Children’s Church: Lesson Guide

story 60: a story about soils (The Story of hearing the word and bearing fruit)

Scripture: Mark 4

Big Truth: Jesus' true followers accept his word and bear fruit. 

Memory Verse: "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Discuss the Story

1. What kind of stories did Jesus tell? Why did Jesus use parables to teach people?

Takeaway: Jesus taught in parables to help separate good and bad listeners.

2. In the parable of the soils, where was the seed thrown? When Jesus explained the parable, what did he say the seed represented?

Takeaway: The gospel is heard by hard and soft hearts.

3. What happened to the seed thrown on the hard pathway? What about the seed thrown on rocky soil? And what about seed thrown in the thorns? What does the parable teach us about how the gospel might not take root in our hearts?

Takeaway: If our hearts are hard or we are distracted by hard things and worries, the gospel won’t take root in our hearts.

4. What happened to the seed thrown on the goos soil? How much fruit did it produce? What does the parable teach us about how the gospel can take root in our hearts?

Takeaway: If our hearts are soft and ready to receive the gospel, it will take root and produce much fruit.