Teaching the Gospel through pumpkin carving

 For the past few years we have read the Pumpkin Parable at pumpkin carving time. It is a wonderful way to teach the Gospel to the kids through a fun and rare activity.  Now before you read, I must warn you that the theological analogies do break down in a few places.  I realize that.  But keep in mind that we are teaching little children and any way we can get them to begin to understand about Christ is good! So here we go:


God chose us for salvation just like we chose our pumpkin.  (Here are the ones that the Osterbergs picked!) Ephesians 1:4 - "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him."

 The pumpkins are filled with icky, slimy insides.  The slime and the seeds would have to come out so that we could use the pumpkin in a new way.  Just like God has to clean out the sin and slime that is in our hearts. Our hearts are full of sin just like the pumpkin is full of the pulp.  Romans 3:23 - "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

 Christ died for our sins on the cross.  He took our sin completely away and now we are happy and have a big wide SMILE!  Just like our pumpkin now has a new face that is happy all the time, so we have Christ's happiness in our hearts.  2 Cor. 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."  And Romans 8:1 - "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  What a thing to smile about!!

And now we shine with the light of the Holy Spirit.  We shine the light of His gospel for all to see and tell other people about His love. Matt. 5:16 - "So 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."