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2026-03-22b Jesus Teaches Sinners

Introduction

In this lesson, children will learn that Jesus is the greatest teacher of all. He didn't use big, complicated words that only scholars could understand. Instead, He used simple stories called parables, along with everyday pictures and actions, to teach people about God. Through the Parable of the Sower, children will discover that not everyone responds to Jesus' teaching the same way. Jesus' true friends are those who listen, believe, and obey His words.

Main Ideas:

  • Teacher: Jesus reveals the truth about God through words, pictures, and actions that everyone can understand.
  • Understanding: Jesus gives understanding to simple sinners, not just smart or important people.
  • Response: Jesus' true friends (disciples) are those who respond in faith demonstrated through obedience.

Praise and Worship (15 mins)

Parents: The parent and child scheduled for this week will lead us in singing on Sunday. Please take time to practice the songs together at home, helping your child feel confident and joyful as they prepare to lead.

Prayer and Offering (5 mins)

Parents: Please encourage your children to bring an offering to church. You may help your child prepare by setting aside a coin for them to bring on Sunday. This is a great opportunity to teach them about giving to God with a thankful heart and trusting Him to provide.

What is Offering?

Offering is when we give something to God to show our love and thankfulness. In church, we often give money as an offering, but we can also give our time, talents, and kindness to God and others.

Why Do We Make an Offering?

To Thank God – Everything we have comes from God! Giving back is a way to say, “Thank You, God!”
To Trust God – When we give, we show that we trust God to take care of us.
To Help Others – Offerings help the church teach about Jesus, help people in need, and share God’s love.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7,
"God loves a cheerful giver!" That means God is happy when we give with a joyful heart!
Prayer for Offering
Dear God, thank You for giving us everything we need. We want to give back to You with joyful hearts. Please use our offering to help others and share Your love. Help us to always trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Review Verse from Last Week

Luke 4:18a

"[Jesus said,] 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.'"

Bible Story (10 min)

Introduction (2 min)

Props Needed:

  • A small clay or plastic pot
  • A small bag ofwith potting soil
  • A packagehandful of bean seeds
  • A few rocks
  • Sticks or twigs (to represent weeds/thorns)thorns/weeds)
  • A small artificial or real plant in a pot (the "happy plant")

 

(Keep all the items hidden in a bag or behind your back.bag. Don't show them yet.)

Teacher: "I brought somea specialmystery itemsbag totoday! classBut today,first, andI I'm goingneed to teach you something. Are you ready? Listen carefully..."

Teacher: (speaking in a verysilly, fancy,overly complicatedfancy voice) "Today I am going toshall demonstrate howthe todepositing depositof organic medium into an earthen receptacle in order to establish a botanical specimen.receptacle!"

(PauseMake anda look at the children'sfunny confused faces.face. Wait for kids to giggle.)

Teacher: "Whaaaat? Did anyonethat understandmake whatANY I just said?sense?"

(Let children respond.respond, They will likelythey'll say no!)

Teacher: "ThoseOK, words were too big and confusing, weren't they? Letlet me try again. What if I show you what I'm talking about?again!"

(Pull out the pot, soil, and seeds.)

Teacher: "Now can you guess? I'm going to... put dirt in a pot and plant some seeds! That'sMuch much easier to understand,better, right?"

Interaction (Age 4-6):Interaction: "IfThumbs youup were going to teach a little kid something, would you use really big, hard words, or small,if simple words?words Showare meeasier! a thumbs up for simple words!👍"

Teacher: "GoodYou teachers use words you can understand, things you can see, and actions you can watch. And guessknow what? Jesus is the BEST teacher of all.ever. He didn't use big, fancyconfusing words that only really smart people could understand.words. He usedtold simple stories and everyday things so that everyone, even children,kids like you, could learn about God!"

