Object Lesson

Choose a boy and a girl volunteer to come to the table with you. Give a shovel and seed packet to the girl. Give the watering can to the boy. Have the girl dig a small hole in the soil with the hand shovel. Then have her drop a few seeds in the hole and loosely cover the seed with the soil. Have the boy slowly pour a small amount of water on the soil.

Now, have the volunteers switch roles. The boy digs the soil and plants more seeds and the girl waters.

Good job, gardeners! You each did both parts very well. Now we need to determine which job was more important.

Hold up the shovel. Clap your hands if you think the digger and planter were more important? Children respond.

Hold up the watering can. Clap your hands if you think the one who watered was more important. Children respond.

Allow some children to explain their answers.

The correct answer is that both jobs are equally important. You can’t grow a plant without a seed in the ground, and the plant won’t grow without water. The volunteers may sit down.      

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. 1 Corinthians 3:8:

The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.

As we learned in the SuperVerse activity, Paul compared God’s work with planting seeds. The Apostle Paul and Apollos both were powerful preachers of God’s Word. The men played different parts in sharing the Gospel—like our gardeners had different roles of equal importance.

Paul laid the foundation of the Gospel and Apollos encouraged the people in their faith. Unfortunately, the people became prideful and bragged that they were followers of Paul or followers of Apollos. This was not pleasing to God—or to Paul. He told the people it wasn’t about who did what part; it was about working together to accomplish God’s work. The focus should always be on God—only He can make a seed grow.

What does the seed represent? God’s Word, the Gospel.

God may call us to plant seeds of the Gospel by sharing a testimony or a scripture with someone. Hold up the shovel and seed packet.

Hold up the watering can. He may send someone else to “water” the seed by sharing the Good News or praying with that person to help them grow spiritually.

Hold up seeds, shovel, and watering can. Another time, your part may be to do both!

Have a child in 5^th or 6^th grade read 1 Corinthians 15:58.

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Alternate idea: Choose three children to come up front. Give each a plant pot partially filled with soil. Tell the first child to dig a hole in the dirt of Pot #1. Tell the second child to dig a hole and plant a seed in the dirt of Pot #2. Tell the third child to dig a hole, plant a seed, and water the soil in Pot #3. Then ask the class which pot they think a plant will grow in.

Conclusion: Remember, every task is important in God’s plan, and we will be rewarded for doing our part. Let’s say the SuperTruth together. “I will do my part in God’s plan.”