The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-13) Printable Bible Lesson & Sunday School Activities

The Parable of the Sower and the Seeds might better be called the Parable of soil, as the focus really ought to be on how we receive the Word of God as “good soil.” What does that mean, though, and how do we allow our hearts to be that good soil? If the adults who first heard this parable in the New Testament had a hard time understanding it, there should be no surprise if it’s tough for kids to swallow. With this message, we look at the parable itself and how it relates to our experiences today. The focus is on understanding that God works in and through us, as long as we allow Him to do so.

The parable of the sower invites us to hear God’s Word and respond to the Gospel. We can reject the good news, or get stuck in our distractions, or we can allow Scripture to impact us. The important thing to understand is that God does the work. Soil doesn’t have to work necessarily, in order to produce roots and plants that grow. In the same way, letting the Bible bless our lives is not about us, but about letting the Word influence our lives.

Passage: Matthew 13:1-23 (also found in Mark 4 and Luke 8)

Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade 

Materials Needed: Soil; rocks; weeds; seeds; cups/pots; Bible; optional: bird toy or picture, Cheerios.

More Resources Online

• Watch the video demonstration of the object lesson. 
• Watch the video example for the craft projects.
• Watch the video Bible story “The Parable of the Sower” from Saddleback Kids Club
• Watch the video Bible Bible story “Seeds and a Farmer” from Crossroads Kids
• For more free illustrations, visit Christian Clip Arts and Ministry-To-Children

Easy-Prep Bible Lesson

• Target Age: elementary school, adaptable for K-6th grades
• Translation: choose NIV, ESV or KJV
• Stand-alone lesson plan
• 17-pages of teaching material
• Instant digital download
• Flexible teaching plan for mixed age groups
• Ideal for Kids' Church or Sunday School (45-60 minutes teaching time)

Attention Keeping Activities

• Object Lesson with video demonstration
  
• Game Suggestions
• Easy To Follow Teaching Plan
• Craft Ideas with video demonstration 
• Coloring Page
• Word Find Worksheet
• Memory Verse Poster