The good soil
Children's sermon
Object:
rock, weeds, some gravel, and cup with good dirt (you may have some kind of seed that you would want to give them to plant when they go home)
Good morning, boys and girls. When Jesus wanted people to understand what he was talking about, he would tell them a good story. Today, he tells us a story about a farmer. See if you can understand what Jesus is saying.
One day a farmer took his very best seed and started walking toward his field. As he walked some of the seed fell along the side of the road on gravel. Birds quickly swooped down and ate the seed.
As he continued walking, more seed fell upon a rock. Have you ever seen something try to grow on a rock? It grows very quickly at first, but then dies shortly after because it has no roots.
Seed also fell in a field full of weeds. The weeds grew very fast and when the seed tried to grow, the weeds took over all the soil and killed the other plants.
Finally, the farmer arrived at his field. The ground was neatly prepared. It looked like a wonderful place for seed to grow. The farmer was very careful to dig a trench, put in the seed, and then cover the seed with just the right amount of dirt. It wasn't too long before this seed began to grow and make wonderful plants. One seed could make a plant with more than 100 seeds.
Jesus said that seeds planted in good soil would produce as much as 100 times more than was planted. This would make the farmer very happy.
Do you have any idea why Jesus told this story? (let them answer) This is what I understand. The four different soils are like people. Some people don't care about God at all. They are the ones like the gravel on the road. The second soil was seeded on a rock. It grew fast at first and then died. This is like people who hear about Jesus and are very excited for a little while, but lose interest quickly. The third kind of soil is the one filled with weeds and this kind of soil is like people who live reckless lives. They like to run around a lot, drink a lot, and tell bad stories. Everything else is more important than Jesus.
Finally we have the fourth kind of soil. It is warm, rich, and grows wonderful crops. Christians who believe in Jesus year after year and care for others always are part of this good soil. This soil nourishes us and grows the most beautiful plants. What kind of a person are you? What kind of soil do you want to be like?
One day a farmer took his very best seed and started walking toward his field. As he walked some of the seed fell along the side of the road on gravel. Birds quickly swooped down and ate the seed.
As he continued walking, more seed fell upon a rock. Have you ever seen something try to grow on a rock? It grows very quickly at first, but then dies shortly after because it has no roots.
Seed also fell in a field full of weeds. The weeds grew very fast and when the seed tried to grow, the weeds took over all the soil and killed the other plants.
Finally, the farmer arrived at his field. The ground was neatly prepared. It looked like a wonderful place for seed to grow. The farmer was very careful to dig a trench, put in the seed, and then cover the seed with just the right amount of dirt. It wasn't too long before this seed began to grow and make wonderful plants. One seed could make a plant with more than 100 seeds.
Jesus said that seeds planted in good soil would produce as much as 100 times more than was planted. This would make the farmer very happy.
Do you have any idea why Jesus told this story? (let them answer) This is what I understand. The four different soils are like people. Some people don't care about God at all. They are the ones like the gravel on the road. The second soil was seeded on a rock. It grew fast at first and then died. This is like people who hear about Jesus and are very excited for a little while, but lose interest quickly. The third kind of soil is the one filled with weeds and this kind of soil is like people who live reckless lives. They like to run around a lot, drink a lot, and tell bad stories. Everything else is more important than Jesus.
Finally we have the fourth kind of soil. It is warm, rich, and grows wonderful crops. Christians who believe in Jesus year after year and care for others always are part of this good soil. This soil nourishes us and grows the most beautiful plants. What kind of a person are you? What kind of soil do you want to be like?
