Good soil
Children's Activity
Object:
Today we hear the parable of the sower. The imagery in the lesson is both rich and subtle. Jesus lays the parable before the crowd and then interprets it for the disciples. Unlike some other parables, Jesus tells exactly what the parable means. The birds, the rocky soil, the thorns and the good soil are all clearly explained so that listeners can take the lesson of the parable to heart.
The subtle part comes next. Now that we know what the parable means, what do we do with it? How do we make sure that we incorporate the teaching into our lives and be the people that Jesus is looking for? Some of these ideas are a bit complicated for children, but the imagery of the parable itself is not.
Re-enact the parable as a class project. Bring in three flower pots, some rocks, some thorns (sticks), some potting soil and some bean seeds. Fill each pot with one of the three planting media and then have the children plant some seeds. What do you need to do to help them grow? Water them, put them in the sunlight and then wait to see what happens. What do the children think will happen to the seeds in each pot? Write down their expectations and then record their observations for the next couple of weeks.
As you work together and watch your seeds grow (or not grow), begin making the connection between the seeds and the word of God. What happened to the word when it was planted in each place? Through the tangible experience, children can begin to learn about the more subtle implications.
The subtle part comes next. Now that we know what the parable means, what do we do with it? How do we make sure that we incorporate the teaching into our lives and be the people that Jesus is looking for? Some of these ideas are a bit complicated for children, but the imagery of the parable itself is not.
Re-enact the parable as a class project. Bring in three flower pots, some rocks, some thorns (sticks), some potting soil and some bean seeds. Fill each pot with one of the three planting media and then have the children plant some seeds. What do you need to do to help them grow? Water them, put them in the sunlight and then wait to see what happens. What do the children think will happen to the seeds in each pot? Write down their expectations and then record their observations for the next couple of weeks.
As you work together and watch your seeds grow (or not grow), begin making the connection between the seeds and the word of God. What happened to the word when it was planted in each place? Through the tangible experience, children can begin to learn about the more subtle implications.
