LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In 1 Samuel 13:5-14, Saul faces a massive Philistine army, and his own soldiers begin to scatter in fear. Samuel had instructed Saul to wait seven days for him to arrive and offer the sacrifice before battle. When Samuel seemed late, Saul grew impatient and offered the burnt offering himself, stepping into a role God had reserved for the priest. Samuel arrived just as Saul finished, and instead of owning his choice, Saul pointed to the circumstances, the fleeing soldiers, and even Samuel’s delay. Samuel told Saul that because he had not kept the Lord’s command, his kingdom would not continue, and God would seek out a man after His own heart.
In 1 Samuel 15:1-35, God gives Saul a second clear assignment: bring judgment on the Amalekites, the nation that had attacked Israel from behind as they left Egypt, and keep nothing for himself. Saul wins the battle but spares King Agag and the best of the livestock, then builds a monument to honor himself. When Samuel arrives, Saul insists he has obeyed, even while the sheep and cattle can be heard in the background. He shifts the blame to the people and claims the animals were saved for worship. Samuel responds with the heart of the lesson: God values obedience more than sacrifice. Saul eventually admits he sinned, but his confession is more about protecting his image than turning his heart back to God. For preschool kids, the takeaway is God sees everything, He wants us to obey all the time, and when we honestly admit our wrong without blaming others, He is faithful to forgive us.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Wipe-It-Clean Drawing Boards
Items Needed:
- Small dry erase boards or Magna Doodle boards
- Dry erase markers
- Erasers or tissues
Kids scribble and draw freely, then wipe their boards clean. Leaders explain that when we tell God we are sorry, He wipes our wrong choices away and forgives us, just like the clean board
Note after doing free drawing, have the kids attempt to draw 3 Circles. Play the video and then walk them through drawing the story.
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)
Object Lesson: Obeying Part of the Way
Items Needed: 5 blocks, a small basket, a dry erase board, a dry erase marker, an eraser, a sheet of paper to tear
[Before class, secretly ask a leader or older helper to put only 2 blocks in the basket when asked.]
[Set 5 blocks on the floor next to the basket.] I need a helper! Will you put ALL the blocks in the basket, please? [Helper puts in 2 blocks and sits down.]
Hmm. Did my helper put ALL the blocks in the basket? [Let kids respond] No! Only some of them. When we only do part of what we are told, that is not really obeying. Today we are going to meet a king who only obeyed part of the way.
The Story
God chose a man named Saul to be the very first king of God’s people.
One day, a big army came to fight God’s people. There were SO many soldiers. God’s helper, Samuel, told Saul, Wait for me for seven days. Then I will come and give a gift to God. Let’s count to seven on our fingers! [Count 1 to 7 slowly together]
Saul waited. And waited. And waited. [Tap your wrist and let out a big sigh] Show me how you wait! [Let kids sigh and tap]
But Saul got tired of waiting. He did Samuel’s job instead, a job God did not give him.
Right as he was finishing the job, Samuel walked in. Saul said, It’s not my fault! You were late! [Point finger away from yourself] Saul blamed Samuel. Is that a good choice? [Let kids respond]
Later, God gave Saul another job. God said, Go fight the Amalekites. They have been mean to My people for a long, long time. Do not keep anything from them. Not one sheep! Can you say baa? [Wait for response] Not one cow! Can you say moo? [Wait for response] Nothing!
Everybody stand up! Let’s march like Saul’s army. [March in place] Left, right, left, right!
Saul’s army won the battle! Let’s cheer! [Everyone shouts hooray and jumps]
Now sit down, because Saul did something sneaky. [Whisper] He kept the other king, and he kept the best sheep and the best cows. [Pretend to pull a sheep on a rope]
Did Saul obey God all the way? [Let kids respond] No! Only part of the way, just like our blocks.
Maybe Saul thought no one would notice. But who sees everything we do? [Let kids respond] God does! Point up to heaven! [Point up together]
God told Samuel what Saul did. Samuel was sad.
Saul was proud of himself. He even built a big statue so everyone would think he was great. Puff out your chest like proud Saul! [Puff out chests]
Samuel went to see Saul. Saul gave him a big smile and said, I did everything God told me to do! [Give a big, silly fake smile]
But Samuel said, Then what is that noise I hear? Let’s make the noise! Sheep go… [Let kids say baa] Cows go… [Let kids say moo] LOUDER! [Let kids say baa and moo loudly]
Oh no! Saul got caught! [Cover mouth with hands]
Did Saul say, I’m sorry, it was my fault? [Let kids respond] No! He pointed at the people and said, They did it! [Point finger away again] Then he said, We only kept the animals so we could give them to God.
Samuel told Saul something very important from God. The Bible says, “to obey is better than sacrifice.” That means God wants us to obey Him even more than He wants our gifts. Say it with me: Obey is better! [Say it loud, then in a whisper, then loud again]
When Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed Samuel’s robe, and it ripped! [Tear the sheet of paper] Let’s make a ripping sound! [Let kids say rrrrrip]
Samuel said, Just like this robe ripped, God is taking the kingdom away from you. God would choose a new king, someone who would love and obey Him with his whole heart.
[Hold up the dry erase board and draw a big heart.] Now here is the GOOD news. When we disobey, it is like scribbles on our hearts. Can you think of a wrong choice someone might make? [Let kids respond. Add a scribble for each answer.]
Saul blamed other people. But when WE tell God, I’m sorry, it was my fault, God forgives us! Let’s say it together: I’m sorry, God! [Wait for response, then wipe the board clean]
Look! All clean! God is forgiving!
Theological Questions
- Does God see everything we do, even when no one else is looking? (Yes! God sees everything.)