Story Telling: The Parable of the Sower (108 min)

Props / Visuals Suggested:

  • Clay or plastic potPot with soil
    • soil,
  • Beanseeds, seeds
    • rocks,
  • Rocks
    • sticks/twigs,
  • Sticks/twigs (weeds)
  • Smallhealthy plant in a pot

 

Part 1: Jesus theTells Teachera Story (2 mins)

Teacher: "Last week we learned that Jesus stood up in the synagogue and made the biggest announcement ever. He told everyone: 'I am the one God sent to save you!' After that,Then Jesus didn't just sit back and wait. He started travelinggoing from town to town, teaching people about God."

Teacher: "And here's something amazing about Jesus as a teacher: He is God, so He is the smartest person who has ever lived. He knows EVERYTHING. But did He use big, fancy, hard-to-understand words when He taught people?"

(Let children respond.)

Teacher: "No! Because Jesus didn't come to save only really smart people. Jesus came to save ALL sinners, including children! So He used simple stories called 'parables.' A parable is a pretend story that teaches us something true. Today we're going to hear one of Jesus' most famous parables."

 

Part 2: The Farmer and the Seeds (3 mins)

Teacher: "One day, a hugeBIG crowd of people came to see Jesus. They were all pushing in close, tryinglisten to hear Him.Jesus. And Jesus told them thisa story.story about..."

Teacher:a "He said: 'A farmer went out to plant his seeds.' Everyone watching Jesus knew about farmers and seeds. They saw them every day! Jesus used something they already knew about to teach them something new.farmer!"

(Hold up some seeds.)

Teacher: "The farmer scatteredwent hisout seeds,to andthrow theyseeds fellon the ground. But the seeds landed in fourFOUR different places. Let's find out what happened to each one.happened!"

Interaction: "Can everyone hold out your hand like you're throwing seeds? Toss, toss, toss! 🌱"

 

Part 2: Four Places the Seeds Fell (4 mins)

Teacher: "First, some seeds fell on the hard🚶 pathPlace 1: The Hard Path.."

(Pack down some soil in the pot to make it hard, and drop a seed on top.)

Teacher: "Some seeds fell on the hard road. The pathground was so hard and packed down. Thethe seeds just sat on top. And then...Then the birds came andand... gobbledATE them up! Those seeds never even had a chance to grow."

Interaction (Age 4-6):Interaction: "CanFlap everyone flap theiryour arms like birdsbirds! and say 'chompChomp chomp chomp'?chomp! Those birds ate up all the seeds on the path!🐦"

Teacher: "Next,Jesus somesaid seedsthis fellis onlike a person who hears about God but says: 'Nope! I don't want to listen!' God's words just bounce right off."

Interaction: "Cover your ears and shake your head! That's what this person does."

 

 

Teacher: "🪨 rockyPlace ground2: The Rocky Ground.."

(PlacePut rocks in the pot andpot, drop a seed among them.)

Teacher: "ThereSome wasseeds afell on rocky ground. A tiny bit of soil between the rocks, so the seedplant started to grow.grow, Butbut when the hot sun came out,out... the little plant dried up because its roots couldn't go deep enough.up! The rocks were in the way. The plant couldn't grow big roots."

Interaction: "Stand up tall like a little plant... now melt down to the ground like you're drying up in the hot sun! ☀️"

Teacher: "Then,Jesus somesaid seedsthis fellis amonglike a person who says 'Yay, Jesus!' at first, but when things get hard, they give up. They stop trusting Jesus."

 

 

Teacher: "🌿 thornsPlace and3: weedsThe Thorny Weeds.."

(Stick the twigs into the soil andsoil, drop a seed nearby.)

Teacher: "Some seeds fell near weeds and thorns. The seedplant startedtried to grow, but the thorns and weeds grew up aroundsqueezed it and squeezed it. The weeds stole all the waterwater! andThe sunlight, and the littlepoor plant couldn't survive.make it."

Interaction: "Squeeze your arms together tight like weeds! Squeeeeeze! The plant can't breathe!"

Teacher: "ButJesus finally,said somethis seedsis felllike ona person who likes Jesus but gets too busy with other things. They care more about toys and games than about God."

