GROWING LIKE OLIVE SHOOTS IN GOD’S GARDEN
INTRODUCTION: A SPECIAL PLANT IN GOD’S GARDEN
Welcome to this exciting journey where you’ll learn how to grow like an olive shoot in God’s beautiful garden. Have you ever seen a tree growing from a tiny seed? That’s like how you’re growing spiritually! Just as an olive shoot is small but has great potential to become a big, strong Olive tree, you too are growing in God’s love and care every day.
In the Bible, God calls us “olive shoots”—young, growing, and full of potential. But what does it mean to be an olive shoot? Let’s walk through the lessons and discover how your life can grow into something strong and beautiful, just like the olive tree!
LESSON 1: YOU ARE AN OLIVE SHOOT
In Psalm 128:3, the Bible says, “Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.” Olive shoots are young olive trees, full of potential and promise. The image of an olive shoot tells us that as you grow, you are a special part of God’s family, just like an olive tree is an important part of the land.
What does this mean for you?
• You are loved and cared for by God, like a young tree growing in a beautiful garden.
• Even though you’re still growing, you already have a great purpose in God’s plan!
• Just like an olive shoot, you are strong and full of potential to grow tall and produce beautiful fruit.
LESSON 2: GROWING IN GOD’S LOVE
An olive shoot needs the right care to grow strong. It needs water, sunlight, and good soil to flourish. For you, those things are like God’s love, His Word (the Bible), and time spent with Him.
In the Bible, Jesus talks about how we need to stay connected to Him to grow strong. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” Just like the olive tree needs to stay connected to its roots, we need to stay connected to Jesus to grow strong.
What does this mean for you?
• Spend time in God’s Word (the Bible) each day. Even just a few minutes can help you grow strong.
• Talk to God in prayer and listen for His voice.
• Surround yourself with people who encourage you to love and follow God.
LESSON 3: STRONG ROOTS LEAD TO GROWTH
Olive shoots grow strong because their roots are deep in the soil. In the same way, you are growing strong when you build your faith in God. The deeper your roots in Him, the stronger you will grow as you face challenges in life.
What does this mean for you?
• The more you learn about God’s love and His promises, the stronger you will become in your faith.
• You can trust that God will help you grow in every season of your life, even when things are tough.
LESSON 4: PATIENCE – WAITING FOR GOD’S GROWTH
Have you ever planted a seed and had to wait for it to grow? It doesn’t happen overnight! Similarly, as you grow in your faith, it takes time. Olive trees take years to grow into strong trees, but each year, they grow a little more. Patience is important in the Christian life because we know that God is at work, even when we don’t always see the results right away.
What does this mean for you?
• Just like an olive shoot doesn’t become a big tree right away, your spiritual growth takes time. Don’t rush; trust that God is making you stronger day by day.
• Even when things seem hard, remember that God is working in your life to help you grow into the person He made you to be.
LESSON 5: BEARING GOOD FRUIT
As the olive shoot grows, it eventually produces fruit—good, useful fruit. For Christians, bearing fruit means living in a way that shows love, kindness, patience, and goodness to others. In Galatians 5:22-23, the Bible talks about the fruit of the Spirit, which are qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
What does this mean for you?
• As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, you will begin to show the fruit of the Spirit in your life. This means being kind to your friends, loving your family, and helping others.
• Just like the olive tree’s fruit is useful for making oil, your good deeds help others and show the love of God.
LESSON 6: GROWING INTO AN OLIVE TREE
As you grow, you’re not just growing as an olive shoot—you are growing into someone who will one day be a mature, strong olive tree. Just as an olive tree grows to produce fruit and provide shade for others, you will mature in your faith and become someone who can help others grow in their faith too. Eventually, you’ll be a person who gives wisdom, love, and guidance to those who are younger than you.
What does this mean for you?
• God has a big plan for your life, and He is shaping you to be a strong, loving person who can share His love with the world.
• Keep growing, keep learning, and know that God has already begun a good work in you that will continue for the rest of your life.
CONCLUSION: GROWING STRONG LIKE AN OLIVE TREE
Being an olive shoot means you are growing and learning in God’s love. You have everything inside of you to grow into a strong, mature believer who will one day bear fruit that helps others. As you keep learning from God’s Word, growing in faith, and living with patience, you will continue to grow stronger in your faith, just like the olive tree.
Always remember that God is with you every step of the way, and He has a beautiful plan for you to grow and bear good fruit!
Note: This content is specially created for children to help them grow in their faith, like olive shoots in God's garden rooted in His Word and flourishing under His care.
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