When it comes to knowing what to buy for Spark Studios VBS, it’s as easy as 1-2-3! 

#1—Get the Directors Kit. This is a “one per church” item that includes all of the administrative and early planning resources that every VBS Director will need. The Directors Kit is the first thing available every year so that you can start planning now!

#2—Choose your Starter Kits. With Lifeway VBS, Bible study and rotation materials are bundled together to save you money and time! But there are several to choose from. So how do you know which one is right for you? All you need to know is how you plan to group kids at VBS. Will you keep kids of the same age/grade together, or do you plan to put several different ages/grades together in one room?

If you’re keeping the same age/grade together (e.g. one class of 1^st graders, one class of 2^nd graders, one class of 3^rd graders, and so forth), then you’ll want to choose the closely-graded resources included in the Preschool Starter Kit and the Kids Starter Kit. 

• The Preschool Starter Kit includes everything you need to get started for one class of babies–2-year olds, one class of 3s–Pre-K kids, and one class of kindergartners plus all of the preschool rotations. If you have more than one class of each age, just add on another Preschool Starter Kit to your order or purchase the items a la carte.

• The Kids Starter Kit includes everything you need to get started for one class of 1^st–2^nd graders, one class of 3^rd–4^th graders, and one class of 5^th–6^th graders, plus all of the rotation guides for grades 1–6. If you’ll have separate classes for each grade, simply purchase an additional Kids Starter Kit.

If you’re planning to group a wider age range of kids together (for example, 3-year-olds through kindergartners or 1^st–5^th graders), you’ll want to get the Multi-age Starter Kit. This handy kit gives you one of everything you’ll need for a multi-age group of preschoolers (Bible study and rotations), as well a as broadly-graded group of 1^st–6^th graders (Bible study and rotations).

#3—Grab your Worship Rally Pack. Don’t make the rookie mistake of only getting the Worship Rally CD Set or the DVD Set. If you’re doing Worship Rally, you need everything in this pack. So why not save yourself the headache of not being able to find what you need the week before VBS and save money? Purchasing the Worship Rally Pack saves you money over purchasing each piece separately.

Directors Kit + Starter Kit + Worship Rally Pack. It really is as easy as 1-2-3! (Now if only DOING VBS were this easy!) 

Melita Thomas serves as Lifeway’s VBS and Kids Ministry Specialist. For the past 14 years she has also been an editor of Lifeway’s VBS resources. Melita holds a masters degree in Childhood Ministry from Dallas Baptist University. A passionate advocate for kids ministry in the local church, Melita enjoys teaching kindergartners and preteens at Nashville First Baptist Church.

I look forward to January all year long. Why? Because January = VBS Previews! My absolute favorite time of year! It’s always so exciting to be with VBS leaders from across the country as we get our very first look at the brand new VBS. We all get amped up and inspired to make this year our best VBS ever!

VBS Previews have typically taken place in four different cities across the country. And while that was great for people who live within driving distance of those cities, many people have expressed disappointment that it’s too far and too expensive for them to ever attend. That’s just not fair! We believe everyone ought to be able to experience the magic that is a VBS Preview!

So for the first time ever, VBS Previews are going virtual in 2021! That’s great news! You won’t have to take off work to attend, there will be no travel expenses, and you can bring even more of your team! Plus, you can pick the date and time that works best for you!

Rather than a two-day event, VBS Previews 2021 will be condensed into a single morning or afternoon. (Each person on your team will need his/her own ticket. When purchasing multiple tickets, PLEASE make sure to register each person using his/her own email address in order for each person to get his/her own login.) Tune in LIVE during those hours and you’ll get to attend an energizing main session that overviews the theme, Bible content, and choreography for Destination Dig as well as take your pick from over 20 breakouts to train, equip, and prepare you for VBS 2021.