 

 

Teacher: "🌻 goodPlace soil4: The Good Soil!."

(Place a seed in fresh, loose soil. Then bring out the healthy plant.plant!)

Teacher: "ThisBut soilSOME wasseeds fell on good, soft andsoil. deepAnd andguess rich.what happened? The seed grew big roots, grew tall, and became a big, strong, healthy plant that produced lots andwith lots of fruit!"

Interaction: "Crouch down small like a seed... now GROW! Stand up tall, stretch your arms out wide like branches! 🌳"

Teacher: "Jesus said this is like a person who hears about God, believes it in their heart, and obeys. Their love for Jesus grows and grows and grows!"

 

Part 3: WhatWhich DoesOne ItDo Mean?You (3 mins)

Teacher: "Now, Jesus' disciples were a little confused. They asked Him: 'Jesus, what does a story about a farmer haveWant to do with God?' And Jesus, because He is a patient and good teacher, explained it to them."

Teacher: "Jesus said: 'The seed is the Word of God.' That means the seed represents God's truth, the good news about Jesus!"

Teacher: "And the four types of ground? Those represent four types of people and how they respond when they hear about Jesus."

Teacher: "The hard path is like someone who hears about Jesus but says, 'I don't care. That's not true. I don't believe it.' The truth bounces right off them, like a seed sitting on hard ground."

Interaction (Age 4-6): "Show me what it looks like when you don't want to listen. Cover your ears and shake your head! That's what the hard path person does with God's Word."

Teacher: "The rocky ground is like someone who hears about Jesus and says, 'Oh cool!' at first. But when things get hard, like when friends make fun of them for believing in Jesus, they give up. Their faith doesn't have deep roots."

Teacher: "The thorny ground is like someone who hears about Jesus but gets distracted by other things. Maybe they think toys, games, or being popular is more important than Jesus. Those things are like weeds that choke out what really matters."

Question (Age 7-10): "Can you think of things that might be like 'weeds' in our lives, things that distract us from Jesus?"

Teacher: "And the good soil? That's someone who hears about Jesus, believes in their heart that it's true, and obeys Him. Their faith grows deep and strong, like a healthy plant!"

(Hold up the healthy plant.)

 

Part 4: Which Soil Are You?Be? (2 mins)

Teacher: "Here'sSo the big question Jesus wants us to think about: Which soilseeds are you?God's words about Jesus. And the four places? Those are four kinds of people!"

Teacher: "JesusLet's saidremember somethingthem verytogether. important.I'll Hesay said:it, 'Ifand you abidedo inthe myaction!"

word,
    you
  • Teacher: are"Hard trulypath?" my(Kids disciples.'cover ears and shake heads.) 'Abide'"Doesn't meanslisten!"
  • Teacher: "Rocky ground?" (Kids stand up then melt down.) "Gives up!"
  • Teacher: "Thorny weeds?" (Kids squeeze arms.) "Too busy for God!"
  • Teacher: "Good soil?" (Kids crouch then stand tall.) "Listens, believes, and obeys!"

Teacher: "Which one does Jesus want us to stay close to, to listen, believe, and obey. And 'disciples' means friends. So Jesus is saying: 'If you listen to me, believe me, and obey me, you are really my friend.'"

Interaction (Age 4-8): "Let's say it together in simple words: 'If you listen, believe, and obey my teaching, you are really my friend.' Can you repeat that after me?be?"

(HaveWait childrenfor repeatkids it.to answer: Good soil!)

Teacher: "Yes! Jesus doesn't want us to just hear His words and forget them. He wants His words to grow deep in our hearts, like seeds in good soil. He wants us to belisten theto goodHim, soil!believe Him, and obey Him. That's how we become Jesus' true friends!"

Interaction: "Can you say it with me? 'Listen! Believe! Obey!' One more time, louder! 'LISTEN! BELIEVE! OBEY!'"

Wrap-up & Discussion (4 min)

 

(Gather children close for reflection.)

Discussion Questions:

Teacher: "Let's think about what we learned today."

