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Characters

Narrator

Jesus

Peter

Soil 1

Soil 2

Soil 3

Soil 4



Questions
Jesus described four ways that people will respond to the gospel.

1.
What was the first way?

2.
The second?

3.
The third?

4.
The fourth?

5.
What is our job in all this?



Narrator: Jesus has been with his disciples for several months. He has been training them to go out and preach the good news. He's called them together to give his final instructions before sending them out.

Jesus: It's been almost a half year since you began following me. Now it's time for you to go out on your own, to learn how to carry on my work. I'm sending you out two-by-two.

Peter: But, Lord, what are we supposed to do, what are we to say?

Jesus: You've heard me teach. You've seen my miracles. You've observed my lifestyle. Go out and witness; share what you've seen and heard me say and do.

Peter: But suppose the people laugh, or say nasty things, or even threaten us? Suppose they reject our message, what are we to do then?

Jesus: Sharing your faith is like a farmer who goes out and spreads seed over his land. He scatters the seed. He doesn't pound it into the ground.

Peter: So all we have to do is share our faith, not pound it into people.

Jesus: Correct. And people will react in four different ways to your message. Some will be like the farmer dropping seed on hard ground. The seed just lays there. It never penetrates the soil.

Peter: What kind of a person is that?

Jesus: It's like the person who says:

Soil 1: (angrily) You're saying I'm a sinner? I need to repent? I must accept Jesus as my Savior? Listen, buddy, I'm just as good as anybody else. Every bit as good as you. I'm getting along just fine, thank you. I don't ask help from anybody. I make my own good luck. I don't need Jesus, the church, anything! What's more, I don't go in for this religion stuff, all this talk about God and Jesus. I haven't got time for that.

Peter: He sure was a hard nut to crack.

Jesus: Others will respond like that farmer dropping seed on a thin layer of soil with hard rock underneath. The seed takes root; begins to grow. But the sun dries up the soil. The plants die.

Peter: What kind of a person is that?

Jesus: Like the person who says:

Soil 2: Oh, yeah, I used to go to church, went every Sunday. But then everything started to go wrong. One of the guys at church criticized me, said I was stingy. That made me mad. Then I fell and broke my leg the day before I was to go on a Caribbean cruise. Couldn't get a refund. Then God let my dad get sick and die. Then God had me lose my job and my wife ditched me for another guy. To cap it all off, the church put me on the inactive roll, simply because I hadn't attended in five years. Well, I figure, God really let me down. So if God isn't going to help me, then phooey on him. I've given up this religious stuff.

Peter: That fellow's faith just couldn't take to the tough times.

Jesus: Others will respond to your preaching like the farmer dropping seed on soil in which there were thorns. The seed took root; started growing. But soon it was choked out by all the weeds. That's like the person who says:

Soil 3: Jesus? Yeah, I know all about him. I used to be real religious, even served as a deacon, but then I discovered that there were a lot of things more important, more fun -- girls, parties, clothes, booze! getting a job! a house! a car! marriage! a family! friends! getting a better job! having a little fun! a cabin up north! a winter home in Florida! Now I have the money for all the things I always wanted to do. These are my priorities now. I have no time for Jesus.

Peter: Good times and prosperity crowded God out.

Jesus: But some will respond to your witness like the farmer who drops seed on good soil. It takes root then grows and grows, continually producing a big harvest. That's like the person who says:

Soil 4: Faith and following Jesus are the most important things in my life. When I first believed, I started reading the Bible. I actually enjoyed going to church. I made new friends at church, started cleaning up my life, got rid of some pretty gross things I used to do. I even told some of my friends about Jesus and they nearly died of fright. My wife and I teach the seventh grade Sunday school class. I think some of those kids know the Bible better than I, but I'm catching up. Oh, I'm far from perfect, as my wife will tell you, but at least I've stopped yelling at my kids, and believe me, that is a miracle.

Peter: So people are going to respond to my witnessing in different ways.

Jesus: Like the different ways the seed grew depended not on the farmer or the seed. It depended on the soil. The way people respond to your message depends on their hearts.

Peter: My job is to spread the gospel.

Jesus: And leave the results to God.



Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.