My “wilding-out” buddy, who also happens to be a Director of Children’s Ministry, gave me some of the biggest Gingerbread Men I’ve ever seen from B.J.s. And wanting to do something special for Sunday School on the Sunday after New Year’s Day, decorating these mack-daddys were perfect! Even the smaller ones come in a box of 8, can be found at WalMart of Big Lots, and work just as well. Lay them out on an oval paper plate and be ready with 1 gallon or 2 gallon Ziploc bag to send them home at the end of the lesson.

This is the lesson basics of what we’ll do. Depending on the age range in the classroom, I wanted to be prepared with several scriptures to choose from. We’ll have “circle time/large group time” with the singing and using our bibles. Then let loose with the decorating. I’ll ask more specific comprehension questions as they’re working on their Gingerbread men and I work the room. It should be sweet!

Sing: O Be Careful Little Eyes What You See
O Be Careful, Little Eyes
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little mouth what you say
O be careful little mouth what you say
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say

Psalm 139:14 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Eyes
Proverbs 4:25 “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.”
Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills – Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes away from worthless things.”
Psalm 101:3 “I will set before my eyes, no vile thing.”
Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
Pair Share: What do you consider worthless things?

Ears
Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.”
Righteous = morally upright, without guilt or sin; in accordance with what is right
Attentive = paying close attention to something

Hands
Psalm 47:1 “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”
Pair Share: When do you clap?

Deuteronomy 2:7 “The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These 40 years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.”
James 2:14 “What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?
James 2:16-17 “What good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Pair Share: Deeds with your hands…like what? (donations, helping someone who dropped something, starting a conversation with a new kid at school or church, showing kindness no matter what)

Feet
Romans 10:15 “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
The Good News = God loved us so much, He sent Jesus to show us how to live and to give His life for us so we could be forgiven for our sins. AND we are invited to be God’s people to show and tell others of God’s love and become more like Jesus everyday. Isn’t that good news?

Mouth
Psalm 54:2 “Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.”
Proverbs 4:24 “Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”
Perversity = a deliberate desire to behave in an unreasonable or unacceptable way; contrary
Corrupt = having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain
Psalm 34:13 “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
1 Peter 3:10 “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.”

Send off/Closing
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you (verb=set apart; declare holy; dedicate to God more) completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”