Leader Guide

Parable Skit

Ask the children if they know what a parable is.

A parable is a story that uses common objects to teach a spiritual lesson. Explain that Jesus often taught important lessons using parables. Does anyone remember what parable we learned about in the “Miracles of Jesus” Superbook adventure? Parable of the Sower.

Read the story in Luke 8:4-8

One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When He had said this, He called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

The seed represents God’s Word and the soil represents the hearts of those who hear it. Now, here is the fun part. We are going to act out the parable.

You may either have six children act out the parts, or the entire class can act out all the roles. You will need:

• Farmer.
• Person walking on the footpath.
• Bird that “eats” the seed.
• A plant that sprouts on rocks, then wilts.
• A plant that sprouts among thorns, then pretends to be choked.
• A plant that grows tall on good soil.

Read the lines slowly and allow the children time to act out their parts:

Ready?

• A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field: Farmer throws some seed out.
• Some seed fell on a footpath, where people stepped on it. Child steps on seed.
• Some seed fell on the hard, dry surface and was eaten by birds. Bird flies in, swoops down, and pretends to peck at the seed.
• The farmer sowed some other seed. Farmer throws out more seed. It fell among rocks and began to grow, but the plants soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. Child crouches down, rises up slowly like a growing plant, then slowly wilts and falls over to the side.
• The farmer threw more seed. Farmer throws out more seed. Some of the seeds sprouted up among thorns and were choked out. Child crouches down, rises up slowly like a growing plant, then pretends to be choked and falls down.
• Still the farmer threw more seed. Farmer throws out more seed. This seed fell on good, fertile soil. It grew tall and strong and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted. Child crouches down, raises slowly up portraying a plant growing, arms go out and up to the sky and smiles and stands strong.

Repeat with the remaining groups. When all groups have finished: 

Read Luke 8:11-15

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”