*Cooked VBS Booth Display at the 2026 Kidzmatter Conference

Jesus is God's recipe for hope!  

Cooked VBS is about the ultimate hope that is found in Jesus, even when things are bad – even when things get worse – even when we think that we’re cooked.

Ezekiel lived in a time of defeat and desperation, but his book is about hope. And each instance of that hope is fully realized in Jesus!

• God gave Ezekiel a glimpse of His glory, but Jesus is the full revelation of God’s glory! 
• Ezekiel’s bread symbolized defeat, starvation, and death, but Jesus is the bread of life!
• God promised to replace the corrupt shepherds of Israel with His own good shepherd. And that Good Shepherd is Jesus!
• Ezekiel watched a dead army come to life. But this was just a preview of Christ’s victory over death!
• Ezekiel saw a river that brought new life to everything that it touched. But Jesus makes all things new!

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Cooked VBS Overview: A Vacation Bible School Curriculum for 2027

A Cooked Country - Day 1 VBS Lesson

I have hope because Jesus is in control.

Scripture: Ezekiel 1

Lesson Synopsis: The Israelites were cooked. They were defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, and many of them were exiled to Babylon. God charged Ezekiel to deliver more bad news. Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. But in this time of hopelessness, God showed Ezekiel that he is still in control.

 

Bad Bread - Day 2 VBS Lesson

I have hope because Jesus is my source of life.

Scripture: Ezekiel 4

Lesson Synopsis: Because of Israel’s history with manna, bread was a symbol of God’s provision. But Ezekiel’s bread was a symbol of the defeat, hunger, and desperation that was to come. Even so, it pointed ahead to the true provision that God would provide by sending us Jesus.

 

Shoddy Shepherds - Day 3 VBS Lesson

God has unexpected grace for those who wander far from him. 

Scripture: Ezekiel 34

Lesson Synopsis: Ezekiel described Israel’s leaders as evil, selfish shepherds who didn’t care about God’s people, but only looked out for themselves. He promised that these leaders’ glory days would be cooked, when God sends his own Good Shepherd to lead his people. 

 

Bare Bones - Day 4 VBS Lesson

I have hope because Jesus brings new life.

Scripture: Ezekiel 37

Lesson Synopsis: God showed Ezekiel an army that was cooked. Long dead and defeated, only bones remained. God asked Ezekiel to consider what He could do with the dead, dry bones that littered this scene of defeat. Jesus also looks into the dead, defeated places in our lives and asks, “What do you think I can do with this?”

 

A Fantastic Future - Day 5 VBS Lesson

I have hope because Jesus will restore everything.

Scripture: Ezekiel 37-46

Lesson Synopsis: The last chapters of Ezekiel are filled with promises of a glorious future. In spite of all of the struggles and defeats described in Ezekiel’s book, hope remains. A future filled with joy, blessings, and promises kept, is ultimately fulfilled by Jesus, who makes all things new. 

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