Children’s Sermon

Mark 4:26-34

Growing Strong

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects suggested: Objects to demonstrate growth such seeds, a sapling, a puppy or kitten, if appropriate to the setting. Pictures of a baby or baby animals may also be used.

Let’s talk about things that grow. Oak and apple trees grow. Fish grow. Puppies and kittens grow. Green beans and beets grow. Corn grows. Sunflowers grow. Turtles and hamsters grow. Eagles and crows grow. Snakes and lizards grow. Yes, even you grow. You were once a seven or eight pound baby and look how you’ve grown. Growing is a part of life.

Another thing that grows is love. Have you ever noticed that when you love someone, the love you feel for that person keeps growing and growing; it gets stronger and stronger.

In the Bible Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God is like a growing thing. He said, “The Kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed on the earth” (4:26) “and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he doesn’t know how” (4:27).

When we love God our love grows and grows; we don’t know exactly how that works, but we can see the results. When we love God we scatter that love to others and it is as if the love sprouts and keeps on growing. We give love to others and then they scatter some seeds of love and the Kingdom of God spreads to many people. God’s love is beautiful, it flourishes.

The Kingdom of God is a healthy, living, growing thing that helps each one of us grow strong. We not only grow in our bodies, we grow in love. Scatter some love seeds and watch them grow!

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2007, Richard Niell Donovan