Did you know that October 31st is the anniversary of the day when Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to door in Wittenburg?
Don't let the devil steal Reformation Day! Redeem Halloween, and pass out tracts with your treats.
I'm planning on inviting others over to pray, watch Luther movies, and discuss salvation by grace alone through faith alone, while passing out gospel leaflets to the kiddies. The idea is to drop the little home-printed papers into their bags, along with some tooth-decaying sweets. "Do unto others..."
Here are the front and back .pdf files, if you would like to print out some for yourself...
[url=http://www.theopenlife.com/witnessing/halloween%20tract%20front.pdf]Halloween Tract Front.pdf[url=http://www.theopenlife.com/witnessing/halloween%20tract%20back.pdf]Halloween Tract Back.pdf
Simply print on one side of the paper, reverse it and print again on the other side. I'll be printing mine on orange paper that I found at Wal-Mart.
Here is the text of the tract, hopefully written on a level that 5th and 6th graders can understand:
----
Which is scariest to you?
a.) Vampires b.) Zombies c.) Goblins
Monsters are scary because they look dangerous and evil. We all fear being hurt or frightened. Good thing these ghastly creatures are just make-believe. But what about this: how scared would it be if you were brought into a court room and found guilty of a bad crime?
Guilty people get punished. Some criminals pay fines, or go to jail, or worse. Can you imagine going to jail for the rest of your life? Are you guilty of any thing?
Everyone has a rule-book written in their heart, a voice telling us there is right and wrong. We know we should not lie. We should not steal, or cheat, or do anything to others that we would not want done to ourselves.
God's Son, Jesus, said that,
"God's whole Law is summed up like this: love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." Breaking God’s law is called sin. People who sin, even once, are sinners. Parents punish kids for breaking rules, and God punishes sinners for breaking His rules.
After we die, we will judged by Almighty God. He will show whether we obeyed His Law or dishonored Him. Those who have broken His law will be found guilty, and their punishment will last forever. That is scary. Everyone has sinned, including you and me. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." God is a fair, good judge so all sin is very evil in His sight. Therefore the punishment for even one sin is everlasting death and torment.
But there is hope. God is also very kind, even to bad people like us. He made a way for people to be saved from his fair punishment. God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to rescue sinners. Jesus lived without sin, perfectly obedient to God's laws. He loved God perfectly, only doing good to others. When he was grown, he chose to die painfully on a cross, taking the punishment that sinners deserve. While Jesus was dying, God poured on him the payment for sins. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead to prove that he beat death and sin. Now he lives forever. Soon He will return to bring all his people to heaven.
Even if you are good from now on, that can’t erase your earlier sins. Don’t try to be “good enough”. Instead, have faith that Jesus took away the punishment of everyone who trusts Him to save them. He suffered in the place of all who believe on Him. Cast your doubts and fears on Jesus. You have nothing to fear from a judge if you are innocent. Those who trust Jesus alone to save them are innocent in God's sight. Know that God loves you and rejoices over every sinner who repents of sin and trusts on Jesus alone. Don't trust in your goodness - trust in Jesus’ death and life.
From now on, show your thankfulness to God by keeping his commands. Do your best to love God and others. Study the bible so you can know God, and spend time praying. God will teach you how to live for Him. Worship Jesus, who loved you so much that He came and died for you!
Ask your parents to read 1st John with you, from the bible. For more info or a free bible, visit
www.theopenlife.com
God bless you!
-----
Don't forget to pray for each child!!