Every year we make a gingerbread house, and we have started the tradition of reading The Story of the Gingerbread Gospel during our creation time. It is a great Question & Answer interactive story that helps teach our children about the gospel and gives them a great visual to learn by.
I just go to Costo/Sam’s Club, Publix, Joann’s or Michael’s and grab a kit. (There are usually 40% off coupons for Joann’s and Michael’s in the paper.) This is one of my clearance finds right after Christmas. Since we don’t eat ours, it works perfectly and at half price for the next year!
The Gingerbread Gospel
Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a life-sized gingerbread house? What would your favorite candy house be made out of? What would you use for beds, chairs, pillows, toys? (let the children offer ideas)
That would almost seem like the perfect place to live, wouldn’t it? Well, the Bible tells us about a real live “perfect place to live.” It’s called Heaven. Long ago, that’s where Jesus lived. But God decided to send Jesus from His perfect house in Heaven to Earth. (John 6:38) What was the first house Jesus lived in on Earth (pause to let chidren answer)? It was a stable. What is a stable? (a barn) What would have it looked like? What would have been in that stable? What would it have smelled like? And Jesus’ first bed was a manger. What is a manger? (A feeding trough for animals) (Luke 2:1-7) Was it anything like the perfect place Jesus came from?
Now, why do you think that God would send His own Son from a perfect house in heaven, to a dirty, smelly, cold place like a stable? (let children offer answers) Because He loves you very much! He wanted you to know Him and so He sent His Son to tell you and to show you all about God. Jesus did just that. He taught us about God, and the things that He taught are all written down for us in the Bible (John 3:16)
One day, when Jesus was still a young man, He left His home on Earth. He died for all the bad things we’ve done. And now He has a new home. Do you know where that is? He wants to live in our hearts. He will come and live in our hearts if we ask Him to, and forgive us all of the wrong things we’ve done! (John 14:15-17) Now, why do you think He would want to live inside us, and forgive us of our sins? (pause for responses) He does that because He loves each one of you so much! He wants to always be close to you, and help you.
Finally, the Bible says one more important thing about houses. It says that Jesus is preparing a house for each one of us in heaven! He says that one day, we can all live forever with Him there in that perfect, wonderful place! (Luke 1:31-33; John 6:38-40; John 14:1-3)
Can you tell me what houses we have talked about that Jesus has lived in? (heaven, stable/earth, our hearts, and heaven again)
Now, when you take your gingerbread house home, I want you to remember how much Jesus loves you every time you look at it. And I want you to remember that Jesus wants to live inside you, and to have you live with Him in Heaven someday.
Let me pray and thank Jesus for all His houses.
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Dear Jesus,
Thank you for leaving heaven to come to earth to teach us about God. And thank You for dying for all the wrong things we’ve done, and wanting to live inside us. Thank You for preparing a place fo rus in Your beautiful heaven, and all becuase You love us SO MUCH.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
