Listening is hard work and many people do not listen well. Many of us hear sounds, but we don't really listen to what others are saying. I guess people who lived when Jesus walked the earth also had a problem with listening.
How did Jesus get people to listen to him? (Let them answer.) He had children's sermons like this! One day he used seeds. Corn cobs have corn seed on them, don't they? Jesus used seeds -- perhaps seeds just like these -- and taught the people the importance of listening to what he had to say.
Jesus told about a farmer who went out to plant seeds -- like
these corn seeds. Some of the seeds fell on the pathway. When the
birds saw the seed, they flew down and ate it. Other seeds fell
on the rocks. Do seeds grow well when they fall on rocks? (Let
them answer.) Of course not! Some seeds fell where there were
lots of weeds. Seeds don't grow well when there are weeds around
either, do they? But, Jesus said, some seed fell in good soil and
produced lots -- like these cobs of corn with many seeds on them.
When Jesus told this story he was trying to get people to be
good listeners and hear what he was telling them about the
kingdom of God. Those who listen and hear what Jesus is telling
are like the seed that falls in good soil. God's word takes root
like a plant and grows like a plant and produces more -- just
like a plant.
We want to be like good seed, too. That is why it is important
to listen carefully to God's word in Sunday school, in worship,
and at home. We want to be like fertile soil that receives God's
word and helps God's word grow and spread so that everyone in the
world can hear it and be glad to hear it like we are.
Dear Jesus: Help us listen carefully and learn everything we can.
Amen.
