Just a Small Seed

By Robin Wiley

Scripture

Mark 4:26-29

The Parable of the Seed Growing

26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

For the Kiddos:

Have you ever considered the power of a seed? We live in a world where most of us can travel a short distance to a grocery store or fruit stand, buy fruit or vegetables, and return home to enjoy something that was cultivated in dirt by someone else. We consume the fruit and toss the rest. Jesus wants his Disciples to understand that long before a harvest is collected, some faithful person scattered seed to begin a process that only God can oversee.

For the past several years, my two sisters (who live in Minnesota), shared a small garden for the summer. They would plant the usual vegetables: tomatoes, carrots, onions, lettuce, potatoes, etc. and also some beautiful flowers. One summer, they decided to plant butternut squash. In case you were wondering - butternut squash is like a crooked and funny looking pumpkin.

They planted just a few seeds in one of the corners of their garden and were shocked at what happened. Soon vines stretched through much of the small garden producing about sixty butternut squash! If you have ever prepared this squash for dinner, you will see all the small seeds it contains inside, sometimes as many as 160 seeds! (Yes, they counted them before!!) 

Now I know school is out for the summer – but let’s do a little math. 160 seeds multiplied by sixty butternut squash is 9,600 new plants that could be created. If each of those 9,600 seeds had been harvested and re-planted, a yield of 576,000 new butternut squash could be cultivated in just one generation. That’s a lot of butternut squash!  Wow!

Jesus knew the implications of sowing good seed. The harvest belongs to the Lord, but we, his faithful disciples, get to spend our lives sowing the seed of Gospel truth and love wherever we go.

Enter:

  • Have you ever planted anything from seeds?

  • What is your favorite vegetable?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Mark 4:26-29 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to choose a different place to do your devotional time. Maybe sit outside or in the backyard and be still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

  • Buy a packet of seeds of any type of flower, plant or vegetable or use some seeds from a vegetable you have eaten (but it must be dried first) and plant it in pot. Plant it this summer and watch it grow. 

  • It takes about 3-4 weeks for the plants to grow to produce fruit or vegetable. When you harvest your plant – give thanks to God for gift.

  • Share the gospel with sometime this week!

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God! 

Example:

Father God, Thank you for the seeds of your Word we can scatter in our own lives and in the lives of others. Show us how we can grow closer to you and share what you have given us with others. Give us grace each day to sow seeds of faith into our hearts and the hearts of others. Please us experience the fullness of joy that comes from placing the harvests in our life at your feet.  We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus! – Amen!