- What does God do when we tell Him we are sorry? (He forgives us.)
Life Application Questions
- When you make a wrong choice, what should you say? (I’m sorry, it was my fault.)
- What is one way you can obey all the way this week? (Pick up all my toys, listen the first time, go to bed when Mom or Dad says.)
Prayer
Dear God, Your Word says that “to obey is better than sacrifice,” so please help us obey You all the way, even when it is hard. Thank You that when we say we are sorry and do not blame others, You forgive us, just like You promise in 1 John 1:9, in Jesus’ name. Everyone say, Amen! [Amen!]
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35
PRAYER 6:35-6:45 p.m.
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Pray for hearts that obey God all the way, for courage to tell the truth and say I’m sorry instead of blaming others, and thank God for being forgiving. Invite kids to repeat short phrases after the leader, such as: God, help me obey. God, help me say I’m sorry. Thank You for forgiving me.
BIBLE STORY GAME 6:45-6:55 | Samuel Says
Play like Simon Says, but the leader says Samuel Says. Give two-part and three-part directions like
- Samuel says touch your nose AND jump two times.
- Samuel says rub your head and jump up an down.
- Samuel says baa like a sheep AND crawl in a little circle.
- Samuel says moo like a cow AND stomp your feet three times.
- Samuel says march like Saul’s army, count to five, AND stop.
- Samuel says point up to God AND say, God sees everything.
- Samuel says make a sad face, then a happy face, AND clap two times.
- Samuel says pat your head, touch your toes, AND spin around one time.
- Samuel says wait quietly like Saul should have AND tap your wrist three times.
- Samuel says pretend to rip a robe AND make a rrrrrip sound.
- Samuel says fold your hands AND whisper, I’m sorry, God.
Celebrate kids who do every part. Remind them that Saul only obeyed part of the way, but we want to obey all the way.
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55-7:10 | 1 John 1:9 Wash Away Sin Heart
Items Needed
- 1 John 1:9 Template
- Water Colors
- Water
- Paint Brushes
- Paper Towels
Kids use water colors to paint their heart. Read the Bible verse to them and remind them that when we ask for forgiveness, God will cleanse us of our sins.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks while they watch the Bible story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Disappearing Colors, God Washes Us Clean
Items Needed:
- 2 clear cups or glass jars
- A marker or label to write Sin on one cup
- A small cross sticker or drawn cross for the other cup
- Water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Dark food coloring (red)
- About 1/4 cup plain bleach
- Spoon for stirring
- Towel or tray under the cups
Before Class: Label one cup Sin and one cup with a cross. Fill the Sin cup about 3/4 full of water and stir in 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Pour about 1/4 cup of bleach into the cross cup. It will look just like plain water. Do a practice run at home so you know how long the color takes to fade with your amount of food coloring. Fewer drops will disappear faster.
Safety Note: Only a leader handles the bleach. Kids watch from a few feet back and do not touch or smell the cups. Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia. Pour everything down the sink with running water when finished.
Description:
[Hold up the Sin cup.] Look at this water. Is it clean? [Let kids respond] Yes! This is like our hearts when God first made us.
Remember King Saul? He made some wrong choices. Let’s name them. Every time you name one, I will add a drop of color. [Let kids respond: He did Samuel’s job. He kept the sheep. He kept the cows. He kept the king. He blamed other people. He said he obeyed when he did not. Add one drop of food coloring for each answer and stir.]
Uh oh! What happened to our water? [Let kids respond] It got dark and yucky. Wrong choices make our hearts messy, and we cannot clean them up by ourselves. Saul tried to hide his wrong choices and blame others, but that did not make them go away.
[Hold up the cross cup.] This cup has a cross on it. The cross reminds us of Jesus. When we tell God, I’m sorry, it was my fault, God forgives us because of Jesus. Let’s say it together: I’m sorry, God! [Wait for response]
[Slowly pour the cross cup into the Sin cup and stir gently.] Now watch very carefully. Keep your eyes on the cup. What is happening? [Let kids respond as the color fades]
The color is going away! God does not just hide our wrong choices. He washes them away completely. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Show me your happiest face! God is forgiving! [Make happy faces and clap]
What Is the Science? (For Leaders): Bleach is a chemical that breaks apart the tiny pieces of food coloring that give the water its color. Once those pieces are broken, our eyes cannot see the color anymore. The baking soda helps the reaction happen faster, so the change is quick enough to hold preschoolers’ attention.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: God Forgives Us
What I Learned Today:
King Saul only obeyed God part of the way when he kept sheep and cows that God told him not to keep. When Samuel asked him about it, Saul blamed other people instead of saying he was sorry. I learned that God wants me to obey Him all the way, and when I make a wrong choice and tell Him I am sorry, He forgives me.
Questions to Ask Me:
Theological Questions
- Who chose Saul to be the first king of Israel? (God)
- Did Saul obey God all the way? (No, he only obeyed part of the way.)
- Does God see everything we do? (Yes, even when no one else is looking.)
- What does God want more than gifts? (For us to obey Him. 1 Samuel 15:22)
- What does God do when we truly tell Him we are sorry? (He forgives us. 1 John 1:9)
Life Application Questions
- What should you do when you make a wrong choice? (Tell the truth and say I’m sorry.)
- Is it okay to blame someone else for something you did? (No, we should say it was my fault.)
- What is one thing you can obey all the way at home? (Picking up all my toys, listening the first time, going to bed when asked.)
- How can you tell God you are sorry? (By praying and talking to Him.)
- When a friend tells you they are sorry, what can you do? (Forgive them, just like God forgives us.)