Parable of the Sower
PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Objectives:
- Students should be able to tell the story of the parable in their own words.
- Students should know the word, “parable”, and be able to say that it is a story with a hidden meaning.
- Students should know the “hidden meaning” of the seeds and the sower.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Scripture References: Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:5-15. What is a parable? In this parable, who is the sower? What are the seeds? What is the soil?
- Try to understand the parable a bit: What kind of people are hard, rocky ground? Would seeds grow well there? What kind of people are easily dried out by the hot sun? Would seeds grow well there? What kind of people are so shallow the birds can eat the seeds? What kind of things might be thorns that take over our lives? What kind of people are rich soil? What kind of people are each of us? Are we different types of soil at different times in our lives?
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh tells us that each of us is at different times each of these people. “What about us, receiving the message and bearing fruit? But how does this message reach us? I remember a Russian priest saying to me, I read the Gospel daily, and I respond to it very seldom. But I read it daily because I never know whether today, or tomorrow, or on another day I will be the barren roadside, or the weeds by the way, or, of a sudden, whether this word will not fall on a small patch in me which is capable of receiving it and bearing fruit. Isn't that simple, isn't that encouraging? We all are the three things described in the parable of the Gospel; but if we give a chance to God Who speaks, to God, Who passes through our life, to God Who knocks at our heart - from time to time we will receive the message with joy and let go of it; but from time to time it will reach a depth in our heart, a core of our life and be the answer that will change it.” When was the last time in your life the Word of God touched you so deeply?
- Play a learning game: “A Missing Part”. Select enough verses from the story in either Mark or Luke that every pair of students will have a verse. Write each verse on a piece of paper. Tear the paper in half. Give each student a half sheet. Students must find the student with the other half of the verse. They then sit down together. When all are seated, have each pair read the entire verse; this can be really funny if each student reads only from his half!
- When did Jesus tell this one? Add to your time line as usual.
- Close with prayer, asking Jesus to make us good soil to learn and obey His teachings.