Use this fun and creative lesson around Halloween to help kids shine the light of Jesus. And explore these other great elementary Sunday school lessons to help kids grow in their faith.

1. The Good, Bad, and Ugly

You’ll need:

• Bible
• bulletin-board paper
• tape
• markers

Tape the bulletin-board paper to the wall.

Say: At Halloween, some people think of darkness, night, and spooky things. I know you’ve seen store displays that are dark and yucky. Some people like to dress up in dark and spooky costumes, and other people like to dress up and pretend in fun or silly costumes. Let’s make lists of costumes and put them under two categories: darkness and light. Name a costume for me, and we’ll decide which list to put it on. Write kids’ answers on the bulletin-board paper.

When the lists are complete, ask:

• Which costumes do you think Jesus would want us to wear?

Read aloud John 1:1-9.

Ask:

• What does the Bible say about God’s light? What does it say about the darkness?
• What could these verses teach us about Halloween?

Say: At Halloween, our choice of dress up costumes and the things we pretend and play can honor God: the God of Light.

2. Flashlight Hike

You’ll need:

• Bible
• flashlight

Using a flashlight, take children on a hike through a dark room in your church. Keeping the lights off, turn off your flashlight and have them sit in a circle.

Ask: How…

• does it feel to be in the dark?
• is Halloween a dark time?
• did the flashlight help us find our way?

Use your flashlight to read aloud Matthew 5:14-16.

Ask:

• What does light do?
• How can we be God’s light for the world at Halloween?

Say: You’re in the light when you love Jesus—because then the light that comes from Jesus’ Holy Spirit is in you. That’s kind of like a jack-o’-lantern. When we see a pumpkin face, we can be reminded that the light inside is like the light of the Holy Spirit shining in everyone who loves Jesus.

3. Let It Shine

You’ll need:

• lunch sacks
• cookie cutters
• pencils
• votive candles
• sand

Say: We’re going to make luminarias, which are used to light a path. Our luminarias will light the path to being friends with Jesus on Halloween.

Give each child a lunch sack. Have children use cookie cutters to trace heart or cross shapes onto their sacks. Then have them use pencils to poke holes through the sacks about one-quarter inch all around the traced shapes. Have kids pour enough sand in the sacks to cover the bottoms. Give each child a votive candle to place in the sack and light at home. Explain that kids’ parents need to light their candles and supervise the use of the luminarias.

Then close in prayer, asking God to bring his light into the lives of people experiencing a dark time.

4. Food for Thought

Allergy Alert: Some children have food allergies that can be dangerous. Know your children, and consult with parents about allergies their children may have.

You’ll need:

• dried pumpkin seeds
• cheese spread
• crackers
• plastic knives

Distribute snack supplies to each child.

Say: Spread the cheese on your cracker. Use the seeds to create designs on your cracker that’ll remind you of Jesus and his light, such as a smiley face, a light, or a cross.

Mark von Ehrenkrook is a children’s and family pastor in Puyallup, Washington. 

As you continue preparing for the season, check out all these Halloween ideas!