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# 31ST week of our Journey -
Parable of the Sower
week’s destination: THE SEED THAT FELL AMONG THORNS.
This next lesson about the Parable of the Sower will help the children
discover how truly wonderful the Word of God is and how we must not
let worry steal away our joy.
Photo copy Bible Verse Card, crayons. Paper and pencils. A seed,
a rock and a thorn bush. 8 – 10 empty water bottles filled
with sand and thorn branches. Heart shape sponge from last lesson.
A bag with a thorn branch and a weed. A trash bin or basket. Moringa
plant. Take home truth.
AS KIDS ARRIVE PRIOR TO THE LESSON:
Get 1 child to colour the Bible Verse Card prior to lesson
Have the children make a list of things that may
make them worry. Examples may be such things as storms, sickness,
first day of school, making new friends, being hungry, sick, etc.
Before class starts combine their lists and write them on the blackboard.
Then tell them that no matter what we may be worried about, God
can and will help us get through it. Worry is a lack of faith in
God. When you can trust that God has a perfect plan, then you will
be able to stop worrying and look to Him. Don’t worry if your
Moringa plant is not growing that quickly, let’s measure how
tall it has grown, and whose is the tallest?
1. GAMES HIDE AND SEEK: (10 minutes)
Before the lesson hide a large seed, a rock and a thorn bush and
get the children to hunt for them, when they find them you can remind
them we ‘Planting the Jesus seed’, the ‘Rocky
ground’ and explain today they will learn about ‘Thorns’
that can choke the plants.
2. TEAM GAMES: (10 minutes)
Make two teams maybe girls and boys. Place 8 – 10 old empty
water bottles filled with sand and thorn branches sticking out,
place them in a zig zag line in front of each team.
Each child has to run zig zag between the thorns,
if they knock over a bottle they must stop and put it upright before
running to the finish line, then the next child starts to run, the
first team to cross the line is the winner.
3. ACTIVE PRAISE CHORUS: (10 minutes)
(Use Music Song Sheet)
Thorns grow up instead Sung to the tune of: "Twinkle, twinkle
Dig a hole just in the ground
Spread Moringa seeds around
Pat them down - so they will keep
They are lying fast asleep
Rain will help the seeds to grow
Sunshine keeps them warm I know
Sometimes thorns grow up instead
In your Bible you have read.
Worry makes you feel low,
Prayer will help that seed to grow
Soon they’ll grow into a tree
Just you wait and see.
4. INTIMATE WORSHIP: (5 minutes)
Why worry when you can pray? (Use Lyrics Song Sheet)
Prayer: Heavenly Father give us a heart that is
soft like a sponge, open to soak up the Word of God.
a. “Back Track”
Last week where did the seeds fall? (On rocky
places.) Remember the sponge (hold up the sponge) represented
someone with a soft open heart who will soak up the Word of God
not like a hard rock (hold up the rock) resisting the Word.
b. Sword Play
Ready…Swords up … Mathew 13: 7. … CHARGE!
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants
. (Mathew 13: 7)
Divide the kids into two teams. Have one team say
“Other seed fell among thorns” Have the other team say
“which grew up and choked the plants.” Have both teams
say ” Mathew 13: 7” Now have them shout it in turn,
then whisper it, then stand up and say it, spin around and say it
etc. (Use the Bible Verse Card as a visual aid.)
c. Teach the Lesson (15 minutes)
We should keep God first in our lives. There are many things in
this world that compete for our time. We need to remove, like thorns,
the things in our lives that keep our relationship with God from
growing. Eg Mixing with the wrong crowd.
‘Sow your Power Card.’ We should not worry because God
is able to help us. We must be sure to make time each day for God,
talk to Him.
(Pull out a thorn from the bag.) What kind
of plant is this? (Allow for answers.) Yes, it is a thorn.
Thorns can cover the garden, (pull out another weed) weeds
can kill plants even your Moringa tree, you must keep an eye on
it and weed it regularly.
Weeds dig their roots down and they steal all the
food and water from the other plants causing the good plants to
die. So if you want the good plants to grow healthy then you have
to get rid of all the thorns and weeds that choke them.
The Bible tells us not to be filled with worry, but to trust God
in faith. Stop worrying by taking your requests to Him. There is
nothing wrong with having concern over matters and sharing that
with God and with friends so that they can also pray.
Another way of getting rid of worry is to be thankful
for the things you have. Don’t dwell on those things you cannot
control. Worry steals & chokes our joy.
We should think about good, things that make us happy. When we focus
on positive and whole some things, happy memories, friends, family
then it is hard to be worried about everything else.
One of the names of the Holy Spirit is Comforter.
The Holy Spirit can help take your cares and ease them. He is our
companion and best friend and He reminds us that God has control,
so don’t worry.
1. In our story today, where did the seeds fall? (Among the
2. What happened to the seed? (It got choked out, by the thorns.)
3. What are some things that we worry about? (Sickness, school,
4. Let's list some of our favourite things: (Toys, games, sports,
5. Should these things have higher priority in our lives than God?
(No, God should have top priority.)
6. How can we be sure we spend time with God? (Set time aside
each day, make it important.)
7. What are some ways we can include God in our daily lives? (Pray,
read the Bible, be thankful)
6 . APPLICATION / ENCOUNTERING GOD: Refer to our
Encountering God Handbook for ideas for this important section of
the session. Experience the Holy Spirit Learning Centers creating
a Spiritual atmosphere.
(Give each child a little green weed)
Many people hear the Good News, which is the gift
of salvation, but they are more worried about their day to day activities.
They spent a lot of their time fussing over things trying to make
themselves happy. Seeking the things of this world is like the seed
that fell among thorns. People can only be truly happy when they
have a genuine relationship with God, through His one and only Son,
Jesus Christ. Let’s spend some time telling God how sorry
we are for worrying and list the things we have worried about, ask
Him to forgive us and promise to spend more time with Him, talking
to Him, praising and singing to Him, being quiet with Him and just
listening, take the list and put it in the trash bin!
CLOSING PRAYER: Heavenly Father
we know now that thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but
the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the
word, making it unfruitful. We come against that right now. Everyone
that has heard this message nothing will be choked out but will
produce fruit. Amen
TAKE HOME PAGE:
Give one copy of the ‘Take Home Truth’. Take your Moringa
plant home, water it every other day.
Optional: ‘Take Home Quiz
Books’ are available for the children found in your Visual
Aid Manual. These should be photocopied prior to the Session and
available to take home.
Be sure to come next week! We are going to play football with a
difference! Bring back your Moringa next week to class.
view Session #32.