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Sunday, October 3, 2010

Jesus-'O-Lantern

As I was browsing kids lesson ideas for our upcoming MOPS meeting, I came across this great gospel demonstration using a pumpkin:
A pumpkin is round and shiny on the outside, and its skin is tough and hard to puncture. It looks perfect and wonderful. Sometimes we like to pretend we're all wonderful and perfect. (Read aloud Isaiah 66:2.)

The slimy stuff inside the pumpkin reminds me of our sins -- the things we need to confess and say, "I'm sorry, God, for..." When we ask God to forgive us for all the wrong things we've said, done, or thought, he forgives our sins. (Read aloud Isaiah 43:25.)

As we scrape all the slimy stringy stuff away, the pumpkin becomes clean inside. Jesus cleans our hearts, too, when we confess our sins. (Read aloud Psalm 103:12.)

Next we can begin to carve our designs in the pumpkins. Let's carve designs that can remind us of God, such as a heart, cross, fish, or butterfly. As we carve, the pumpkin slowly transforms into something new. We change too when God works in our lives. (Read aloud 2 Corinthians 3:18.)

Finally, we can put the candle inside the pumpkin. When we light the candle, what happens? (Read aloud 2 Corinthians 4:6.)

When we have Jesus in our lives, it's like having his candle inside us. We shine the light of Jesus so others can see and know him. (Read aloud Matthew 5:16 and John 12:46.)

We don't have the means to do this at the church, but it would be a great one to do with our kids here at home after we make our annual trip to the pumpkin patch!

4 comments:

Becky Goerend said...

That is a wonderful illustration. I will have to hang on to that for next fall when Henry can understand a little better.

~Amanda said...

"My Happy Pumpkin: God's Love Shining Through Me" by Crystal Bowman and published by Zonder Kids - same story but in a book. Super cute.

http://www.christianbook.com/happy-pumpkin-shining-through-board-book/crystal-bowman/9780310711605/pd/711606?event=AFF&p=1141014&

And a new place for ordering Christian books! I always use Amazon, but now perhaps I'll use this site!

In Light of the Truth... said...

That book looks adorable! And the author sounds familiar, like another book we might have?? I used to order from Christianbooks, but now I go to Amazon for everything! LOL

Anonymous said...

OH, I LOVE this & I am soooo going to use it, soon!! Thanks, sweetie!!