Tonight marks the beginning of another opportunity we have here at Parkwood to tell people about our God. Today is day 1 of this year’s VBS…Crocodile Dock. Our sign has been up out front for days inviting children. We’ve  handed out flyers and have even been assisted in promoting this year’s VBS by staff at Trunnell Elementary School.

Even more important than all of that, we’ve been asking God to bless this week with all that we need to be effective in “telling others about Him.” My prayer also is this: that God’s Spirit is dealing with you about being personally involved in some way this year.

In a couple weeks the SBC will be held right here in Louisville. Johnny Hunt, the president of our convention, has established the theme for this year’s meeting as: "Loveloud: Actions Speak Louder than Words.” What a wonderful way for us here at Parkwood to not only say we care about the children of this community…but let our actions speak for us as we tell them about our God who loves them as well.

You and I live in a time in history where popular culture says stop talking about this God. It’s fantasy, it’s fairytale, it’s harmful to young minds. But—we know that God has called us to…proclaim the name of the Lord. Praise the greatness of our God! He is our rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.” (Deut. 32:3-4)

Therefore—let us be the first to “Loveloud and let our actions speak louder than words” as we invite children and parents alike into our church for the purpose of telling them about our God. This morning I want to share with you five things that we will be telling those who come this week about our God.

1. God is with us.

Our Bible story comes from the Book of Exodus. Moses sees the burning bush and is drawn to it and meets with God. God has a plan for Moses’ life and that plan is for him to be the one who leads the people of God out of captivity from Egypt. Since Moses grew up in Egypt—he knew this would be no small task.

Moses response to this revelation from God is probably the same as any of us would give…who am I to go to Pharaoh? Like Moses—w e would recognize right away the intimidating responsibility of being sent to such an important person with an unfavorable request. Children can feel the same way about some of the things they are asked to do. We’re going to share with the kids this week the reason we can do what our God has asked us to do is because just like Moses…God has promised to “be with us.” We can trust Him!

2. God is powerful.

Continuing with the story of Moses and the children of Israel…Pharaoh will not let God’s people leave so He sends a series of plagues to get Pharaoh’s attention. Pharaoh and the people of Egypt had created for themselves gods to worship for every area of life. They had a sun god who gave light, a water god who gave life to the land, a god for livestock, a god of life and a god of death and so on.

The Egyptians placed their faith and hope in all these various gods—therefore when Moses came to them in the name of the Lord…they did not recognize who He is and rejected Him. The plagues demonstrated the power of the one true God of Israel over all of Egypt’s man made or so called gods. Our God is powerful.

It’s hard sometimes for people today to see how powerful our God is when even Christians face difficulties and hardships. Especially children.  We’re going to tell the kids this week that God doesn’t exempt Christians from hardship or even sickness—but He does provide us with hope and strength to face anything in our life.

3. God does what He says He’ll do.

The last plague to come upon Egypt was the death of the first born. This proved that the God of Israel was the One who had power over both life and death. God gave Moses careful instructions for the Israelites so that when the death angel came to Egypt—he would Passover their homes and no children would be lost.

To insure that the death angel passed over the Israelites homes they had to sacrifice a lamb and place some of its blood over the door of the house…and then trust that God would do what He said He would do. When the death angel came to Egypt he took the firstborn from every house that was not marked with the blood of the lamb. It happened just as God said it would.

What we want the kids to know this week is simple—our God does what He says He’ll do. They don’t always see that demonstrated in the lives of their parents, family, and friends.

4. God gives us life.

On day 4 the story shifts from Moses and the Israelites to Jesus death recorded in Matthew’s gospel. Our prayer and plan for the kids on day 4 is to help them understand that Jesus was not simply a martyr for some religion…but that He is the Messiah of God the Father. The chosen and anointed One sent from heaven to make eternal life a reality for everyone who believes.

On day 3 we learned that an innocent lamb had to be sacrificed in order for the death angel to Passover the Israelites. The people quickly realized that innocent blood was given in order for them to live. What we’re going to do on day 4 is tell the kids how the Passover story points to the story at Calvary and how eternal life required an innocent Lamb to be sacrificed as well. That Lamb is Jesus.

The kids need to know that not only is Jesus the Lamb of God that was slain—but that He also rose from the grave demonstrating He has power over death and therefore…He can give us life.

5. God cares for us.

Day 5 takes us back to the Book of Exodus and the story of Moses and the Israelites. After the last plague, Pharaoh let God’s people go…but then he changed his mind went after them. The Bible story is about the crossing of the Red Sea. God’s people are trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the sea with no way of escape. The situation looks hopeless.

The children of Israel were about to learn something very amazing about our God…nothing is impossible with Him…Amen. He parts the sea and they go across on dry ground. Here’s why we do VBS. We might have only one opportunity to tell the kids about our God. Tell them that He is with us – He is powerful – He does what He says He’ll do – He gives us life and that He truly does care for His people.

So what can you do? Pray that God will bless. Participate in some way to let the community see that you plan to loveloud. Perhaps you’re here today and this is the first time you’ve really understood all of these things about our God and He’s speaking to your heart right now…respond to His call.