Lesson 4

JESUS IS THE FRUIT OF LIFE

 

Objective: The main hope of this lesson is to understand that to partake of the fruit of life is to partake of eternal life and find joy.  Just like a tree takes a long time to grow, we need to be patient while our faith grows.

Visual aid: Fruit

Lesson ideas:

* Planting seeds:  As we plant the seed of faith and by feeding and nourishing it, the seed of faith grows in the knowledge of our Savior which brings great joy in our lives. 

* If we take gun powder and try and plant it, would it grow?  No matter how much care we give the gun powder, it will never grow.  However, seeds will grow if taken care of properly and when faith based on truth is nourished it also grows.

* Nourish:  Because planting involves nourishing, several things can be turned to that topic.  Like air is life to the body, Christ is life to the soul.  (Light and soil can be used for prayer and study which brings us closer to the fruit of life.

* Fruit not to partake of and fruit to partake of:  Adam was asked not to partake of the fruit that was on the tree of knowledge of good and evil because it would lead him away from Christ (Genesis 2:17) but the fruit in Lehi’s dream brings us to Christ (1 Nephi 8:11, 12).  This fruit was most sweet and white and filled the soul with exceedingly great joy.

* Jesus says that he is the vine and his disciples are the fruit.  Without the vine there cannot be fruit. Jesus states that we need to abide in him and abide his words which will bring more fruit. (John 15: 1-10)

* Jesus reminds us that that every good tree bringeth forth good fruit and also by their fruits ye shall know them.  Jesus always brought forth good fruit and would like us also to bring forth good fruit (Matthew 7: 15-20).

* Because Jesus layeth down his life according to the flesh and taketh it again he became the first to be resurrected wherefore he is the firstfruits unto God (2 Nephi 2: 8, 9).

* Two parables:

            1.  The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-6) this parable describes a vine with branches.  When the branches fail to bear fruit the branches are cut and burned but when the branches do bear fruit the branches are allowed to stay on the vine however, they are pruned so they will bear more fruit.

            2. The Sower and the Seed (Luke 8: 5 - 15) this parable is about seeds that are distributed upon different kinds of ground. Some fell on trodden paths, some on rocky ground and some among thorns and some on good soil. Some are trodden down, some withered away from lack of moisture, some were choked with thorns and some sprang up and bore fruit.

           

Scriptures: 

Bible                                                                                        

John 4: 36 gathereth fruit unto life                                       

Proverbs 11:30 fruit of the righteous is a tree of life                        

Proverbs 8:19 my fruit is better than gold                             

LDS Scriptures

Alma 5:34 Partake of fruit of life

Alma 32:28 seed may be planted

Alma 26:31 fruits of our labors

Activities:

* Plant seeds: (Peas grow fast) Explain what the main things are that a seed needs to grow; soil, water and light. 

* Plant treats:  In paper cup crush Oreo’s to look like soil, put a round cookie on a popsicle stick to look like a flower. Place the cookie flower in the Oreo soil.

* Fruit is sweet, so is Jesus’ fruit.  Pass out a sweet fruit like a peach to taste.

            1.  Make a fruit salad.

* Show different types of fruits and vegetables and see if the children know if it grows on a tree, on a vine, in the ground or above the ground. (Jesus made them all)

 * Thread a string of Froot Loops or Tootie Fruities for a necklace or a small treat to eat.

* Jesus Name Game. ( Found in lesson one)

* Play Bee Bee Bumble Bee (this time see a food or fruit for the game.)

            Bee Bee Bumble Bee:

            The words to this game are:  Bee, Bee, Bumble Bee, I see something you don’t see.

            The person who said the words,  picks out something in the room without telling what it is

             and the other person then guesses what he thinks the first person is thinking.

Songs:

Hymns                                                                         

# 298 Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth                         

# 116 Come, Follow Me                                             

# 300 Families Can Be Together Forever                   

    

Children’s  Songbook

# 236 Give Said the Little Stream  

# 243 Little Seeds Lie Fast Asleep

# 231 All Things Bright and Beautiful

# 230 I Think the World is Glorious