Good Ground
- Power In the Blood Assembly
- May 31
- 5 min read
Sermon for Children’s Service, 2026
by Pastor Edla Lowe
Matthew 13:8&23 “but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:8 KJV
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:23 KJV
Introduction
Today we Celebrate the children during child month. We wish to Thank parents and teachers for their investment in the children.
Background to the text
Jesus as usual is taking the opportunity to teach the multitude that followed him. He uses a parable , an earthly story that his listeners can relate to to illustrate a spiritual truth.
In this instance it’s about the sower who sets out to sow his seeds. As he does, some fall in places where he didn’t intend them to and were not fruitful, but the ones which fell on good ground bore fruit as he expected . As Jesus gives the interpretation of the parable to his disciples, he explains that the good ground refers to those who hear the word , understand the word , apply it and as a result become fruitful.
What is good ground?
Naturally, good ground relates to land that is properly prepared and ready for planting. Spiritually, good ground relates as Jesus said, to those persons who hear the word, understand it apply it to their lives and as a result their lives are transformed and they become fruitful.
Let me first address the adults in the house.
Children are a heritage of the Lord . They have been given to us as precious gifts , they must be loved and treated as valuable.
I am suggesting to us today that as God’s representatives in the earth , it is our responsibility to sow the word of God into the hearts of the children . To do this effectively we have to see our children as good ground.
Why do I say children are good ground?
The Children are good ground because of their tender hearts.
Unlike us adults their hearts are not hardened by the issues and troubles of life, the hurt and pain . There’s a level of innocence and humility that makes them more open and receptive to the gospel message.
Jesus himself in focusing on their humility said in
Matt. 18:3-4 “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
He saw their humility, their sincerity their genuineness as qualities that we need to exhibit and this makes them good ground for the gospel message
Children are good ground because they are teachable
Children are coming to us as a blank sheet of paper. Whatever they learn they will learn from adults whether we were intentional or not . Their minds are impressionable.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 Gives us the responsibility to teach them.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Use every possible opportunity to sow I to their lives.
The children are considered good ground because they are trusting.
They trust us to say and do the right thing. So if we give them the truth they will receive it. Because they trust us they will be receptive . The word calls us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not to our own understanding.
4. They are good ground and need to be nurtured and cared for
Although they are presented to us today as good ground they still need to be nurtured and cared for In order to grow strong. In the best of soil a plant that is neglected will not be strong and fruitful . Likewise our children . Hear the words of apostle Paul to Timothy in 3:14-15 as he acknowledges the work of Timothy’s mother and grandmother.
“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
also in Ephesians 6:4, addressing fathers Paul said
“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4 NKJV
Paul in 2 Tim3:14-15
They are goood ground but they need to be guided and disciplined
Earlier I spoke to the tenderness and the purity of their hearts but we cannot forget that these same humble , sweet tender hearted ones also have a sin nature which can caused them to be easily influenced to do wrong .
Thanks to our God who is always ahead of things. He has provided the strategies to ensure that our little ones mature and bear fruit.
In Proverbs 22:15 it says
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.” Proverbs 22: 15 NKJV
And in proverbs 22:6 we are told to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Challenge to the Adults
Be Intentional to sow good seeds
Sow good seeds into these tender hearts by word and action. Seeds of love, kindness, thankfulness , forgiveness and grace for one another because they are good ground.
Be instructive as you sow.
There are some things children will catch by the way but if we want good results we can’t leave Christian training to chance. We need to ensure that after our intervention the child is left informed and knowledgeable. The scripture said those on good ground heard the word and understood it and was able to bear fruit. Let us seek to help them to understand the truth because understanding is essential for fruitfulness.
Before I close allow me to speak directly to the children.
Children I want you to:
Accept that you are good soil.
Know that you are made in the image of God
God made you in His image and entrusted you to your parents or grandparents or guardians so that they may teach you his ways and his precepts.
God wants you to be obedient.
You are to obey your parents and all in authority over you that includes teachers in school and Sunday school
Conclusion
I close with this reminder, God is depending on us as adults to properly sow seeds of righteousness into the tender hearts of our children, they are good ground.
God wants us to care for and nurture the seeds that are sown so that they will bear fruit in Jesus name.
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