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The parable of the sower

Kids at home 21st March

Sometimes Jesus told stories when He wanted people to really understand important lessons. If the lessons were hard then Jesus sometimes told simple stories to help people understand the things that were hard to understand. These stories were called parables.

Over the next few weeks we are going to be learning some of the parables that Jesus told and looking at what Jesus is teaching us in each one!

Today we are learning about the parable of the sower!

Let’s start with some worship! Feel free to sing and dance or just watch and listen, Jesus doesn’t mind HOW we worship, he just loves it when we spend time with him and sing his praises!

One Thing Remains – Bethel Kids

Our God is a Great Big God – Vineyard Kids

You are Good – Bethel Kids

Alive – Hillsong Young & Free

Story time

The Parable of the Sower

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” 

 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

You can also watch the video here!

Some things to talk to your family about…

  • Have you ever planted any seeds or done any gardening? Did you enjoy it?
  • What do you think sow means? Can you think of another name for someone who sows seeds?
  • Who makes things grow?
  • What did Jesus say the seed in the story was?
  • What were the different types of soil or ground that the farmer planted the seeds on in the story that Jesus told us?
  • Which type of ground do you think God wants you to be like?
  • Which kind of ground do you think you are most like now? Why?

Some important points to remember…

  • Jesus told this story because He wanted His disciples to learn, and us to learn today, that the seed the sower (or farmer) was planting is God’s word and our hearts are like the different types ground where the sower planted the seed! 
  • First there was the path, where the seed was quickly eaten up by birds. Jesus is saying that sometimes people hear the words of God but straight away it is snatched up and they don’t take His word into their hearts.
  • Then He talks about the rocky ground where there wasn’t much soil and so the seeds grew at the beginning but then they dried up. Jesus is saying that sometimes we hear the word of God and get really excited about it but then our excitement fades away and the word of God dries up in our hearts.
  • Thirdly, Jesus talks about the seed being planted amongst the thorns and the thorns grew and choked the plants that had grown from the seeds. Jesus is reminding us that sometimes we hear God’s word and we believe it, but then we get worried and distracted by other things and the word of God can’t take root and grow in our hearts.
  • Then Jesus tells us about the seed being planted in good soil, this is the best place for the seed to grow! Jesus is saying that this is like when we hear the word of God and we take that into our hearts and let that grow in us and never let it fade! This is what He wants our hearts to be like!
  • When God’s word is heard by people who listen and take His words into their heart, He helps them to grow stronger and closer to Him and learn more about Him. 
  • Each one of us has been given a seed this morning because we have been hearing from God’s word. Isn’t that exciting? We can help that seed grow in our hearts by continuing to listen to God, to spend time with Him, to read the bible and to share His word with others! That’s what it means to be like the good soil!
  • As we go through our lives, we can keep checking if our heart is still like that good soil by seeing how we feel towards Jesus. If we aren’t feeling excited about spending time with Him or we are getting distracted easily or worrying about other things, we can ask Jesus to help us to get excited about Him again and to help us focus our hearts back on Him!
  • Remember, God generously gives us everything that we need and He never holds back from us! God also calls us to be generous, He calls us to help Him sow His seed and spread His amazing word and the truth about Jesus, the good news, to others!

Memory Verse

Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all. – Mark 16:15 MSG

The bible tells us to go out and tell others about Jesus, to plant the seed of God’s word by sharing the good news with others! There are many different ways for us to sow God’s word! We could invite a friend to Church on a Sunday, we could share a story or a time where God has helped us or answered a prayer, we could write down or sing about Jesus! Why don’t you have a think or talk to your family now about some creative ways that you could share the good news with people this week?

Prayer time

Dear God,

Thank you for your word and thank you for the good news of Jesus! 

Would you help us to be like that good soil we heard about today, help us to listen to your word and take it deep into our hearts, help us to grow in our understanding and love for you by spending time with you, reading more of your word and worshipping you! Please would you also give us the courage and the confidence to share the good news of Jesus with others too!

Amen.

Craft time

Make your own plant!

Why don’t you get creative by creating your own plant or flower picture to help you remember what Jesus was teaching us today? You could use seeds (or anything you might have at home!) to help you decorate your drawing (see below) or if you have some seeds at home already maybe you could ask a grown up to help you plant something in the garden and watch it grow over time?!

Materials needed:

  • Paper/card
  • Seeds/dried fruit/rice
  • Glue
  • Pencils/pens/paint

Note to families:

The Bible App for kids is another good resource to use at home with your children if you’d like. You’ll find animated bible stories, as well as different activities related to each story that the children may be able to complete or themselves or that you can complete all together as a family.