G'day Mate! Welcome aboard the Boomerang Express as we travel throughout all of Australia to learn about how "it all comes back to Jesus."
This year in Vacation Bible School, our church traveled to the Outback for 5 fun-filled days exploring Australia's wildlife and landmarks while studying about the life of Peter. The Bible stories for the week began with Jesus' calling of Peter. The first day focused on how we should "Follow Him" just as Peter learned to do. We must always trust that Jesus knows the future and that He can lead the way in life. The path is hardly ever clear, and we never know what each day will bring. But we were not created to know the future, and our job is to follow Him, allowing Him to control the rest.
On Day 2, we focused in on worship. When Peter and the disciples were out on the sea after the feeding of the 5,000, they feared that a ghost was coming their way. But to their relief, they soon realized, thanks to Peter, that it was Jesus walking on the water. I think we all know what happened next. Peter wants to leap out and walk to Jesus, and he does begin to walk on the water with Jesus. But once he takes his focus off of Jesus and watches the storm, wind, and waves, he begins to seek. But Jesus physically saves his life and they climb back into the boat. Peter and the other disciples "Worship Him," declaring that Jesus truly is the Son of God.
Salvation day always falls on Wednesday (Day 3) in VBS. So the focus was on Peter's denial and the Crucifixion/Resurrection. The kids learned about how Peter denied Jesus three times that night and how Jesus was killed. But since the story does not end with the Crucifixion, the kids also learned that a physical death was not the end for Jesus. He was raised from the dead, and as a result, many people (including Peter) believed in Him. Like Peter, we too must "Believe Him." And it is as simple as A (admit), B (believe), C (confess).
Yet salvation was not the end for Peter. Now that he truly believed in Jesus, Jesus had a mission for him. Jesus needed Peter's help as He prepared to go back to Heaven. So one morning after the Resurrection, Jesus and Peter had breakfast by the sea, and Jesus asked Peter if He loved Him. After Peter assured Jesus three times that he really did love Him, Jesus gave Peter a command. He asked Peter, to feed and take care of His sheep. Peter was commanded to spread the Good News to those who had not heard and help them to continue to grow in their Christian walk. The same is true for us, for we cannot truly live for Jesus and sit on the sidelines. We must "serve Him" each day, and the best way to serve Him is to spread the Gospel to others.
Finally, we must also "obey Him." Although Jesus commanded Peter to spread the Good News, it was ultimately up to Peter. He could have chosen not to follow through on Jesus' commands. But after denying Jesus on the night of His crucifixion, Peter chose not to make the same mistake again. So he went on the offensive, telling people all across the world. But his boldness eventually landed him in prison. So on the final day, we studied how the angel set Peter free in Acts. And once again, Peter had a choice. He could choose not to obey again and have an easy life or go back out on the offensive and possibly land back in prison. And we saw how Peter did not take the easy road, even after he was freed.
It was a fun week, but it was also a very meaningful week. It was great to take a look at the life of Peter. There is so much to be learned from his life. But we must be careful not to follow Peter. Instead we must learn to follow Jesus. He is the one who guides our lives each day, and He is the one we can trust. In life, it all comes back to Jesus.
That is the end of the Boomerang Express, but join us next year as we head out to Saddle Ridge Ranch.
Matt
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