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THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

It is the truth that is meant by the "seed in the field," of which the Lord said:
"A sower went forth to sow..." Here the "sower" is the Lord,
and the "seed" is His Word, thus the truth.
(Doctrine of Life 90)

The Lord gave us this story to help us see the different ways that people receive the truths of His Word. The seeds of truth are there for all who want to receive them and let them grow in their minds and hearts.

READ: "The Parable of the Sower" sermon by the Rev. Patrick A. Rose

READ: "The Parable of the Sower" family talk by unknown author

FAMILY WORSHIP: The Parable of the Sower
Read the Lord's words in either Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-20; or Luke 8:4-15. Before worship, ask your children to gather seeds and fruit to decorate the worship center. Parents can gather additional materials to show the children at appropriate times: a container of hard packed earth to simulate the wayside, a large stone with a thin layer of dirt on top to simulate stony ground, a weed with thorns, and a plant pulled out of the ground to show the root system.

NOTE: The story is similar in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but there are some differences. In the gospel of Mark, the Lord explains that the sower is sowing the Word (Mark 4:9). And in the gospel of Luke, the Lord explains that the seeds falling on good ground, picture people who hear the Word with a good heart, keep it, and "bear fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15).

Discussion Ideas: 

• Just as the sower broadcasts his seeds over various kinds of earth, the Lord makes His truth available to all people - not just those who will use it to bear good fruit.
• What does it mean to hear the Word with a good heart, keep it, and "bear fruit with patience"? (see Luke 8:15).

PROJECT: The Lord as the Sower (ages 4-10) 
Make a picture of the Lord with His arms reaching out to give us seeds of truth. Glue golden seeds to the picture of the Lord and add a quote from His Word.

PROJECT: Parable of the Sower Book (ages 8-14)
Illustrate the text (from Mark 4:1-9), cut out the pages, then bind them on the left side to make a book.

SING: "The Sower" by Lori Odhner

COLORING PAGE: The Parable of the Sower by Robert Glenn

ACTIVITY: Sequence the Parable of the Sower (ages 6-10)

ACTIVITY: Parable of the Sower Cards for Exploring the Deeper Meaning of the Parable (ages 11-up)
Sequence the story cards, then match them to the text and explanation.

JOURNAL SUGGESTION: Receiving the Lord's Word (for teens and adults)
Reflect on seeds of truth you have received from the Word. Which are having difficulty growing in your life? Which are planted in good ground and bearing fruit?

PROJECT: Parable of the Sower Collage (ages 7-14)
Use pebbles, seeds, thorns, etc. to make a collage to illustrate this parable.

ACTIVITY: Planting Seeds in Four Kinds of Ground (ages 6-10)
An experiment designed to simulate the planting conditions in the parable of the sower.

ACTIVITIES: Listen! to the Lord's Word (ages 4-up)
In telling the parable of the sower to the crowds of people, the Lord began with the word, "Listen!" and ended with: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 4:3,9). Here are several ways to develop our ability to listen and recall what we have heard.

READING THE WORD

When the Word is read, the Lord comes in and teaches.
(Arcana Coelestia 6516:3)

The Lord speaks to us in His Word, sharing wonderful truths that can help us to become a better husband or wife, parent, sister, brother, friend, or useful member of a community. The parable of the sower dramatically demonstrates how truth, when rooted in good, produces a beautiful harvest. How can this happen with us and our families? We know that teaching by example is a powerful educational tool. By developing a habit of reading and listening to the Lord's Word with our children, we create opportunities for seeds of truth to find fertile soil in our lives. Parents have a special responsibility to help their children become habitual readers of the Word.

READ: "The Word of the Lord" by the Rev. B. David Holm

ACTIVITY: Family Reading of the Word
Gather everyone together at a meal, bedtime, or some other time. Establish a reverent sphere, perhaps lighting candles and singing a song. Then read a portion of the Lord's Word.

Tips for reading the Word to younger children:

• Preview (tell) the story before reading it to little ones.
• Focus on key aspects of the story such as the key people, time of day, and location.
• Use Bible illustrations or a representation to help your children picture the story.
• Ask questions, such as "What do you think this parable is teaching us about...?"

ACTIVITY: Encourage Individual Reading of the Word
Give your children copies of the Word when they are first learning how to read. Help your children make a special place in their bedrooms for keeping the Word. Make or purchase Word covers for their Word or use a special cloth. You may want to make or purchase Word stands as well. (The General Church Bookstore has Word covers, stands, and special book marks available.)

