LESSON THEME: God Answers Prayers
1 Samuel 1:1-20 tells how Hannah was a woman who deeply desired a child but was unable to conceive. In her distress, she went to the temple and prayed fervently to God, promising to dedicate her son to the Lord’s service if her prayer was answered. The priest Eli initially misunderstood her silent prayer, thinking she was drunk, but later blessed her. God answered Hannah’s prayer, and she gave birth to Samuel, whom she later brought to serve in the temple as promised.
WELCOME ACTIVITIES 6:00-6:15 p.m.
EMOTION FACES DRY ERASE MARKERS
Items Needed
Children can use dry erase markers to draw different faces. Explain that in our story today, Hannah had a lot of different emotions.
Waterpaint A Picture
Items Needed
- God Hears Our Prayers (Print on Cardstock)
- Waterpaint
- Paper towels (paint brush wipe)
- Paint brushes
Have children use water paint to paint the “God Hears Our Prayers” picture.
WORSHIP JESUS THRU MUSIC: 6:20-6:30 p.m.
“Hannah Prayed to God”
(Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)
Verse 1:
Hannah prayed to God above, God above, God above.
Hannah prayed to God above, for a special baby.
(Motion: Fold hands in prayer)
Verse 2: God heard Hannah’s special prayer, special prayer, special prayer.
God heard Hannah’s special prayer, and answered her with love.
(Motion: Cup hand behind ear, then hug self)
Verse 3: Hannah’s baby was Samuel, was Samuel, was Samuel.
Hannah’s baby was Samuel, a gift from God above.
(Motion: Rock baby in arms)
WORSHIP JESUS THRU PRAYER: 6:30-6:40 p.m.
WHISPER A PRAYER SONG & FORM CIRCLE
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Go around the circle and have each child pray.
BIBLE STORY & CRAFT 6:40-7:00 p.m.
“Have you ever wanted something very much?” What was it?
Today we’re going to learn about a woman named Hannah who wanted a baby very much.
Hannah was married to a man named Elkanah. She was very sad because she didn’t have any children. She wanted a baby so much that she would cry.
One day, Hannah went to God’s special house called the temple. She prayed very hard. Hannah prayed silently—her lips were moving but no sound came out. She made a promise to God that if He gave her a son, she would give him back to God to serve Him.
The priest at the temple was named Eli. When he saw Hannah, he thought she was acting silly. But Hannah explained she was just very sad and praying to God.
Eli told Hannah, ‘Go in peace. May God give you what you asked for.’ And guess what? God heard Hannah’s prayer! (Pull out the baby doll.) Hannah had a baby boy named Samuel, which means ‘God has heard.'” Hannah’s
“Hannah was so happy! She kept her promise to God. When Samuel was old enough, she took him to the temple to serve God with Eli.
God hears our prayers too, just like He heard Hannah’s prayer. Sometimes we have to wait for an answer, but God is always listening.
Hannah’s Waiting Game
Items needed:
- A small baby doll
- A blanket to hide it
- Music to play
How to play:
- Have children sit in a circle.
- Explain that Hannah had to wait patiently for her baby.
- While music plays, children pass the hidden baby doll (wrapped in blanket) around the circle.
- When the music stops, the child holding the “baby” gets to unwrap it briefly to peek, then wrap it back up.
- Continue until everyone has had a turn to “find” the baby.
- Talk about how sometimes we have to wait for God to answer our prayers, just like Hannah waited.
Craft: Hannah’s Prayer Reminder
Materials:
- Paper plates
- Markers/crayons
- Pre-cut paper hand outlines
- Glue sticks
- Yarn pieces
- Scissors (for adult use)
- Optional: stickers with praying hands or babies
Instructions:
- Give each child a paper plate to represent Hannah’s face.
- Help them draw a face showing Hannah praying (eyes closed, peaceful expression).
- Glue the pre-cut paper hands onto the bottom of the plate in a praying position.
- Attach yarn pieces for hair.
- On the back of the plate, help children dictate or draw something they want to pray for.
- Optional: Add “God hears my prayers” written around the edge of the plate.
This craft reminds children that God hears their prayers just like He heard Hannah’s prayer.
SNACK TIME: 7:00-7:10 p.m.
ITEMS NEEDED
Coloring Page
Crayons
Snack
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks.
A coloring sheet will be available for kids to color while they eat their snack.
CLOSING PLAYDOH STATION: 7:10-7:25 p.m.
FEELINGS PLAYDOH STATIONS
Create a playdough table with different colored playdough representing different emotions (blue for sad like Hannah was, yellow for happy when she had Samuel, etc.). Include cookie cutters shaped like hearts, stars, and people. Children can explore and express different feelings through playdough creations while teachers casually remind kids how Hannah had different feelings in the story.
DISMISSAL 7:25-7:30 p.m.
Prepare for dismissal.
1 Samuel 1:1-20 KJV
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.