Listen up, little ones
Listen for the words planted, watered, and growth.
Reading
1 Corinthians 3:5-9—God Gives the Growth
Optional Reading
Acts 17:32-34
Keys for kids
- Paul planted the seed in Athens by preaching.
- The Athenians didn’t seem to respond to Paul.
- It’s up to God to give the growth.
Questions
- Have you ever seen fruit from your evangelistic labors?
- Does the fruit, or lack thereof, encourage or discourage you?
- How does this passage encourage you to keep laboring?
Notes
(See Saturday for authors.)
Some might say that the results of Paul’s speech in Athens were lackluster. Some people mocked, some were willing to hear him again, and we only read of a handful of people who actually believed. What a waste of time, right?
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, we get a glimpse into how he saw his apostolic work in preaching the Gospel. Though he may have planted in some places or watered in others, he acknowledged that it was God who gave the growth. It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh is of no help at all (John 6:63).
This is good news for us as we seek to follow Paul’s example and bear witness. Maybe you’ve done everything right (as far as you can tell), but there’s nothing to show for it. Maybe you had the perfect opportunity, and you put your foot in your mouth. As you seek to bear witness in every place God has placed you, you can be bold because God is the One who is at work in and through you. So, continue to plant and water—and trust God to give the growth!
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 1a, 51a
Prayer
- Ask God to give the growth as you seek to plant and water.
- Give thanks for something from last Lord’s Day’s sermons.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.