Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn Jesus told parables to help people understand godly principles.
- Students will learn every parable has an important lesson God wants us to learn and follow.
- Students will learn we must be careful not to let other things push God out of our lives.
- Students will learn how to bring God closer into their lives.
Guiding Question: How can students learn to make God a continual part of their life?
Materials: Cardstock or cardboard, soil, pebbles, markers
Procedure: Review the Parable of the Sower from the scriptures above. Emphasize that a parable tells an important lesson that God wants us to learn. Explain how God wants us not to push Him out of our lives but rather bring ourselves closer to Him. Ask students how they can do this. (Prayer, reading Bible, participating in Bible studies, etc). Explain that it is important for us to look at areas in our lives where we can grow and bring God closer to us. Then we become good soil for God to do His good work through us.
Introduce the activity. Bring in cardstock or cardboard, soil, pebbles, and markers. Have students divide their board into four sections. Use supplies to illustrate each of the soils and put interpretation above the soil. (Showing the three bad soils and one good soil) Discuss how they can avoid being the three poor soils and be the good soil instead.
Additional Questions: How can students learn what to do in their lives that helps them grow with God?
Supplemental Activity: Have students create an illustration of a lush and growing garden with good soil. Have the students label the different parts of the garden (growing flowers, bushes, veggies, etc) as good things we can do in our lives to grow with God.