The story
Jesus sat in a boat by the shore and told a story. “A farmer went out to plant seeds. He threw them this way and that way, all over the place.”
“Some seeds fell on the hard path, and the birds gobbled them up. Some fell on rocky ground. They popped up fast, but their roots were too short, and they dried up.”
“Some seeds fell among prickly thorns. The thorns grew tall and squeezed the little plants until they could not grow.”
“But some seeds fell on good, soft soil. They grew deep roots and tall green stalks. Soon there was a big harvest, lots and lots of grain!”
Later Jesus explained the story. “The seed is God’s Word. Some people hear it but forget it. Some give up when things get hard. Some get too busy and worried.”
“But some people hear God’s Word, love it and keep it in their hearts. Then it grows, and good things grow in their lives!”
