The Parable of the Sower
Mark 4:1-20
Pictures drawn by 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders from
The First Church in Windsor, Connecticut.
April & May, 2008.
Words adapted by Amy Crane for retelling from
Today’s English Version
Jesus was teaching beside Lake Galilee. The crowd was so large that he got into a boat. The crowd stood at the water’s edge. Jesus told stories to teach the listeners.
Listen! Once there was a man who went out to plant grain. Some of the seeds fell on the path. The birds came and ate them.
Some of the seeds fell into thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the wheat.
Some of the seeds fell on good soil, and the seeds sprouted, grew and produced grain. Jesus said, “Listen, then, if you have ears!” When Jesus was alone, some of the listeners came with the disciples and asked him to explain the Parable.
Jesus said, “Don’t you understand?
The Sower sows God’s message.”
Some people are like the seeds that fall on the path: as soon as they hear the message, Satan comes and takes it away.
Some people are like the seeds that fall on the rocky ground. The message does not sink in deep. When trouble comes they give up.
Some people are like the seeds in the thorn bushes. They hear the message, but worries about this life, love of riches, and other desires choke the message and they don’t bear fruit.
Some people are like the seeds sown in good soil. They hear the message and accept it and bear fruit.
The End