Through the Bible, we read stories of Jesus’ life and the parables that he uses to teach his followers—back then and today! During BG Nature Camp and our new school break Nature Days, we will create games, activities, and crafts that point back to the stories Jesus lived and told.
Jesus’ parable of the sower (found in Matthew 13) is our theme for the October 9th and November 10th Nature Days. In this story, we can understand that there are various ways to respond to the words of God. Do we hear and learn? Are we applying what we hear? Or do we allow the worries of life to smother our faith?
In fire-building, you can throw together all the perfect ingredients for a fire, and still only end up with a pile of sticks. Is that akin to a seed falling on hard ground?
Once you have a fire, you can still destroy your food by plunging it right into the flames, resulting in a charred mess. This is similar to a fragile sprout, choked by weeds.
Or, you can carefully arrange your materials, correctly ignite a flame, and patiently tend it until it is a well-prepared bed of coals—ideal for heat and cooking. This is indeed satisfying! And like the seed that falls on well-tended soil, it can produce a crop many times what was sown.
During our Nature Days, we will be telling the parable of the sower. Children will embark on a journey, moving through stations with their helpers, playing games, cooking over fire, and exploring the woods. We’ll be using these moments to make our own stories that point children to Jesus and the truth in his Word.
We can plant and tend a seed, but we trust that it is the Lord who makes it grow.
And after various seasons of teaching outdoor skills, I can also tell you: We can light a match, but it is the Lord that provides the flame.
We’d love to have you join us!