PLANTING SEEDS/GROWING GOD’S WORD IN US
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV); Luke 8:11 (NIV)
Season/Sunday: Any
Focus: The sermon focuses on the importance of God’s word in Scripture.
Experience: The children will experience a visual of growing from the inside and practice a couple of foundational verses for growing.
Arrangements: None needed
Leader: | Good morning, everyone! You know, you are growing bigger all the time—look at how big you are getting. Look! |
Children: | (Look at themselves.) |
Leader: | Well, our Scripture verse for today talks about growing. It comes from 1 Corinthians 3:6. “I planted the seed,” says Paul, “but God made it grow” (NIV). Wow, a seed has been planted in you! Do you feel like a seed is planted in you? |
Children: | Yes. No. What kind of seed? |
Leader: | Well, that was the question I was going to ask. What kind of seed could it be? Do you have a broccoli seed planted in you? |
Children: | Yuck! No! |
Leader: | Well, maybe there is an oak tree seed in you, or maybe a beautiful flower seed is inside you. Everybody open your mouths; let me see if there are any seeds down there. |
Children: | (Children open their mouths.) |
Leader: | Well, I don’t really see any flower or broccoli seeds inside you, but Jesus once said, “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11 NIV). Hmmm. If the seed is the word of God, and God is going to grow that seed, what do you think we ought to do? |
Children: | I don’t know. Eat more green beans? |
Leader: | Do you think that maybe we should plant “seeds” of God’s word into ourselves? |
Children: | Yes! |
Leader: | Sure, if we learn God’s word, it’s like putting God’s word into ourselves. In fact, let’s start right now to put some of God’s word-seeds inside us, so that God can make them grow. And we can start with the two verses you just heard. I’ll say them and you repeat them back. Ready? Here we go, “I planted the seed . . .” |
Children: | “I planted the seed . . .” |
Leader: | “But God made it grow.” |
Children: | “But God made it grow.” |
Leader: | I think those word-seeds from God are growing inside you already! I want you to practice these seeds again today for your families when you get home so you don’t forget them. And let’s have a prayer giving thanks for all God’s good seed. (Prayer) |
Optional ending | |
Leader: | I think those word-seeds from God are growing inside you already! And I think you are learning them so well that you could teach those word-seeds to the congregation. Let’s turn around and see if we can teach them. Everybody ready? Repeat after us. (Leader canprompt the children if necessary; children repeat, echoed by the congregation.) |
Bob Sharman
(The Abingdon Children’s Sermon Library, vol. 2, ed. Brant D. Baker © 2007 by Abingdon Press. Adapted and used by permission.)