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# 31ST week of our Journey - Parable of the Sower

MATERIALS:
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 little star"

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.

5. TEACHING
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.

Discussion Questions:
1. In our story today, where did the seeds fall? (Among the thorns.)
2. What happened to the seed? (It got choked out, by the thorns.)
3. What are some things that we worry about? (Sickness, school, friends, family.)
4. Let's list some of our favourite things: (Toys, games, sports, food, friends.)
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.

NEXT WEEK
Be sure to come next week! We are going to play football with a difference! Bring back your Moringa next week to class.

CLICK to view Session #32.