Encourage your children to read the Word every day, perhaps incorporating it into their bedtime routine. You might try using a chart (see the Sowing Seeds of Truth chart) as a motivator. You can also let young children read aloud to parents. One of the most effective ways to encourage your children is to set the example yourself. Sit and read the Word in the evening or on Sunday and welcome others to join you for some sustained silent reading time.

ACTIVITY: Understanding What You Read
An article by the Rt. Rev. W. F. Pendleton on "Reading the Letter of the Word" gives ideas on ways to have a better understanding of the Word.

PROJECTS: Make a Seed Mosaic (ages 3-up)
The Lord gives us seeds for plants that provide beautiful flowers and delicious fruits. Make a design with some of the seeds the Lord gives us.

POSTER: "The grass withers, the flower fades..." (teens)

BEING GOOD GROUND

The "seed in good ground" exists with those who love the truths
that are in the Word from the Lord, and do them from Him, thus who bear fruit....
(see Doctrine of Life 90)

We want to be like the good ground, receiving seeds of truth from the Lord's Word with love so they can grow into uses. Here is a way to illustrate this idea for young children.

READ: "Becoming Good Ground" by the Rev. Frederick M. Chapin

PROJECT: Wreath of Seed-Bearing Fruit (ages 5-14)
Make a wreath or ribbon hanging with various fruits, adding a piece of fruit each time you use the seeds of truth the Lord has given us. For truth bears fruit when we apply it in our lives!

ACTIVITY: Sowing Seeds of Truth Chart (ages 5-8)

ACTIVITY: Preparing Our Minds (ages 11-up)
Compare preparing soil for planting to ways we can prepare our minds to receive seeds of truth.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Bake Bread or Muffins
The seeds that fell into good ground grew up and provided grains of wheat. Bake muffins or bread with your favorite recipe to celebrate the successful fruition of the seeds in the parable of the Sower.

Reflection for Parents and Teachers
A person cannot be regenerated until adulthood, when he is able to exercise reason and judgment and in so doing receive good and truth from the Lord (see Arcana Coelestia 2636:2). But children and young people can be prepared by the Lord "through the implantation of such things as can serve him as the soil for receiving the seeds of truth and good. Implanted thus are many states of innocence and charity, also cognitions of good and truth, and consequently thoughts" (Ibid).

Think about ways that you can cooperate with the Lord in preparing children to become good ground for His seeds of truth. If innocence and charity constitute the ground in which the seeds of truth are able to take root and spring up (Arcana Coelestia 3111), what can we do to promote these states?

THE PARABLE OF THE SEED GROWING SECRETLY

Of what consequence is it for a person to know how seed grows up, provided he knows how
to plow and harrow the land, to sow the seed, and when he reaps his harvest to bless God?
(Apocalypse Explained 1153:6,9)

The parable of the growing seed is unique to the gospel of Mark, and its brevity makes it easy to overlook. "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how" (Mark 4:26-27).

This parable looks at the process from our perspective as individuals (as-of-self) taking seeds of truth from the Word. We scatter the seed and reap the fruit, without knowing quite how the seeds sprout and grow. This pictures how the Lord helps us make spiritual progress while protecting our freedom. We are in freedom because His ways are hidden, and we are unable to perceive Divine providence moving secretly (see Apocalypse Explained 1153:5, 6). Therefore, we are not forced to acknowledge the Lord's presence or work in our lives, but are free to respond to and thank Him.

Notice that the sower sleeps by night and rises by day. Sleeping by night is being immersed in our natural lives while rising by day is waking up to our spiritual life from the Lord - being fully alive (see Apocalypse Explained 1006). The Lord works within us despite our alternating states of being spiritually awake or asleep!

READ: "Growing in Secret," a family talk by the Rev. B. David Holm.

READ: "The Value of Mystery," a sermon by the Rev. Mark Carlson.

ACTIVITY: What Do Plants Need? (ages 8-10)
What happens if a plant does not have water, warmth, or light? Who provides these for plants and for us? These are just some of the ways that the Lord helps plants grow.

ACTIVITY: Watch the Growth of a Plant (ages 3-8)
Here are some suggestions for observing and reflecting on the growth of plants. Notice how the plant knows how to grow and seems to have a mind of its own. Yet it still needs nurturing with food and water to thrive.

PROJECT: The Lord Makes All Things Grow (ages 6-10)
Just as the Lord causes flowers and trees to grow, so He causes us grow into people who can become angels in heaven. Make a picture with the Lord in the center of the page, a picture of child sleeping nearby, and a plant or tree growing.

PROJECT: Secret Growth - Drawings on Folded Paper (ages 8-12)