Lesson 14: Three Stages of Growth

Aim
* to learn that there are three things we need for our spirit to grow
1. Love from God
2. God’s word
3. Many good deeds

Materials
* worksheets
* large pictures of right and wrong behaviour
* A parable from the Bible – The Two Sons
* Snakes and Ladders game based on good and bad behaviour

Lesson Outline
1. Three stages of growth
2. Physical and spiritual growth
3. The Parable of the Two Sons
4. Pictures of good and bad behaviour
5. Snakes and Ladders
6. Review the lesson
7. End with a Prayer

1) Three Stages of Growth
Read through the worksheet together and show the pictures:
1. WATER (ice, solid – water, liquid – steam, gas)
2. BUTTERFLY (caterpillar – chrysalis – butterfly)
3. PLANTS (root – stem & branches – leaves)

Complete the worksheet – formation, growth, completion

2) Physical and Spiritual Growth
Read through the worksheet together. Explain what our spirit is. First, ask the children what they think is needed for us to love more in order to grow our spirit. Then explain the three things.

1. Love from God – This we get from our parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, friends, teachers, etc…

2. God’s word – We get this from the Bible, going to Sunday school, good stories, rules in our family, from parents, etc…

3. Many good deeds – helping others, showing respect, speaking kindly, etc…

Complete the worksheet

3) The Parable of the Two Sons
What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
A good story to teach how our spirit grows or does not grow.

4) Pictures of Bad and Good Behavior
1. Interrupting parents – waiting before speaking
2. Not giving up your seat to an old person – giving up your seat
3. Not sharing apples – sharing apples
4. Leaving your dishes on the table – taking your dishes away
5. Helping mother wash dishes – refusing to wash dishes
6. Snatching a toy from your mother’s hand – waiting to receive the toy
7. Throwing food away you don’t like – eating what you are given
8. Not wanting to pick up when told to – happily picking up toys
Talk about the pictures. When we keep doing many good deeds our spirit grows. When we do many bad things, our spirit cannot grow. We cannot grow in our love. Then our spirit becomes bad.

5) Play Snakes and Ladders. 
When a player lands on a snake the bad behaviour takes them down spiritually
When they land on a ladder the good deed takes them up spiritually
The first player to reach 100 is the winner

6) Review the lesson
Ask each child what they could learn from today’s lesson. Refer to the lesson aims:
* to learn that there are three things we need for our spirit to grow
1. Love from God
2. God’s word
3. Many good deeds

7) End with a Prayer