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# 29th week of our Journey - Sowing the Jesus Seed

MATERIALS:
Six different types of seeds including Moringa. Photocopy Bible flash cards, Gardener flier, crayons. A variety of soils in separate cups and label them accordingly. “Good Soil,” “Rocks,” and “Sand.” Paper, glue and small seeds. Moringa seeds enough for each child, empty water bottles brought by the children, a bucket of sandy soil, a bucket of water and cup for serving the water. Take home truth.

AS KIDS ARRIVE PRIOR TO THE LESSON:
Get 9 children to colour the Bible Cards & flier.
Have different types of seeds on the table including Moringa . As the children arrive, have them examine the seeds on the table, and have them guess what types of seeds are displayed.
Ask the kids how they think something as small as a Moringa seed planted in the dirt and watered could grow into a big Moringa tree? (God makes it grow)

Get the children organized with the empty water bottles they brought from home, fill them with sandy soil in preparation to the Moringa planting at the end of the lesson.

Today after class we are going to plant our Moringa seed in a water bottle with the top cut off and a few holes in the bottom. We will use ordinary sandy soil and plant it just 1 cm deep, then we are going to water it. You will take it home, water it at home and bring it back each week.

1. GUESSING GAME: (10 minutes) “Guess how many seeds I have in my right hand” (Once a child guesses correctly they sit out next time until most of the children have guessed correctly.)

2. TEAM GAME: (10 minutes) Make two teams maybe girls and boys, or tall and short alternatively. Pass a big seed, such as a small coconut, over your head and between your knees. When it has passed down the line the last person runs to the front and begins the process until all have run to the front, first team to complete is the winner.

3. ACTIVE PRAISE CHORUS: (10 minutes) (Use Music Song Sheet)
A little seed

(Sung to the tune: "Jesus loves me this I know")

I see you are a seed, (hold the seed up)
Tell me what do you need? (hold the seed up)
I need some soil to grow, (reach down and pretend to be digging in the soil)
And then the sun to glow, (reach up shading your eyes as if looking at the sun)

Chorus: Yes I will grow, Yes I will grow, Yes I will grow, Just you wait and see.

4. INTIMATE WORSHIP: (5 minutes)
Planting seeds of Love (Use Music Song Sheet)

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for planting seeds of love in my heart and as they grow, I’ll take them everywhere I go planting the Jesus seed in rich fertile ground producing fruit that last.

5. TEACHING:
a. “Back Track”
Remember last week we learnt about 3 in 1 God is ONE God, He exists as THREE persons. Can anyone tell me the names of the Trinity? (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

Optional: Sing ‘Plant a Moringa Seed’ (Sung to Oh my darling…- see music video, lyrics and song sheet)

b. Sword Play
Ready…Swords up… Matthew 13: 3 - 4a. … CHARGE!
“ A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path”
(Matthew 13: 3 - 4a.)

Before class Photocopy two sets of Bible Flash Cards. Divide the kids into two teams, scatter the cards like seeds and have a race to see which team can put the cards in order so the verse reads correctly. Then recite the verse a few times to lean the verse. Use the Bible Verse Card as a visual aid.

c. Teach the Lesson (15 minutes)
Introduction:
The Parable of the Sower: View ‘The Parable of the Sower Teaching Video.’
‘Sower’ is another name for farmer. God is the Farmer/Gardener (Flier) who created the earth and He plants the Jesus seed in us by the Holy Spirit, remember, 3 in 1. We see that although Jesus was speaking about seeds in the parable, the story really applies to people.

‘Sow your Power Card.’ Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 13:3-4 from their Bible.

Today we will see how the seeds that fell on the path are like people that have no interest in God. Jesus knew the importance of the condition of our hearts. “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.”

We will not get to heaven by just hearing the Good News about Jesus we must receive the Good News, and then ask God to forgive us. Jesus is the seed that grows in us and saves us from sin. When I am saved the Jesus seed starts to grow in me. We need to read our Bibles, pray and worship God.

The Bible is the Word of God that gives the Jesus seed in me all the food that He needs to grow. When I read the Bible I am being fed Spiritually. (Have different types of soil available in separate cup labeled “Good Soil,” “Rocks,” and “Sand.” Ask the children which soil is best? )

Discussion Questions:
1. What does sow mean? What is another name for someone who sows seeds? (Plant, farmer, gardener.)
2. In our story today, where did the seeds fall? (On the path.)
3. What happened to the seed that fell on the path? (Birds came and ate it up.)
4. Will we get to heaven by just hearing the Good News about Jesus? (No, we must receive the Good News, and then ask God to forgive us.)
5. Does the evil one (Satan) try to steal God's message from our hearts? (Yes!)
6. Why would the evil one want us to forget God's message? (So we won't follow and worship God.)
7. How can we keep from forgetting God's message? (Read our Bibles, pray to God, Worship God.)

SALVATION MESSAGE: Meet ’Molly the Moringa seed’

Once upon a time, there was a little seed called ‘Molly’ … she dreamed of one day becoming a BIG tree- a Moringa tree!
But Molly was very, very sad because people were calling her names… Devil tree, Snake tree, Pit Tree.
But her real names are… Miracle tree, Mothers best friend, the tree of Paradise, the Purifying tree.
Molly knew her strengths “I can kick Malnutrition out of the window”
So when she met “Eddy” she knew she could help him. HOW? Because Moringa contains: (See Take home page)
• 7 times the vitamin C in oranges
• 4 times the calcium in milk
• 4 times the vitamin A in carrots
• 3 times the potassium in bananas
• 2 times the protein in milk
One day she leant Eddy had Malaria, she was sad but she knew what to do. She made a tea from the dried Moringa leaves and Eddy drank it three times a day and was soon up and about! PRAISE GOD

Eddy brought his cow to his new friend – Molly “Can you help?” Moringa can be used as food for cows, rabbits and chickens it will make them fatter and supply more milk.

Eddy’s mum was going to have a baby … Moringa tea is excellent for pregnant mums.

Eddy you know I can help you…
When you are hungry, when you are sick, when your animals are sick.
But Eddy do you know for sure you are going to be in Heaven with God some day… (you know the rest!!)

Remember God wants Eddy to grow to learn more about Him by reading his Bibles, by praying, worshiping Him, fellowshipping with other believers, and sharing his faith with his friends and family.

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.
There are some people that have no desire to learn more about God, these people are like the seeds that fall on the path. Let’s spend some time holding our seed and asking God to make our hearts fertile ground for the Jesus seed that was just planted in our hearts.

CLOSING PRAYER:
1. Praise to God for the opportunity to be able to hear His Word and learn from it.
2. Thank Him for "Planting the Jesus seed," in our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to help everyone during the week to think about Jesus planted in their heart like a seed, water it by reading the Bible.
3. Safety and health for the children.
4. That others may see Jesus in our lives.

OTHER OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: Jesus seed
Give the children a piece of paper and some small seeds and glue and let them stick the seeds to spell JESUS

TAKE HOME PAGE:
Give the ‘Take Home Truth’ to each child at the end of the class.
Optional: ‘Take Home Quiz Books’ found in your Visual Aid Manual.
Take home your planted Moringa seed, (Including Planting guide) remember to water it a little each day you may want to keep it somewhere shaded and warm. Moringa information flier one for each family

NEXT WEEK
Come back next week to hear about the rocky path! Don't miss it! Bring your Moringa back next week.

CLICK to view Session #30.