LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In 1 Samuel 3, we read about a young boy named Samuel who was serving God in the tabernacle under the care of Eli, the high priest. One night while Samuel was sleeping, the Lord called his name out loud. Samuel did not yet know God’s voice, so he ran to Eli, thinking the old priest had called him. This happened three times. Finally, Eli understood it was the Lord speaking, and he told Samuel to go back and lie down, and the next time he heard the voice, he should say, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” When Samuel obeyed, the Lord spoke to him and shared a message about Eli’s family.
This story teaches us that God speaks and we can learn to recognize and listen to his voice. Samuel’s heart was ready to hear, and he chose to obey. For preschoolers, the lesson centers on the truth that God loves to talk to his children, and we show our love back by listening carefully to his words.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Praying Hands Dot Art
Items Needed
- Dot Markers
- Dot Stickers
- Praying Hands Dot Art Template
Ask kids what the image in front of them is. Have them practice making their own praying hands. Discuss why you pray. Then give them ONE COLOR dot marker to stamp all the dots. Next, hand out multi-color dot stickers to let them place colorful dots. Explain that we can talk to Jesus about ONE thing or MANY things.
BIBLE STORY 6:15-6:25
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? (1 Samuel)
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? (Old Testament)
Samuel was a young boy, maybe about your age! He lived at the tabernacle, which was God’s special house. [Put your hands above your head like a roof.] An old, old man named Eli took care of Samuel and taught him how to serve God. Eli was very, very old. [Let kids make an old person face, squinting and hunched over.] Can you show me an old, old face? [Wait for response.]
Every night, Samuel would lie down to sleep. [Have everyone lie down or pretend to sleep, hands under cheek.] Close your eyes and pretend to sleep. Shhh. [Whisper.] Samuel was sleeping, sleeping, sleeping, when suddenly, he heard a voice! [Sit up quickly and gasp.] Someone called his name: Samuel! Samuel!
[Have kids jump up.] Samuel jumped up! He ran to Eli. [Have kids run in place.] He said, Here I am! You called me! But Eli said, I did not call you. Go back to sleep. [Have kids lie down again.] So Samuel went back to lie down. [Whisper.] Shhh, sleeping again.
Then the voice came again! [Sit up fast.] Samuel! Samuel! Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli again. [Run in place.] Here I am! You called me! But Eli said, I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep. [Lie down again.] Back to sleep went Samuel. Can you pretend to snore? [Let kids make snoring sounds.]
A third time, the voice called! [Sit up and put hand to ear.] Samuel! Samuel! Samuel ran to Eli one more time. [Run in place.] This time, old Eli understood. [Touch your chin like you are thinking.] Eli knew this was not just any voice. This was the voice of the Lord! [Put hands over heart.] God was calling Samuel!
Eli told Samuel, Go back and lie down. If you hear the voice again, say this: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Can you say those words with me? [Wait for response.] Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. [Repeat together two times.]
[Have everyone lie down one more time.] So Samuel went back and lay down. [Whisper.] Then the voice came again. Samuel! Samuel! This time, Samuel did not run to Eli. He answered, [cup hands around mouth] Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening! [Let kids say it loud with you.]
And God spoke to Samuel! [Eyes wide, surprised face.] God told Samuel a special message. Samuel listened carefully with his ears. [Point to ears.] From that day on, Samuel grew up to be a great listener to God. He became a prophet, which means he told God’s words to the people. [Cup hand to ear.] God spoke, and Samuel listened!
[Object Lesson: Hold up a small pillow or blanket.] Look at this pillow. When we sleep, we rest our head on a pillow, just like Samuel did. But even when Samuel was sleeping, God knew where he was and called his name by name. God knows YOUR name too! [Point to each child.] God knows every single one of your names, and he wants to talk to you. We listen to God by listening to his Word, the Bible, and by praying. [Hold up a Bible.] When we open the Bible and when we pray, we are saying, Speak, Lord, I am listening!
Theological Questions:
- Who was calling Samuel’s name in the night? (The Lord, God!)
- What did Samuel say when he finally heard God’s voice? (Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!)
Life Application Questions:
- Can you listen to God’s words? How? (By listening to the Bible and praying!)
- When someone tells you God’s words, like at church or at home, what should you do? (Listen carefully!)
Prayer: Dear God, thank you that you speak to us just like you spoke to Samuel. Help us to listen to your words with our ears and our hearts, and to obey what you say. Amen!
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35
PRAYER 6:35-6:45 p.m.
Transition the children to the floor for prayer time. Go around the circle and pray for various things including the ability to hear the voice of God when He is speaking to us through His Word.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 6:45-6:55 | Red Light, Green Light
Have children line up on the wall. Explain to them when you say “Red Light” they have to stop. If they move at all, they have to go back to the beginning. When you say “Yellow Light” they have to tiptoe. When you say “Green Light” they have to walk fast. The purpose is not to be the first, it is to LISTEN to what is being said. End by talking about how sometimes it is hard to listen, but we should always listen for the voice of God.
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55-7:10 | Stop Light What God Says
Items Needed
- God’s Traffic Light (Prayer Answers) Craft Template
- Green Crayons
- Yellow Crayons
- Red Crayons
- Glue Sticks
Pass out the traffic light template and have kids color yellow. Have an image of a traffic light up on the wall or TV screen. Tell them when God speaks to us, he always responds with one of three things. Pass out the “No” circle and have them color it red and glue to the top. Sometimes God tells us “No” or “Stop”. Next pass out the “Wait” circle and have them color it yellow and glue to the middle. Sometimes God tells us “Wait” or “Slow Down”. Finally, pass out the “Yes” circle and have them color it green. Sometimes God tells us “Yes” or “Go”.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks while watching the Bible Story Video
BONUS ACTIVITY | Telephone
Have the children and leaders sit in a circle. The teacher whispers a short, simple phrase into the ear of the child next to them, such as “God loves you” or “Listen to God.” That child whispers it to the next person, and so on around the circle. The last person says it out loud, and everyone giggles to see if it stayed the same. Say, “When we listen carefully, we hear the right message. God wants us to listen carefully to his words!” Leaders and students all play together.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
1 Samuel 3 (ESV)
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call you; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call you, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
And the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him.”
And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: Listen to God.
What I Learned Today: Today we learned that God called young Samuel by name one night while he was sleeping in the tabernacle. Samuel did not know God’s voice at first, but Eli helped him understand that it was the Lord speaking, and Samuel said, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” We learned that God speaks to us too, and we should listen carefully to his words by reading the Bible and praying.
Questions to Ask Me:
Theological Questions:
- Who called Samuel’s name in the night? (The Lord, God)
- Where was Samuel sleeping when God called him? (In the tabernacle, God’s special house)
- Who did Samuel think was calling him at first? (Eli, the old priest)
- What did Eli tell Samuel to say to God? (Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening)
- What did Samuel grow up to be? (A prophet, someone who tells people God’s words)
Life Application Questions:
- How can we listen to God’s words today? (By reading the Bible and praying)
- What should we do when we hear God’s words at church or at home? (Listen carefully)
- Does God know your name, just like he knew Samuel’s name? (Yes, God knows everyone’s name)
- When is a good time to talk to God and listen to him? (Anytime, like when we pray)
- What can we say to God when we want to listen to him? (Speak, Lord, I am listening)