Question: "Why did Jesus use simple stories to teach people instead of big, complicated words?" (Because He wanted everyone to understand, not just really smart people. Jesus came to save ALL sinners.)

Question: "In the story of the Sower, what does the seed represent?" (God's Word, the truth about Jesus.)

Question: "What kind of soil does Jesus want us to be?" (The good soil! People who listen, believe, and obey.)

Question (Age 7-10): "Is it easy for sinners to obey Jesus? Why not? Who can help us want to obey?" (No, it's not easy because we are sinners. But God can help us through His Holy Spirit.)

Teacher: "Remember: you don't have to be super smart or know big words to understand Jesus. He wants to teach YOU. The question is: will you listen, believe, and obey? Will you be the good soil?"

Closing Thought & Prayer

 

Teacher: "Jesus is the best teacher who ever lived. He uses stories, pictures, and actions to help us know God. And He is so patient with us! Even when we don't understand right away, He keeps teaching us. What a wonderful Savior we have!"

(Fold hands and bow heads.)

Prayer: "Dear Jesus, thank You for being such a good and patient teacher. Thank You for using simple words and stories so that even children can understand Your truth. Help us to be like the good soil. Help us to listen to You, believe You, and obey You. Make our faith grow deep and strong. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Memorizing Verse: John 8:31b

 

John 8:31b

"[Jesus said,] 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,'"

Hand Gestures:

  • "If you abide...": Hug yourself (staying close, abiding).
  • "...in my word...": Hold hands open like a book (the Bible).
  • "...you are truly...": Give a big thumbs up (truly, for real!).
  • "...my disciples.": Point to yourself and then to friends around you (we are His disciples/friends).

Craft & Game (10 mins)

Game: "Looking for Good Soil" Treasure Hunt

Children hunt for hidden seed cards and identify which type of soil each one represents.

⏰ Time: 5 minutes

👧 Age Group: 4-8 years

🧩 Lesson Connection: Reinforces the four types of soil and helps children identify the "good soil" response.

🪜 Setup & Materials Needed:

  • 4 small plastic cups with potting soil inside
  • 4 seed cards (each showing one type of soil: path, rocky, thorny, good), taped to craft sticks and inserted into the cups
  • Hide the cups around the classroom before the game

🎲 How to Play:

Step 1: Tell the children: "I've hidden four seed cups around the room. Each one shows a different type of soil from our story. Your job is to find them!"

Step 2: When a child finds a cup, they bring it to the front and the group identifies which soil it represents.

Step 3: Ask: "Is this one the good soil?" If yes, everyone says the memory verse together!

Step 4: Have children close their eyes, hide the cups again, and repeat.

Craft: Seed and Soil Picture

Children create a picture showing the four types of soil to take home.

Materials: Paper divided into 4 sections (labeled: Path, Rocks, Thorns, Good Soil), real seeds or grain (e.g., oats, wheat), glue, markers or crayons.

The Activity:

  • Section 1 (Path): Color the ground brown/grey and draw a bird eating the seed. Glue a few seeds on top.
  • Section 2 (Rocks): Draw rocks and a small wilted plant. Glue seeds among drawn rocks.
  • Section 3 (Thorns): Draw thorny weeds and a small choked plant. Glue seeds among the weeds.
  • Section 4 (Good Soil): Draw rich brown soil and a big, healthy plant with fruit. Glue seeds in the soil. Write the memory verse below: "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples." (John 8:31b)
  • Take Home: Children can show their family the four soils and explain what each one means, teaching their parents the parable!

Response Song

Closing Prayer & Snack Time (10 mins)

"Dear Jesus, thank You for teaching us through stories we can understand. Thank You for being patient with us when we don't get it right away. Help us to be like the good soil, to let Your words grow deep in our hearts. We love You! Amen."

Now, let us thank You for the snack we’re about to enjoy.
We fold our hands.
We bow our heads.
We thank You, God,
for this daily bread.
Amen.

Free Time & Children Pickup (15 mins)

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