Top VBS for 2011 - "Inside-Out & Upside-Down on Main Street" by Standard Publishing!

Inside-Out & Upside-Down on Main Street by Standard Publishing is my Top Pick Vacation Bible School for 2011! This year Standard invites you to take your children to Main Street where they will hear the "stories Jesus told about everyday people and how He turned lives upside-down and their hearts inside-out when He challenged people to look at themselves and others in new and unexpected ways"!

Scope and Sequence

1. Gratitude - the Parable of the Whiny Workers - Matthew 20:1-16
2. Compassion - The Parable of the Roadside Rescue - Luke 10:25-37
3. Forgiveness - the Parable of the Shocking Servant - Matthew 18:21-35
4. Grace - the Parable of the Warmest Welcome - Luke 15:11-32
5. Faithfulness - the Parable of the Master's Money - Luke 19:12-26

Theme - Children will see how Jesus makes a difference in their lives every day by changing them so they are challenged to talk about Him. They will explore Jesus' parables and see how to put the "Word on the Street" into action and make the choice to serve others - make an "Inside-Out & Upside-Down difference in their world with Jesus!


Strong Points -

1. Solid Bible Lessons - strong focus on how Jesus makes a difference in children's lives! I love the intentionally creative and engaging intro activities each day and how all the children are engaged in the telling of the lesson by acting out the lesson as another child reads it from the Bible!
2. I love the Encore Activities where children are again intentionally engaged in an activity to focus on the point of the Bible lesson!
3. I love the focus on "But what does Jesus say?" - children hear what the world says in response to being treated unfairly, or other situations and then are challenged to turn their lives "Inside-Out & Upside-Down" by choosing to listen to what Jesus says instead! Tremendous!
4. I love the Critic's Review with the intentional questions designed to help children think through and focus on how they can apply the lesson and have their own life turned "Inside-Out & Upside-Down"!
5. I love the Crafts and Service Projects Station - this is the perfect point in the morning to involve and engage children in reaching out to and serving their own community and Standard does this very well!
6. I like the daily "cross" activity in the closing - it intentionally engages children in a simple activity to help them once again focus on the point of the day's lesson and how they can go and live it in their life 
7. I throughly appreciate the attention Standard gave to covering safety information in their director's manual
8. Excellent info on involving special needs students, decorating and training volunteers
9. Mission project - Standard encourages you to select a mission project of your own - you could focus on one of your church's missionaries, a local ministry or even a national ministry like causelife or Samaritan's Purse
10. I'm very happy to see Standard provides a basic kit option to help make VBS more affordable!
11. I love the "Home Connection" - ideas to engage the entire family in living the point of each day's lesson

Would Like to See - 

1. Specific time planned into each day's schedule for children to share how they "lived" the previous day's lesson
2. More activity that intentionally engages children in the opening assembly
3. A science project station would be excellent!
4. I would rather see elementary age children in the music dvd, but am happy to see a good mix of both boys and girls and ethnic diversity in the dvd. If you would like to hear a sampling of Inside-Out & Upside-Down on Main Street music, follow this link.

Standard publishing is known for providing quality VBS resources that teach God's Word in every station and activity; this year they have done a tremendous job with "Inside-Out & Upside-Down on Main Street"! If you want to help your children understand how Jesus' parables really can and will turn the way they think, and therefore their everyday lives, Inside-out & Upside-down and engage them in serving others, Standard's VBS will be a great "fit" for you!  Each and every lesson gives you the opportunity to challenge children to live what they are learning. If you do not select "Inside-Out & Upside-Down on Main Street" for your VBS, absolutely find another setting or opportunity in your ministry to utilize it as your children will have their lives and thinking turned Inside-out & Upside-Down as a result! Inside-Out & Upside-Down on Main Street allows you to utilize any Bible version you choose.This VBS setting would be fun and easy to create either inside or outdoors - the Power Pack includes a variety of excellent decorating backdrops. Tremendously well done, Standard Publishing - thank-you for sending "Inside-Out & Upside-Down on Main Street" for my review.


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