Term 3 – Week 2
Big Idea – Anyone who listens to the words of Jesus, understands them and follows them in life (i.e. puts their faith in Jesus) will be saved and become part of God’s Kingdom now and forever in the new creation. They will be like the seed that fell on good soil.
Matthew 13:1-23
Lesson Background
This unit of work looks at God Big Kingdom. What does life look like in the Kingdom of God now and in the new creation? How do we become part of this Kingdom of God? How do we live as members of Gods kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ and what does it mean for eternity?
The Parable of the Sower is an agricultural parable, whereby Jesus outlines 4 different reactions to his teaching amongst his hearers. The point of the parable arises from the destination of the seed and the consequences of it being sown in the various kinds of soil.
Group 1 (v.19) demonstrates that ‘hearing without understanding’ is associated with the evil one snatching the word away.
Group 2 (vv.20-21) this one hears the word and ‘immediately receives it with joy’. But ‘he has no root in himself, so he only endures fit for a while because gives up when faced with trial and temptation.
Group 3 (v.22) depicts the person who hears the word, but the ‘cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful’. In the end, this person is not part of God’s eternal kingdom.
Group 4 (v.23) is the good soil. They hear & understand the word, put their trust in Jesus and follow him. This is the soil that bears fruit and in the end is part of God’s eternal kingdom.
In Jesus’ ministry, the message of the kingdom was being preached among Israel. Jesus called them to repent and believe, he called them hear his word with understanding because the kingdom of God was near.
The Sower = Jesus
The Seed = God’s word as proclaimed by Jesus.
The Soil = The different kinds of people and their different responses to Jesus and His word.
Outcomes
The children will understand what faith is, and be encouraged to listen to God’s word. To be like the good soil.
Songs
Jesus Rocks the World. (Colin Buchanan – Jesus Rocks the World CD)
Memory Verse
If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10v9
Leaders PDF
this has been put together using purchased external material and therefore this resource may only be used by Dundonald Church. For more information please contact natasha.small@dundonald.org
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