YEA Lesson Library
Give Not Get
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that Halloween celebration does not please God. It fosters extortion rather than generosity.
Scriptures
Acts 20:35
Romans 13:12, 14
Ephesians 6:13-14
Philippians 4:8
1 Peter 5:5
Words to Know
SKELETON - bones of a dead person or animal
The Lesson
Maria dressed up to look like a witch and went trick or treating on Halloween night. She came home with a bag of candy. Mommy said it was time for Marie to go to bed. Mommy tucked Maria in bed, gave her a kiss, and said goodnight. Soon Maria woke up screaming, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, a witch is chasing me.” Mommy ran to Maria's bed, and held her in her arms. "I'm here, Maria, don't be afraid. There's no witch chasing you. You're safe." Mommy told Maria that she didn't want her to ever go trick or treating again because it made our Friend Jesus sad. Jesus never went trick or treating.
Maria asked Mommy why Jesus never went trick or treating. When you go trick or treating you are saying, "If you don't treat me, l'll do something bad to you." That is not a nice thing to do. We don't say things like that to other people. We ask nicely if we want them to do something for us. We always say, “please." Jesus says we are happier when we give to someone else than when we get something from another person.
Some children may dress up like witches, skeletons of dead bones, black cats, or spooks on Halloween. They don't look pretty, do they?
God created the earth to be beautiful. Look at all the shining stars in the sky. See the beautiful flowers, the furry kittens, red birds, blue birds, and yellow birds that sing, squirrels that jump from tree to tree. These things are beautiful. God wants us to like beautiful things. He doesn't want us to think about ugly, scary things. And He doesn't want us to celebrate Halloween or go trick or treating. Here’s what He wants: Whatever is lovely. . . think about such things.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - 1 Peter 5:5
Monday - Romans 13:12
Tuesday - Philippians 4:8
Wednesday - Acts 20:35
Thursday - Ephesians 6:13
Friday - Ephesians 6:14
Saturday - Romans 13:14
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, children will be able to:
1. Explain that Jesus didn't celebrate Halloween.
2. Tell thatGod doesn't want us to think about scary, bad things, but to think about good things.
3. List some beautiful things God made that He wants us to think about.
4. Explain that it makes us happier to give someone else something than to get something.
Topics & Themes
Generosity
Halloween
Holidays, Halloween
Loving Others
Pagan Traditions
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students' and Teacher's books, CD or cassette tape, music player, songbook, attendance and memory verse charts, smiley faces from last week's lesson, card stock, tape, stapler, crayons, stickers, dry treats such as sticks of gum, cereal circles, mini-marshmallows, pretzels
Preparation
Depending on a child's intelligence and social experience, kids differ considerably in the rate at which they move through stages of moral reasoning. A Beginners' approach to property rights is possession is 100 percent of the law. They think in terms of "I want it, therefore it’s not fair if I don't get it." This lesson points out that they are happier giving than getting.
"All children, even those who are not lagging in their social-moral development, benefit from having consistent rules, having the reasons for those rules clearly explained, and having the motives of others made known, all in a caring and supportive environment. (Raising Good Children).
Kids can be attracted to celebrating Halloween mainly because all the other kids in the neighborhood are doing it. But Halloween depicts nothing good and everything evil. Trick or treating teaches children the principle of extortion - l'Il retaliate if you don't do what I ask. This is exactly the opposite of what our humble Savior taught us to do.
Before class, make copies on card stock of the basket on the pattern page and cut them out. Plan to find some extra helpers for completing the activity. As children arrive, greet them warmly and give them one of the smiley faces used in lesson eight.
Review Questions
1. Why doesn't Jesus want you to celebrate Halloween?
2. Can you name some things God made that are beautiful?
3. Why doesn't God want you to go trick or treating?
4. Does Jesus say that you’ll be happier if you give than if you tell someone to give you something?
Pattern Page
need
REACH Activity
Letter: TR
Words: tree, trick, treat, try, trap, trust, trash, truth
Sentence: DON’T TRUST A TRAP THAT TRIES TO TRICK YOU WITH A TREAT.
Song
"Oh, How I Love Jesus" is on page 66 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead in prayer thanking God for the beautiful things He has made: shining stars in the sky, beautiful flowers, furry kittens, red birds, blue birds, and yellow birds that sing, squirrels that jump from tree to tree. And thank Him for not having to celebrate Halloween and do scary things.
Printable Pages
