Growing in God
WELCOME TO WEEK 1
This week we are learning about how God can make things grow. God helps us grow tall and He can also help us grow in our love for him. Let's look at ways plants grow and practice growing ourselves this week too!
BIBLE STORY
Look at these pictures of seeds. See if you can identify the name of each seed. Each seed has different needs and is planted in order to grow. Think about what seeds need to grow (Soil, water, space, nutrients). What are some things you need to grow with Jesus?
Materials: attached pictures of seeds
Read or listen to the Bible verse for this week: Matthew 13:1-23
When Jesus spoke to the crowd, how did he teach them lessons? (Through parables)
In this parable, what does Jesus say the farmer is doing? (planting his seed in the field)
Describe the 4 places the seeds fell. (on the paths, on shallow rocks, among other plants or weeds, on good soil.)
Jesus explains the parable to the disciples. What did he say each soil represented?
What was different in how the seeds grew in the good soil compared to the other places it was planted? (the good soil gave the seeds what it needed to grow, nutrients from the soil, sun, and space. In the other places the seeds were choked out by other things).
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
In the parable Jesus used an ordinary task to teach the audience something new and spiritual about their relationship with God. He used the story of a farmer because the people he spoke to understood farming. Farming was all around them and some of them were farmers. The seeds in the story actually represented God’s Word and how we are to plant it in our hearts. The soil in the story represented our hearts and if they readily accepted God’s word initially, rejected it, or planted it deep within our hearts. Think of something that is relevant today to represent God’s word and our hearts. Retell the story by teaching the same lesson but using new examples .
Activity
Play a game of Pictionary. Each member goes to a large whiteboard or drawing sheet of paper and draws a picture of a food item or use these cards. Divide other people into teams or everyone else guesses what is being drawn.
Materials: large sheet of drawing paper, markers, Pictionary guessing cards (optional)
Alternative:
Activity sheet of the 4 different types of soil. Cut and paste the soils Jesus described under the correct picture.
Materials: picture cards, scissors, glue
Create:
Create your own experiment, testing three different ways to grow a plant. Get three plastic cups label each cup with one of these titles: shallow, good soil, rocks.
Place potting soil in the cups labeled shallow and good soil. In the cup labeled shallow place the seed on the surface of the dirt not digging far down. In the cup labeled good soil, dig to the middle of the soil and place the seed in and cover with a good amount of soil. In the cup labeled rocks, fill the cup with rocks.
Next poor some soil into the cup to fill the gaps with soil. Drop your seed into the soil. Be sure to water your seeds and place them in the sun. You can record the changes in a notebook or just observe which seed grows and changes.
Materials: 3 plastic cups, marker, potting soil, 3 planting seeds, rocks
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Cut and paste the following flower together putting it in the correct place. Color and glue them onto a pot that you draw on the paper.
Materials: printed cut and paste flower
CRAFT 2
Coloring Page
Materials: Printed coloring page
Craft 3
Coloring Page
Materials: printed coloring sheet
FOLLOW-UP
Play a simple game of Simon Says. Give several examples of things for the student to do things such as jump, do jumping jacks, pat head, etc., being sure to say, “Simon Says” before each action you want them to actually do. In this game of Simon Says you had to do whatever Simon told you to do. God also wants us to do what He asks of us, but He is not trying to trick us like the game of Simon Says. Instead, He says He will help us. He gives us His Word, the Bible, not only to read but to also DO.
Read or listen to James 1:22
In God’s word, Jesus gives instructions on things that we are to do. Using a piece of construction paper or regular paper, draw a line down half the paper. Print the attached sheet and paste the things Jesus has said on one side of the paper and the other quotes on the other side.
Look at all of the things Jesus said and put a star by the one you may need to practice doing more this week.
Materials: sheet of construction paper, pencil/pen, printed sheet of things Jesus said
Practical Application at Home
God’s word is meant to be planted in our hearts so that we can produce good fruit. Reading God’s word is the first step to planting God’s word but we must also DO God’s word. Read the following scriptures and give examples of ways you can live out that verse this week.
Colossians 3:20………………….(Obey your parents)
Romans 12:14 …………………….(Bless those who persecute you)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 …………………(in everything give thanks)
Proverbs 16:24………………………Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul)
Psalm 82:3……………………(Defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to afflicted and needy)
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Participation in a food pantry or serving food