Pumpkin Fun

We love fall at our house, the beautiful leaves falling, the crispness in the air, the fact that Mom starts cooking again (it's too HOT in the summer to cook) and carving pumpkins.

Several years ago we were introduced to this activity though the Heritage Builders, "Holidays Family Night Tool Chest". The point of the activity is to show in a tangible way that we become a new creation when Jesus comes into our hearts. It's a great way to show salvation to little ones in a manner they can understand. We start by preparing the pumpkin and say, "This pumpkin is just like us!" start cleaning and pulling out the gunk.

Read Matt 5:26

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Ask your child how is this gunk like the sin in our hearts. (It's yucky, it's unclean)

Who cleans out our hearts when we confess our sin? (Jesus)

Read John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Carve your pumpkin with a happy and positive face and read 2 Cor 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Ask your child how the pumpkin has become a new creation? (It has a face, it now can shine a light, now it's a jack o lantern)

How do we become a new creation when Jesus comes into our hearts? (We become God's creation, we're no longer filled with sin)

Read Matt 5:14-16

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

When we place the candle in our pumpkin, light shines through our pumpkin just like Jesus shines through us when we have accepted Him.

You can sing "This Little Light of Mine" with younger children to reinforce the ideas.

My kids have really learned through this and any chance to bring our children to Him with fun family activities is a big hit in our home! Hope you have fun with it too!

Categories: parenting