Reach Them While We Can

1 Peter 4:7-11
Vacation Bible School is a HUGE commitment, isn't it? A lot of time goes into the planning and preparation and then you have one busy, full week. Let me explain why I believe that children's ministries like VBS, Sunday School and Children's Church and church camp are important.
Approximately 76% of American adults consider themselves Christians, but only about 40% of those have been saved or "born again." Of 311.5 million people, that is approximately 125,000,000. Sadly, among many denominations of Christianity, salvation by grace through faith is a foreign concept. Instead, people among those groups are looking to their own works to save them. Of that 40%, 85% come to salvation before they reach the age of 19, and 68% are saved between the ages of 9-14. Once they reach 19, there is only a 6% chance that a person will come to Christ. We have the opportunity when they are younger to lay the groundwork.
As we come to 1 Peter 4, there are some things the Bible offers that may be helpful as we enter this critical week in our church calendar and ministry.

I. FINALITY-
We are living in the days before Christ's return
I will not attempt to set a date, because the time is known only to God
Because we are living on the threshold of the end, we must do all we can to reach people now
We need to be praying and working like there's no tomorrow to do it
And one day, we will be right.
Ephesians 5:16 "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Romans 13:11-13 "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day..."
We don't know when Jesus will come for us, but we know it could be any time
Especially are we approach the finish line, we should be using our time and resources wisely
Jesus said in John 9:4 "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
We want to continue to reach those beyond 19, but we must try to reach those most sensitive

II. FLEXIBILITY-
I've always been proud of the efforts of this church
You are like the house of Stephanas who were addicted to the ministry of the saints
I'm constantly amazed at the talent and commitment and creativity of this group of people
Considering that we are a small church, I would put your achievements up against anyone
But we need to remember that Satan is not pleased when we do something for God
I know that we are bound to have some tensions and frustrations for such a project
We have different personalities and different experiences and different expectations
Creative people are often also temperamental, I offer that as a personal confession
Here's the thing: Even when we disagree, we all want to honor God
We all want our church to succeed and we all want to reach children and families for Christ
Peter speaks by direction of the Spirit regarding the need for Fervent Charity
The word fervent conveys stretched out intentionally
We'll need to be a little more flexible with one another
We'll need to cut one another a little extra slack and be gracious
Why? If we are flexible, we won't reach our breaking point so easily
Charity or love is