Tonight is PUMPKIN CARVIN’ NIGHT! Check out this adorable lesson I found to go along with the awkward knife action, the goopy seeds, and the stem-hat:

“Sometimes people ask what it is like being a Christian.
I’d like to tell you that it is all fun and easy.

But I’m a Christian. I’m supposed to tell the whole truth. So here it is.

It is fun to be a Christian because I am God’s child and God loves me.
And it is never too hard for me because God helps me.

But sometimes it is pretty hard to be a Christian.

I think I can use this pumpkin to help explain.

We all start out like pumpkins. We’re out in the garden along with all the others.
God is always walking through that garden asking if any of us what to belong to Him.

When we say ‘yes’ to God, he picks us up out of the garden.  And he forgives our sins (Use damp cloth to clean the dirt off the pumpkin.) .

That feels really, really nice.

(Pick up the knife) But there is more to be done.

You see, dirt was not the only thing we brought with us from the garden.
(cut around the top of the pumpkin) Some of what we brought back requires surgery and that can hurt.

(Lift off the top.)While we were out there in the garden, some things grew inside us.
(Take out a few seeds  and pulp and hold them out to be seen.)

Sometimes other people were not fair to us and we became angry and the seed of bitterness started to grow inside. (Take out more of the pulp and seeds.)

(Continue to take out seeds and pulp as you talk) Sometimes others let us down or hurt our feelings.
We began to feel sorry for ourselves. And the seeds of rejection started to grow.

We try to get even with those who hurt us. The seeds of unforgiveness and violence begin to grow inside.

(Finish cleaning out the pumpkin) Yes, all of this cleaning up hurts a bit.  But if we won’t let God clean all of this out, it gets infected. And then we really have problems.

Christians who won’t let God clean out all the junk are really miserable.  They have spiritual infections and they can spread them to others. (Wipe the inside with the cloth)

I’m learning to hold really still and let God take care of anything that needs to be cleaned!

And anything that needs to be changed. (Make a few cuts with the knife on your side of the pumpkin) Sure it hurts sometimes.

And sometimes I wonder what God is trying to do!
(Finish carving the pumpkin)

Then God reminds me that He has a wonderful plan for my life. He wants the beauty of Jesus to shine through me so others can see the way to Jesus. (Place a candle inside the pumpkin and light it.)

That’s what we are, you know.  We are not really better than those poor pumpkins who are still in the garden.  We are just a whole lot better off because Jesus has taken us out of the darkness and into His wonderful light.

(Turn the lights off)
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill can’t be hidden.
Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead, they put it on its stand.
Then it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine in front of others.
Then they will see the good things you do.
And they will praise your Father who is in heaven.”