Will it feel like I’m just watching videos by myself? Absolutely not! You will be able interact with everyone attending with you from around the country live and in real time. We’ve even designed special spaces within the online event that will allow you to turn on your camera and microphone to participate in live discussions with the Lifeway VBS team and with VBS leaders just like you! You’ll be able to network with one another and share ideas as well as get individualized help. Oh, and did I mention that there will be PRIZES and giveaways? Oh yes! Throughout the live event you will have opportunities to play games and win prizes—just for attending.

Tickets are just $49 and include live access during the event, specialized countdowns and bumpers for Destination Dig, and a free VBS t-shirt. Click here to reserve your spot today!

This article originally appeared on the Lifeway VBS Blog here.

Pack your bags and grab your gear, VBS 2021 is headed to present-day Israel where an epic adventure of discovery awaits. Discover long-hidden treasures, amazing finds, and exciting evidence that proves biblical events were not just stories. They really happened.

Each day during Destination Dig, junior archaeologists will use a real-life artifact from Bible times to help them discover more about who Jesus is and why He came. Let’s take a closer look at the Bible stories connected to each artifact.

Day 1: Jesus Was Born (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:18–2:6)

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God told prophets to write about His plan to send His Son to be our Savior. Many years later an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph. The angel told him Mary would have God’s Son, and they were to name Him Jesus. Just as God promised, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. God promised He would send His Son, and He did.

Day 2: Jesus Healed a Blind Man (Psalm 146:8; Isaiah 35:6-6a; John 9:1-41)

Prophets wrote about what would happen when God’s Son came to earth. They wrote about miracles He would perform such as healing people. When Jesus began His ministry, He did everything God said He would do. One day while in Jerusalem, Jesus passed a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus spat on the ground and made some mud. He spread the mud over the man’s eyes and told the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man did as he was told, and he could see! The man told people what Jesus had done. Later, when the man saw Jesus, he worshiped Him.

Day 3: Jesus Experienced Betrayal and Rejection (Psalm 41:9; Isaiah 53:3,7; John 13; 18:1–19:16)

Jesus shared one last special supper with His disciples. During the meal Jesus explained that one of the disciples would betray Him. Jesus knew His betrayal and death would fulfill God’s plan. After the meal, Jesus and all the disciples except for Judas went to the garden in Gethsemane. While they were there, Judas brought the soldiers to arrest Jesus and take Him to the high priest to begin the trials the prophets had written about many years before. Pilate, the Roman governor, tried to find a way to release Jesus, but the crowd shouted, “Crucify Him!” Jesus remained silent just as the prophecy said He would. Finally, Pilate gave in to the people’s demands, and Jesus was handed over to the soldiers to be crucified.

Day 4: Jesus Is Alive (Isaiah 53:5,9-11; John 19:17–20:18)

God told prophets that Jesus would be born and that He would die for our sins. God also said that Jesus would die with the wicked, be buried with the rich, and be raised from the dead. Just as God said, Jesus was crucified between two criminals and Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, buried Jesus’ body in Joseph’s tomb. A stone was rolled in front of the tomb. On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. The stone had been rolled away, and Jesus was gone. Peter and John came to the tomb and saw the burial clothes, but Jesus was not there. While Mary stood outside the tomb crying, a man she thought was a gardener appeared. The Man called her name and immediately Mary knew He was Jesus. She couldn’t wait to tell the disciples that Jesus is alive!

Day 5: Philip Told the Good News (Isaiah 53:7-8; Acts 8:26-40)

While Philip was preaching in Samaria, an angel of the Lord told him to go south to the road that goes to Gaza. Philip obeyed the angel. Philip saw a man traveling in a chariot. The man was reading a copy of the Isaiah scroll. Philip asked the man if he understood what he was reading. The man said he did not and that he needed someone to explain it to him. Philip explained the good news about Jesus to the man. The man believed what Philip told him and believed in Jesus. Philip baptized the man, and the man went on his way rejoicing.

For more information about Destination Dig, visit lifeway.com/vbs or check out THIS blog post.