Sowing Seeds

Sowing Seeds

Laurie Chance Smith

Sharing the Lesson

Jesus has been called by many names: Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace, and bright Morning Star. But Jesus followers, or disciples, often called him Teacher. Jesus spent a lot of time teaching people to love God and to love each other. Often Jesus taught by telling stories called parables. Parables are like riddles. If we understand the riddle in the story, it helps us please God and live more happily.

In Matthew 13:1-23 Jesus tells the parable of the sower. Imagine a sower, or farmer, walking outside on a sunny day and scattering seeds. The sower dropped some of the seeds on a gravelly pathway. Birds that were nesting in nearby trees swooped down and ate the seeds before they could grow. Jesus said this is like a person who hears Gods Word but doesnt listen.

Other seeds fell between rocks where there was little dirt. When the rains came, the seeds sprouted quickly, but their roots had no earth in which to grow. The blazing sun scorched the seeds tiny leaves. They dried up and blew away. Jesus said this is like a person who believes Gods Word but forgets it quickly. When hard times come, they lose their faith.

Some of the sowers seeds fell among weeds. The weeds grew more quickly than the sowers seeds, and the seeds were choked out. They couldnt grow. Jesus said this is like a person who loves worldly things, like money, more than God. If we let our love for worldly things grow, it may stop us from growing in Gods love.

The last of the sowers seeds fell on solid, fertile ground. The seeds took deep root and grew into a bountiful harvest. Jesus said this is like a person who listens to Gods word and allows Gods love to be first in his or her life.

Have you ever tried to grow your own garden? Gardening is a lot of work. First, gardeners clear a plot of land, pull the grass and weeds, and till the soil to make the earth soft and ready. Then they plant their seed and begin watering the garden regularly. If more weeds grow, the gardeners pull them so the weeds dont choke the seeds and keep the new plants from growing. Last, gardeners wait patiently for the harvest. All that hard work pays off when the fruits and vegetables are ready to be picked and eaten.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus is sowing the seed of Gods word. He tells us: Open your hearts to Gods love. Thats preparing the soil. Listen to Gods teaching and read his word. Thats planting the seeds. Get rid of any thoughts or behaviors that dont honor God. Thats pulling the weeds. And show Gods love to others. Thats the harvest, the fruit of your labor.

Jesus message is simple: begin to love God and love others right here and now. God claims you as His child. He planted a seed in you, and He accepts you as you are. Allow Gods love to take root in your life, and He will help you grow more and more.

Applying the lesson

A Take-Home Garden Activity

Fill three large bowls with soil, gravel, and rocks. Make piles of several types of seed, such as sunflower, pumpkin, squash, and lettuce.

Give each child a small plastic cup or clay pot. Let them choose from the soil, rocks, or gravel to fill their pots. Ask: Which soil will help your seeds grow? Let the children fill their cups with soil, choose a few seeds to plant, and sprinkle water on top. Tell the children to place their cup in a windowsill at home. Remind them to water once every few days, pull any weeds that grow, and wait patiently for the harvest.

Grow a Community Garden

If your churchs outdoor space allows, lead the children in growing a community vegetable garden. Ask church members who enjoy gardening to volunteer in the effort. Choose the plot of earth and ask a volunteer to do the heavy tilling beforehand. Ask church members to lend garden tools for the children to use: gloves, shovels, rakes, tillers, seeds, and watering cans.

On your prepared plot of earth, ask the children to choose a garden tool and till the earth. Plant vegetable seedscucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and peppersto grow and share among the children, parents, congregation, and community.

Prepare a list of volunteers to care for the garden during the coming weeks. Include the children: They can pull weeds, water, and prepare for the harvest!

Laurie Chance Smith is a nationally and internationally publishedwriter and mother of twin sons, Luke and Joshua.