A Walk Through The Pumpkin Patch - Updated November 18th - Restored August 22nd, 2014

A Walk Through The Pumpkin Patch

Susan Nikitenko October 22nd, 2012

 Introductory Lesson

tween to teen

 Pumpkin Patch Decorated Room

This morning we are going to be taking a walk through the pumpkin patch.  We will start our walk with the reading of this poem called "If Life Were A Pumpkin Patch".   (Read The Poem)  In the bible, Jesus tells us we are the light of the world,

 In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says,  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

When we take this walk through the pumpkin patch, I want you to remember.  God wants us to walk in the Spirit.  The bible teaches us what walking in the Spirit is and what it looks like.  The first pumpkin we will be talking about  in our pumpkin patch is love.  According to the bible one of the greatest qualities that should sprout up in our lives as Christians is love.  If we love God the way we should we would choose to do the things that please Him.  When we love God we will love others right.  Love makes our other fruit grow bigger and stronger.  Without the right foundation (motives)then our patch would be fruitless.  God wants our motives to be Godly love.

 The next pumpkin we see in our patch is faith.  The bible teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God.  Faith is the opposite of fear because fear brings torment.  With love as our foundation we can grow strong in our faith and be very courageous.  Faith is what causes us to obey God.  Faith, is being a doer of the Word.  Faith is being faithful in both in attitude and action, even when things become very hard.

Now as we step on through the pumpkin patch we will find the pumpkin called hope. Sometimes in life we go through very difficult things. This is when we could very easily become discouraged. Hope is very important in our Christian walk. Hope is grasping tight to the promises of God's Word. God has given us many promises throughout His Word to keep us strong in hope. One promise for example would be. "He will never leave me nor forsake me." We must be hiding God's Word in our hearts so when tough times come - we will recall His promises and be able to continue with hope. Hope walks hand in hand with faith.

The next pumpkin we come to along the patch is goodness.  Goodness could be going the extra mile, being polite or courteous, being a person of integrity, honesty, dependability, being an outstanding citizen and on we go.  God wants us to be the best person we can be.  When we walk close to God we learn to be good people.  Jesus was good and we need to walk in His steps along the path.

As we stroll along the pumpkin patch we will find joy in our Christian walk, when we  love God, love others and live by faith.  It's the  time we spend with God in prayer, singing Godly songs, reading His Holy Word and serving others,  that causes joy to light our hearts. 

Now along the pumpkin patch we will have choices to make. Now if we were to stumble across a different kind of pumpkin like selfishness.  This pumpkin is not one that belongs in the Walking In The Spirit pile.  This would go in the walking In the flesh pile.   So we will need to take notice of our choice and make the right decisions by asking ourselves  does this choice please God.

Now we come to this pumpkin called longsuffering, if you get through this lesson without complaining.  Then you have exorcized longsuffering.  Longsuffering is continuing in good choices in spite of conditions that have caused you to suffer.  Another word for longsuffering is patience. 

In our pumpkin patch as we go, We see the pumpkin called peace.  God wants us to be peaceful on the inside.  When we do not have peace we are not thinking clearly on God's greatness.  God allows His children to overcome great obstacles.  Our life and protection is in His hands.  When we are following His way, He has us under His protection.  Everything has a purpose even in difficult times.  In John 16:33, Jesus says, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

As we go to the next pumpkin in our path we will find meekness.  Meekness is having a spirit of humility. We should not think of ourselves as better than another person.  God doesn't want us being people with a prideful attitude.  James 4:6 Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  If we want God's blessing we cannot be prideful in our Christian walk.

As you can see we have many choices in our pumpkin patch but - We are going to continue on to the pumpkin called gentleness.  Gentleness is treating others with dignity and worth.  God tells us to tell the truth in love.  He instructs us to be forgiving, kind and tenderhearted one to another.  Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Now onto the last pumpkin of our choice.  The pumpkin called temperance.  Another word for temperance is self control.  God wants us to be controlled in many areas of our lives.  He wants us to have a balanced life in our choices. He doesn't want us out of control in our choices or behavior.  Sometimes we want to sin.  This is when you must show self control.  We can gain strength through reading of the Word, prayer, good friends, loving God more and knowing there are consequences if we make the wrong choice.  God corrects us through circumstances.   We need to be fearful of doing wrong.   Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:

We all are trusting God to become stronger in these areas of our lives.  God is very patient and kind. He is busy working on us, in His love, to become everything He wants us to be. 

Today as we examine our lives let's ask God to help us walk in His Spirit. When we trust Christ as Saviour his Spirit comes and abides with us on the inside. He is the comforter promised by God to all those that believe and trust Him. God instructs us not to grieve the Holy Spirit inside of us. When we obey the pulling of our fleshly nature we grieve the heart of God. If you have never trusted Christ for salvation you can trust Him today. He died for you and arose. Just as when you trust Him you will be made alive and the Spirit of Christ will abide with you always. God is not willing that any should perish but all would come to repentance.  

Pray

Lord Jesus, we come to you and ask you to teach us to walk in your Spirit.  (teacher :continue with your own heartfelt prayer )

Below Is The Lesson Bulletin Board.  I Just Used A Piece Of Burlap Fabric Because I Could Not Use A Real Bulletin Board.  I Was Very Careful Not To Make Extra Holes In The Wall. I Used Staight Pins To
Pin The Fruit Signs ( In The Second Picture ) 
To The Pumpkins Onto The Burlap Background. 
I Pinned Them One At A Time As I Talked About Each Fruit Represented.

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Game - good seed - rotten seed

Play This Game Like Zonk  But Without The Board.

If You Get A Rotten Seed You Loose All Your Points For That Play

Highest Points Win  -

You Can Divide Into Teams Or Play Individually.

If Life Were A Pumpkin Patch Poem

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