Vacation Bible School 2025

We had Vacation Bible School at our church this past week. Our theme this year was “Under Construction.” I wanted to compile my resources here for future reference, but I also wanted to share the story of how it all came together.

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The Back Story

This past winter, as I was praying about what to plan for VBS this year, a sermon that I had heard years ago came to mind. It was about how our lives are like a house that is being built, with the foundation being Jesus, and other parts of the house represent various parts of our Christian life. That was about all the details I could remember, but I remembered that my Uncle David was the one who preached that message.

So I texted him. “Years ago, I heard you preach a message on building a house. Do you happen to remember that and know what scripture you used?”

He knew exactly which one I meant and even found his notes for me.

Much to my amazement, it turns out that “years ago” was more than 40! The dates on David’s notes show that he preached that sermon in 1984 in Laurel, Iowa (where he pastored) and West Plains, Missouri (where my dad pastored). I don’t know what’s more amazing: that I remembered it, or that he was able to find his notes like that.

So, with the help of those notes, I planned our VBS theme. If they stuck with me for decades, I decided they were worth teaching to the next generation.

Here’s what came together:

Stories

From the Bible

I used my Betty Lukens felt set to tell the Bible stories, but I’ll also link to Free Bible Images for PowerPoint sets I might use another time.

• The Wise and Foolish Builders
• Noah Builds the Ark
• The Tower of Babel
• Solomon Builds the Temple

3 Little Pigs

I used the Little Folks Visuals Three Little Pigs felt set to illustrate the classic story, which I rewrote to include the memory verses and other lessons related to the theme. If you’d like to read my version, let me know and I’ll share it with you.

Sunday School Charlie and the Haunted House

Memory Verses

• And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it did not fall for it was founded on the rock. Matthew 7:25
• Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Songs

• Kids Under Construction
• The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock
• Gonna Build My Life
• He’s Still Workin’ On Me

Games

3 Little Pigs

Giant Jenga

I made this game from cardboard boxes that big toner cartridges come in. I asked the print shop where Lyle works to save them for me. I labeled each one with a game action to tie in with the lessons: answer a question, fill in the blank, true or false, say the memory verse, choose the next player, take another turn. It was a big hit with the kids.

Props

• hard hats for the kids (somewhat of a distraction, but they loved them so it was worth it)
• “Under Construction” backdrop
• caution tape
• safety cones (I got a pack of 2 at the Dollar Tree.)
• step ladders
• wooden doll house (already had, not worth buying just for a prop)

The kids had a great time and were very engaged in all the stories and activities. I pray that the lessons stick with them… for at least another 40 years!