12.       JESUS        (part 2)             A STORY JESUS TOLD.

Preparation.   Creative work:  Glue, brushes, crayons, old magazines or catalogues.  Using a plate as a guide, cut out circles of paper, one for each child, (see diagram).   Cut out from the magazines just the heads of people (as varied as possible and not too large).  Prepare the verse for this week.

Prayers.

Song:    "In Gallilee".   From the Nursery Song and Picture Book.

News Time and Birthdays.

Revision of the previous week, linking with today's lesson.

Introduction.   Last week we spoke about Jesus.  What do you remember about Him?  Here is a story that Jesus told.  It has a meaning and we shall try to find out what it is at the end.

Story:   A man had a field and he went out one day to plant the best wheat seeds in it.  One night his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.   When the seeds began to grow, the weeds began to grow as well. The servants of the man went to tell him and said,  "Sir, you planted good wheat seeds in the field.  Where have the weeds come from?  The man told them that an enemy had planted the weeds.   The servants asked if they should go and pull up the weeds, but the man replied,  "No, not yet, in case you pull up the good seed with the bad.  Let them grow together and at harvest time the reapers can gather the weeds into bundles.  The bundles can go on the fire and the good wheat will go into the barns, ready for the baker to make into bread."

Jesus liked to tell stories like this.  They are like a 'puzzle that you have to work out.  Who do you think the man was who sowed the seed?  (Lead into a short discussion, trying to get the children to reason it out for themselves.  A short explanation follows.)

The person who sowed the good seed was the Messenger of God.  The field is the world, the good seeds are the people who believe in God and try to obey Him.  The weeds are the people who do not.  The enemy is wickedness. The harvest is the time when God wants the world to change.   It is the time for getting rid of the bad things in the world.  The reapers are the followers of the Messenger.  Just as the weeds are thrown into the fire,  the Messenger of God will send His followers out to get rid of all the wickedness in the world.  The people who have not done as God told them to do will be upset, but the good people will be happy.   They will shine like the sun, which means everybody will be able to see that they are good.

Reading.   Matthew 5; V.44.  Type or write this out for the children to stick in their books.  Explain the meaning. Despiteful means cruel and persecute means to ill-treat.

Creative work.

Distribute the circles.  This represents the world. The children can then find different heads to stick on the top of the stalks. (Representing the good seeds in the story.)

Diagram:  Draw stalks and leaves, leaving enough space for the heads to be glued on top.

 Last modified: May 22, 2001

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