You Reap What You Sow

Pentecost Proper 9; 7th Sunday after Pentecost

From “Scolding the Snakes”

Scripture Reference: Gal. 6:7-10 

Preparation: Bring several packets of seeds and, if possible, a dried weed with the seeds intact.

Can anyone tell me what I’m holding here? (Show packets of seeds and let kids respond. Adapt the following examples to the kinds of seeds you brought to show.) These are seeds, aren’t they? If I wanted [sunflowers] to grow in my front yard, which packet of seeds would I plant or sow? “To sow” is another way of saying “to plant.” (Kids can choose appropriate packet.) If I wanted [red, juicy tomatoes] to grow, which packet of seeds would I sow? (Let kids respond.) Yes! If I sow tomato seeds in my garden, after awhile I will be able to reap ripe tomatoes. “To reap” is another way of saying “to gather” or “to pick.” We all know that in order to get a certain kind of plant to grow we have to sow the right kind of seed.

Here I have a weed. (Show weed.) This is the type of weed that could take over a garden and choke out all the other plants. What would happen if I sowed these weed seeds in my garden? Would I get anything good to eat or pretty to look at? (Children may answer.) No. I would just get weeds.

In the book of Galatians, the Bible says, “Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t always ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow!” Every day, each one of you is planting seeds—some are good and some are bad. The things you plant will either help to make you a better person or a worse person. I’ll tell you what kinds of seeds I’m talking about.

Let’s say you wake up in a grumpy mood and instead of trying to be happy and treat others well, you decide to stay grumpy. And before you know it, your grumpiness turns into anger, and you end up calling your sister or brother a bad name. Is that a good seed that you planted or a bad seed? (Let kids respond.) What you reap from that bad seed will be bad feelings and unhappiness, and maybe a punch or a shove in return. That’s a bad weed from a bad seed.

Or maybe you wake up in a bad mood, but instead of staying grumpy, you close your eyes and pray to Jesus to take the grumpiness away. And then you try to think of something good and kind, and you give somebody in your family a big hug. Is that a good seed you just planted or a bad seed? (Let kids respond.) Because you made a good choice and asked God to help you do the right thing, you will probably reap something good in return—maybe a hug back. Something good comes from a good seed.

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, help us always to plant good seeds; help us to turn bad thoughts, feelings, and behaviors into good and kind ones.