What the verses say:
1. God picks you from the patch and brings you in. (John 15:16)
John 15:16
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
2. Then washes all the dirt off of you.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
3. He opens you up and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate and greed.
(Romans 6:6)
Romans 6:6 (ESV)
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
4. Then He carves you a new smiling face.
(Psalm 71:23)
Psalm 71:23 (ESV)
23 My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you, my soul also, which you have redeemed.
5. And He puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.
(Matthew 5:16)
Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
My bestie shared with me an analogy she found on-line. I liked it so much, I asked her if I could share it with you.
I bought a light up pink jack-o-lantern. 😂 Fresh out of the garden. 😂 The pastor said we (the church) has a card table. My plan is to lay things on the card table as we talk.
Plan on asking the children if they want to read the Bible verses?
1. Present the pumpkin, remember to try to make a joke about it being fresh out of the garden.
2. Pretend to wash it off.
3. Have a clear dish with pumpkin puree and seeds to represent the stuff that gets scooped out of a real pumpkin.
4. Turn the pumpkin around to show off its smile. Make a joke about this pumpkin being ready for Halloween.
5. Turn on the light.
Let’s pray,
Dear Lord, thank you for choosing me. For cleaning me up both inside and out. For scooping out all the bad and replacing it with the new. Thank you for Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our sins, so that we may have a new life in you. Thank you for the smile on our faces and the light in our lives. Let us shine brightly for you.
Amen
