This object lesson is perfect to use at Halloween. Something that people use as decoration will remind children how Jesus saves them from their sin.
Needed: 2 jack-o-lanterns. One should have a frown carved, and should be warped and ugly. It shouldn’t be cleaned out completely and shouldn’t have a light in it. If you can, leave it to rot for a few days. The more disgusting it is, the better. The second jack-o-lantern should be clean, with a smile on its face and a candle in it.
Everywhere you go at this time of the year, you see jack-o-lanterns. Did you know jack-o-lanterns can remind you of how Jesus saved you. Before Jesus came into your heart, you were like this jack-o-lantern. Show first jack-o-lantern. You were full of sin and dirty inside. You had no light inside you, and you were very unhappy. But Jesus came into your heart and cleaned all the sin inside. Show the second jack-o-lantern. He gave you peace and put a smile on your face. He even shines His light through you. So everywhere you go this Halloween, when you see a jack-o-lantern, let it remind you of what Jesus did when He saved you.
This skit needs a devil puppet and a super hero puppet.
SIN: (Comes dancing in happy and excited.) Oh how I love this time of year. Everybody is worshipping me. Children are holding seines to conjure up my demons. Scary movies are putting my spirit of fear into people. My witches are sacrificing animals and children to me. Evil men are poisoning candy. I just love Halloween. As for those Christians, they hide out on Halloween. I’ve got them running scared and now I’m coming after you….ha…ha…ha. (Music begins playing.) What’s that. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Oh no! It’s Scripture Man.
SCRIPTURE MAN: Yes, Mr. Sin. I’m Scripture Man, strange visitor from heaven who came to Earth to give the Sword of the Word of God to anyone who will use it.
SIN: Well your sniveling little Christian won’t use the Word of God tonight. They’re trembling in their homes. They’re scared of me on Halloween.
SCRIPTURE MAN: Not this Halloween, Mr. Sin. This Halloween, God’s calling an army to make demons tremble tonight and every night.
SIN: (looks a little scared.) You can’t make me tremble tonight. Halloween’s my property.
SCRIPTURE MAN: God can make you tremble every night. James 2:19 says that you know there is a God and it makes you tremble.
SIN: (looking very scared. Pleading.) But this is Halloween. Please just let me have this one night. I promise I won’t bother any Christians. Please, just one night.
SCRIPTURE MAN: You have made Halloween a night of darkness. But John 1:5 says that the light shines in the darkness. We Christians are taking Halloween back. We are going to shine in the darkness you’ve created.
SIN: I won’t go. You can’t make me.
SCRIPTURE MAN: James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he must flee from you.
SIN: (whining) Please don’t.
SCRIPTURE MAN: Mark 16:17 says that if we believe in Jesus, then in his name we can drive out demons. Children, on the count of three, I want you to drive Mr. Sin out of here by shouting the name of Jesus. Ready…1…2…3 IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
(Mr. Sin shrieks in terror and disappears.)
SCRIPTURE MAN: Remember, Children, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Good-bye. (Flies away.)
Children today are bombarded with the occult through TV shows, cartoons, movies, and books targeted toward children. Today, it is more important than ever before to teach kids the Biblical view of the occult. If we shirk this duty, the secular world will teach them that the occult is harmless fun.
Unfortunately, many children’s pastors and church leaders either participate in occult entertainment or would rather allow children to be involved so they won’t scare them unduly. God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear. We need to teach the whole truth of Scripture before Satan gains a stronghold with our children.
Here are 5 keys to teaching your students and children about the occult.
The Bible forbids it. There are many verses that directly forbid the occult. All verses are in New International Readers Version. These are just a few of the verses that forbid it.
Leviticus 19:31 Do not look for advice from people who get messages from those who have died. Do not go to people who talk to the spirits of the dead. If you do, they will make you “unclean.” I am the Lord your God.
Revelation 21:8 But others will have their place in the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Those who are afraid and those who do not believe will be there. Murderers and those who pollute themselves will join them. Those who commit sexual sins and those who practice witchcraft will go there. Those who worship statues of gods and all who tell lies will be there too. It is the second death.
Deuteronomy 18:10-11 Here are things you must not do. Don’t sacrifice your children in the fire to other gods. Don’t practice any kind of evil magic at all. Don’t use magic to try to explain the meaning of warnings in the sky or of any other signs. Don’t take part in worshiping evil powers. 11 Don’t put a spell on anyone. Don’t get messages from those who have died. Don’t talk to the spirits of the dead. Don’t get advice from the dead.
Renouncing the Occult was a sign of repentance in the Bible: There was a group of people who got saved while Paul was preaching. The first thing they did after getting saved was to burn all of their occult materials even though they cost a lot of money. We should also get rid of anything we have that is occult.
Acts 19:17-20 The Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard about this. They were all overcome with fear. They held the name of the Lord Jesus in high honor. Many who believed now came and openly admitted the evil they had done.A number of those who had practiced evil magic brought their scrolls together. They set them on fire out in the open. They added up the value of the scrolls. They found that it would take more than two lifetimes to earn what the scrolls were worth. The word of the Lord spread everywhere. It became more and more powerful.
Teach children what the occult is. Because the occult is so pervasive in our culture, many adults and children don’t understand what the occult is and what things we should avoid. They need practical teaching and examples of occult practices they need to avoid. Here’s a list of a few occult practices, although not exhaustive.
Give children an opportunity to repent of Occult practices. Children need to know that if they’ve been involved in the occult, all they need to do is ask God to forgive them and turn away from their sin. This would be a good time to encourage your students to bring any occult paraphernalia to the church. You can have a bonfire to get rid of it just like the Christians did in Acts 19.
Teach children to Fear Not. Children have nothing to fear from demons, the occult, or Satan because God is all powerful. Remind them often while you are teaching against the occult that God has overcome the world. You might also want to pray with your students and ask God to take away their fears and nightmares.
2 Timothy 1:7 God didn’t give us a spirit that makes us weak and fearful. He gave us a spirit that gives us power and love. It helps us control ourselves.
Psalm 27:1 (NIV) The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid.
James 2:19 You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that. And they tremble!
Jesus and the Jack-O-Lanterns
