Parable of the Sower
LESSON DATE & SCRIPTURE: June 7 | Matthew 13:1–9,18–23
New city catechism question of the week:
Question #23:
Why must the Redeemer be truly God?
Answer:
That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective.
Memory Verse: Mark 6:34
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Talk about it together
Jesus came to teach people about God and his kingdom. One day, he told a parable to help people understand how they respond to God’s truth. He said a farmer went out to plant seeds. Some seeds fell on hard ground, and birds came and ate them. Some fell on rocky ground and began to grow, but they did not have deep roots and dried up in the sun. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the weeds crowded them so they could not grow. But some seeds fell on good soil. They grew strong and healthy and produced a great harvest.
Later, Jesus explained the meaning. The seeds represent people who hear God’s Word. Some hear but do not understand. Some are excited at first, but when life becomes difficult, they stop trusting him. Others become distracted by worries or other things. But some are like good soil. They hear God’s Word, believe it, and trust Jesus. As they follow him, their faith grows. They learn to love God, obey him, and share his love with others.
Jesus wants our hearts to be like good soil, ready to listen, learn, and grow. When we trust in him, God helps us grow strong in faith and produce good fruit in our lives.
Family discussion
What ate the seeds on the hard path?
What caused the seeds on rocky ground to dry up?
Do all people believe God’s Word?
How can our faith grow stronger like the good soil?
Family prayer
Lord, give us receptive hearts to hear, understand, and be changed by the good news about Jesus. Amen.