Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 69: A Seed's Power

Key Verse

"He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food out of the earth:" Psalm 104:14 NHEB

Lesson

Have you ever wondered how a seed sprouts and pushes up through heavy soil? Or how a small root can crack rock and break through concrete? The power of nature can be marvelous. The secret of a plant’s power lies in the structure of its cells. Plant cells have strong cell walls unlike animal cells. These walls give plant cells reinforcement. When the seed encounters the proper temperature and moisture conditions the growth or germination process will begin. Water enters the seed through a small hole in the shell called the micropyle.

This process of water absorption is called imbibition. As water is taken into the cells of the plant, they swell but do not burst because of the cell wall reinforcement. This creates pressure inside the seed (turgor pressure). It is impossible to compress water, so the pressure builds due to the swelling cells until the sprout forces its way out of the shell. As the plant grows its cells multiply and fill with water through osmosis. This gives the plant enough power to push through the soil or even rock and stand up against gravity. Turgor pressure is an amazing power. It enables soft plants to move and break rock and dirt many times heavier.1,2,3 Mushrooms have even been documented breaking up through the concrete of a road.

The power of God can be seen here through the delicately yet complexly wrought process by which a tiny plant shoot can pierce rock and concrete. Only through the power of God is this process maintained as the key verse pointed out. Though science explains how this process works, it is God's power that maintains it. For all life is maintained by God's own power. All life lasts only as long as he allows. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the wind of the Lord blows upon it Isaiah 40:7 (paraphrased).

Will you ever again doubt that God is able to do what he promises? Whenever you walk out-of-doors and see the grass, or indoors and see a potted plant, you will be reminded of the power given to it as a small seedling. If God is able to care for the grass, is he not able to care for you (Matthew 6:30)? God’s power goes beyond our imagination. And he wants to use it for our benefit. All that we must do is ask. “Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” Ephesians 3:20 NHEB.

Questions

What is your favorite kind of plant? What will this remind you of now?

What other examples does the Bible give of God’s power?

Why do we often fail to see God’s power in our own life?

What do we do when we ask God for something within his capability yet do not receive?

Sources

1. Michael W. Davidson. (1995). Plant Cell Vacuoles. Molecular Expressions. Retrieved January 9, 2018, from https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/plants/vacuole.html.

2. "imbibition." A Dictionary of Biology. Retrieved January 9, 2018 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/imbibition-1.

3. Mary Osborne. (September 21, 2017). How Does a Bean Seed Grow? Gardenguides.com. Retrieved January 9, 2018 from https://www.gardenguides.com/77371-bean-seed-grow.html.



Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: TambiraPhotography via www.pixabay.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 21: Rock and Water

Key Verse

“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lesson

Note: This lesson is best done in an area where listeners can see rock that has been eroded by water.

What is stronger but softer than rock? Water of course. How can this be you may be thinking. The banks of most water ways are dirt or mud that the water easily washes away. But water can also carve away solid rock. Rock is strong and durable, but given enough time, water will erode the rock away. What is the secret behind water's strength? It is the persistence of water. Day after day, year after year the water flows over the rock and washes it away a little at a time. What may seem impossible becomes possible through persistence.

Persistence means to keep trying at something until succeeding. The Bible also calls this perseverance. There are many things in life that are too big to change all at once. We may not be strong or powerful enough to change something quickly. We may not succeed on the first try. James Watkins a prominent Christian author once said, " A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence." That is why water, which is softer than rock, can still overcome it.

Paul reminds us in Romans 2:7 that it takes persistence to live the way Jesus wants us too. We have to keep trying, every day, to do good and avoid evil. Only when we reach heaven will we no longer be tempted to sin. Even though we are saved, we sill need to persist against temptation. Persistence is important in many other areas of our lives. Like water, whenever we hit a barrier that is difficult to overcome, all we need is a little persistence— to keep trying until we succeed.

Questions

What is something you have persisted at and overcome?

When we struggle to avoid evil and temptation, where can we get extra strength to persist?

In what other areas of life is persistence useful?

Written by David F. Garner
Photo Credit: BKD via www.pixabay.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 6: The Power of Small Things

Key Text


"He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have the faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20 (WEB)

Lesson

In nature, it often seems like the biggest things are in control. The biggest animals are at the top of the food chain. Big mountains can keep us from traveling quickly in the direction we wish to go. Big storms can destroy mighty trees like they are toothpicks.

But small things in nature have power too. There is a phenomenon known as the butterfly effect. It is a theory that says if one little butterfly flaps its wings at just the right time, the air it moves with its wings can grow and grow and become a strong wind. So strong in fact it may blow away a storm so it doesn’t damage anything. Did you know a butterfly had that much power?

There are other ways small things have great power in nature. Water seems pretty powerless against rock. But over time water can erode away even the strongest rock so there is no rock left.

A tiny little seed can grow into a mighty tree. Its roots can grow so strong that they can crack rock and concrete! Then the tree can produce more seeds until is starts a whole forest.

God has given each of us incredible power too. Even if we feel small and insignificant, we have strong power in our words and actions. A simple smile or kind word can turn someone’s day into a positive one. Helping a stranger carry things or open the door can show them the love of Jesus. Jesus said in Matt. 17:20 that if we have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed in Him than we can move mountains! Jesus told us this so that whenever we feel small we can remember that we have great power. We have the greatest power of Jesus on our side.

Questions

What small acts can you do that would have big effects?

How can we gain faith the size of a mustard seed?

Written by David F. Garner
Photo Credit: Brennon Garner