DELIVERY MAN: Solid navy polo shirt, navy shorts, navy socks, navy ball cap, black boots or sneakers, wristwatch, clipboard.
EVIL MESSENGER 1: Long, black hooded cloak (fully shrouded).
EVIL MESSENGER 2: Medieval-style shirt, khaki knickers or dark sweatpants, leather shoes (optional).

General Costume Ideas

Guys

Wear black pants and shoes as a base. (Brown can also work.) Put together one of the following for the top.

For a peasant look, wear a long-sleeved, puff y white shirt either alone or with a suede vest over it. Add a small leather pouch or a ring of large keys attached to a belt. Hint: Check out a thrift store to buy a puffy sleeved shirt that’s a couple sizes too big for you. Believe it or not, ones with lace work, too!
Make a simple tunic with a strip of rectangular material that will go from your shoulders to your knees. (Old bedsheets, tablecloths, or oversized T-shirts with the arms and neck cut out can be used for this. Solid colored material is best.) Fold it in half and cut a hole for the head. Put it on and belt it with a leather belt or belts. Or crisscross belts to make a belted X across it. The puffy white shirt looks good under the tunic.
For a knight look, wear a silver or gray long-sleeved T-shirt, silk pajamas, or silver material as a base. Make a tunic as suggested above out of gray material and add a red felt cross emblem hot-glued onto the front. To make a headpiece, buy silver material that has the look of chain mail. Sew into a round tube. Put the tube over your head and wear bunched around your neck. (Or use a gray or black hoodie or a gray ski mask with the face part cut out.)
Another option for a shiny knight look is to buy bright silver sun refl ectors at the dollar store and cut them to make tunics and other accessories.
For a king/prince look, buy or make a crown and a cape. Royal purple or red look particularly good. Old bedsheets or tablecloths can work for this. Once again, this can go over a base of black pants, black T-shirt, and black shoes.
For a jester look, make or buy full, pajama-style pants that have elastic around the ankles and waist. Bright, crazy-patterned material is good. Couple these with a coordinating, bright-colored, solid T-shirt and jester hat. You can buy jester hats online or at costume shops, or look online to learn how to make one.

Gals

For a peasant look, long, solid-colored skirts and plain white blouses work. ese are easy to find at thrift stores. Top it with a vest or shawl.
For a queen/princess look, some styles of old prom gowns can work as period costumes. Crushed velvet or satin are popular fabrics. Consider adding ribbon or gold rickrack to dress them up. Or make a wide fabric belt and crisscross gold ribbon on it. If the dress is too long, duct tape the hem at the desired length.
Sandals, ballet flats, or black flats all work for shoes.
Garland wreaths or tiaras work in the hair.
Gold jewelry and large, fake gemstone rings and necklaces work for added fl air.

Kids

Use ideas from above as possibilities, adjusting to kid sizes.
For tunics, use old pillowcases with the sides slit and a hole cut out for the head.
To make knight helmets, spray paint either fast food chicken buckets or empty milk jugs with a metallic spray paint. Cut them so the face of the child will mostly show, with the exception of a section that hangs down between their eyes, as the helmets of old were designed.
To make crowns, check the craft guide on Day 1 for instructions.
To make capes, use material or one side of an old adultsized T-shirt that is cut into a shape reminiscent of the shape of the side of a lamp shade, except longer. Put velcro up at the top for easy open and closure.
Ask around to gather children’s princess and knight/armor of God costumes. Armor of God playsets (26-1-049) are also available for purchase from answersbookstore.com.

The Kingdom Chronicles Workshops

smckeever — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 20:23:46 +0000

Calling all stewards of the King of kings! We’re preparing for a royally fun adventure next summer and want to help you get all of your armor in place!

If you are a VBS director, homeschooler, Bible teacher, or someone who works with children, and you’d like to learn more about the newest Answers VBS program for 2013, The Kingdom Chronicles, then we’ve got a workshop for you!

In these FREE hands-on workshops, held at the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY and also in Evansville, IN, you’ll be able to browse the leader guides, sample a craft and snack, network with other VBS leaders, and have your questions answered!

Coffee and donuts will be provided, and if you purchase a copy of the curriculum on-site, you’ll receive a special discount. The workshop will last about one hour, and we will remain to answer questions for as long as necessary. There is no cost for the workshop.

Friday, January 11th (10 am) – Creation Museum, Petersburg, KY

Saturday, January 12th (10 am)- Creation Museum, Petersburg, KY

Saturday, January 19th (10 am)- North Park Baptist Church, Evansville, IN

Friday, February 1st (10 am)- Creation Museum, Petersburg, KY

Saturday, February 2nd (10 am)- Creation Museum, Petersburg, KY

Knight Eddie Lutz (AiG’s area representative) will be your host for these events. Eddie is available to help you with all your Answers VBS purchasing needs! Contact him by phone (888-582-4253 ext 377) or email (elutz AT creationmuseum.org).

Answers VBS 2013 is here!

smckeever — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:15:45 +0000

Hear ye! Hear ye! Attention all knights and fair maidens!

By royal decree, we are pleased to announce the theme for the 2013 Answers VBS program—The Kingdom Chronicles: Standing Strong in the Battle for Truth!

Lower the drawbridge! Open the gates! Get ready to charge into a time filled with kings, kingdoms, and majestic castles! Amidst the pages of The Kingdom Chronicles, your knights and fair maidens will

Discover that we’re involved in a battle between two kingdoms—the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the Enemy;
Understand how they can become citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom;
Learn to prepare for battle by wearing the full armor of God daily;
Be equipped to serve and obey our heavenly Commander—the King of kings;
Determine to train their brains to know, memorize, and obey God’s Word!

Prepare to put on the full armor of God so you can stand strong in the battle for truth! Get ready for a royally fun time at The Kingdom Chronicles!

More details coming soon!