Parables Lesson 2

Parable of the Sower

Activity 1: Story Discussion What to do: Review Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 1) What does the seed represent? The seed represents the word of God. What does this symbolism tell

you about the importance of God’s Word? The foundation of faith is the word of God. The word of

God produces fruit. It is crucial for the word of God to be the basis of any life. Read Joshua 1:8. What

command is given in this verse? Always have God’s Word flowing from your lips, meditate/study it

every second. What is the purpose/result of following these commands? You may be careful to do

everything written in it… then you will be prosperous and successful.

2) That is why we have you read the Bible each week, God, the Creator, gave us His Word to study and

share with others. How often do you read your Bible? What holds you back from wanting to read

your Bible? How can you share what you learn in God’s Word with others practically? Why is it

important to share with others what you learn?

3) What are the four places that they could have fallen and what happened on each? 1. Along the path

– the evil one came and stole the seed, 2. Rocky places – someone who hears the Word and receives

it with joy but trouble comes, they fall away, 3. Thorns – someone who hears the Word but the

worries of life and deceitfulness of life choke the word, 4. Good soil – someone who hears the word

and understands it and produces a crop. Why do you think Jesus told this story? What kind of

response would Jesus like people to have to this story?

4) Do people have a choice as to what type of soil they are? Can the soil type change? What might help

break up hard soil? Get rid of rocks? Pull up weeds? What kind of soil are you? What do you think

Jesus would like you to do in response to this story?

SMALL GROUPS: ROOM 106 Make sure to:

Sign in kids as they arrive

Check off sign in sheet if they have completed their devo, if they can recite

this unit’s memory verse, and if they brought their Bible.

Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these

things will be given to you as well.

Parables Lesson 2

Activity 2: Activity/Game

What to do: Each small group will have a bag with slips of paper that say PATH, ROCKS, THORNS, GOOD.

Have each kid draw a piece of paper that tells a type of soil from the bag provided. Tell them that they

can’t show anyone the type of soil that they drew. (Once kids have their “soil”, it might be a good idea

to review what happens to each briefly).

Have the kids sit in a circle on the floor. Pick one kid to be the sower. The sower walks around the group

touching each kid’s head (duck, duck, goose style) saying, “Throw, throw, throw, GROW!” The student

must act like their type of soil. For example, the seed on the path may just lay down flat and not grow at

all, or the kid might act like a bird picking up a seed. Rocky soil may be a fast growing plant that dies fast.

Thorns may be a student acting like they are choking. Good soil may grow and remain alive.

When a kid gets picked to GROW, the “sower” has to guess which kind of soil they were. If they don’t

get it right, they go into the middle of the circle and are out. If they get it right, they get to have a seat in

the circle and the GROWer becomes the sower.

Activity 3: Prayer / Closing What to do: Take time to share prayer requests as a group. Encourage kids to write down the prayer

requests in the provided spaces on their devotional take homes. This way, they can continue praying for

each other throughout the week. Pray together.

Bring it home: This can be done if everything else is finished but skipped if there is no time left. Give

each student a seed (gamepiece) and have them mark it with a color of their choice. Take turns rolling a

dice and moving along the game board. See who wins! Note: if groups are larger, it may be wise to

divide you group into two smaller groups.

If you still have time after completing the activities, work on the following:

Memorizing the memory verse

Working on day 1 of the take-home devotion

Review the books of the Bible

Retelling today’s Bible story

ROCKS

PATH

THORNS

GOOD

ROCKS

PATH

THORNS

GOOD

ROCKS

PATH

THORNS

MONDAY Matthew 13:24-30

What did Jesus compare the kingdom of Heaven to? __________________ _____________________________ What happened while everyone slept? ________________________ ______________________________ What happened when the wheat grew? ________________________ Why were the servants confused? ____________________________________________________________ What did the servants think they should do? ____________________ ______________________________ Why was this a bad idea? ________ ______________________________ What did the man tell them to do instead? ______________________ ____________________________________________________________

TUESDAY Matthew 13:36-43

What did the disciples want Jesus to do? ____________________________ ________________________________ Who was the man sowing the seed? ________________________________ What did the field represent? The good seed? The weeds? ________________ ________________________________ When does the harvest occur? ______ ________________________________Who does the harvesting? __________ What will happen to everything that causes sin and evil? _______________ ________________________________ What will happen to the righteous? ________________________________________________________________

MEMORY VERSE Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

Parables—Lesson 2

WEDNESDAY

Matthew 13:31-34 What two things is the kingdom of heaven like? _____________________ ________________________________ How is it like those things? __________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ Read Matthew 13:44-46 What two things is the kingdom of heaven like? _____________________ ________________________________ How is it like those things? _________ ________________________________ ________________________________

FRIDAY Psalm 18:6-15

When was the author crying out to the Lord? __________________________ Where was God when he heard the cry? ____________________________ What does this tell you about God? ________________________________________________________________ What is one thing about God’s response to this man’s cry that amazed you? ___________________________ ________________________________ How have you seen God respond to you when you need help? _____________ _______________________________ Spend time praying to God this week whenever you need help!

THURSDAY Proverbs 2:1-8

What are three of the commands given to the son in this passage? ____ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ What will the son understand if they do so? ________________________ _______________________________ What does the Lord give? _________ ______________________________ What else does God do for those who are blameless and upright? _______ ______________________________

Parables—Lesson 2

PRAYER REQUESTS ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

1. For those who do not understand ________ ________, the evil one snatches the little that they do understand.

2. The one who receives God’s Word with __________ but has no roots will leave the faith.

3. The one who hears God’s Word but starts to ____________ and believes God cannot solve his problems leaves the faith.

4. The one who hears and understands God’s __________ will tell others about their faith.

5. We are to hear God’s Word and ask the Holy Spirit to help us _________________ it and grow in our faith.

Name: _______________________

Parables—Lesson 2

1. For those who do not understand _GOD’S_ __WORD__, the evil one snatches the little that they do understand.

2. The one who receives God’s Word with __JOY__ but has no roots will leave the faith.

3. The one who hears God’s Word but starts to __WORRY__ and believes God cannot solve his problems leaves the faith.

4. The one who hears and understands God’s __WORD__ will tell others about their faith.

5. We are to hear God’s Word and ask the Holy Spirit to help us __UNDERSTAND__ it and grow in our faith.

Name: _______________________

Parables—Lesson 2