LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In 1 Samuel 1:1-20, we meet a man named Elkanah who had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not, and this made Hannah sad. Peninnah would sometimes tease Hannah about not having a baby, which made Hannah feel even worse. Every year Elkanah took his family to Shiloh to worship God at the tabernacle, and during one of those trips Hannah went alone to pray. She cried and talked to God from her heart, promising that if God gave her a son, she would give that son back to serve the Lord all his life. The priest Eli saw Hannah’s lips moving and thought she had been drinking, but Hannah explained she was simply pouring out her sadness to God. Eli blessed her and told her God would hear her prayer.
God did hear Hannah’s prayer, and in time she had a baby boy. She named him Samuel, which means “asked of God,” because she knew he was an answer to her prayers. Hannah remembered her promise and planned to give Samuel to serve the Lord when he was old enough. This story shows preschoolers that God listens when we pray, that we can tell God exactly how we feel, and that God answers prayers in His own time and way. It also gently introduces the idea that talking to God is simple, honest, and something even the youngest child can do.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Praying Hands Craft
Items Needed
- Praying Hands Craft Template (page 1)
- Crayons
Walk children through coloring each finger a different color. Hold up the finger and discuss what it is supposed to remind you to do. Then pass out a color to color just that finger. Repeat for all 5 fingers.
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)
Today we are going to hear a story from the Bible about a lady named Hannah. Can you all say, “Hannah”? [Wait for response.] Great job!
Hannah wanted a baby very, very much. She wanted to be a mommy. But she did not have a baby, and that made her sad.
[Whisper now.] But Hannah knew someone who could help. She knew God. God is always listening. Can you cup your hand behind your ear like you are listening? [Let kids respond.] God is always listening to you.
So Hannah went to a special place called the tabernacle to pray. Let’s all stand up and walk in place, like we are walking to the tabernacle. [Walk in place together.] One, two, three, walk, walk, walk. Now sit back down.
At the tabernacle, Hannah talked to God. She told God how she felt. She said, “God, I am sad. Please give me a baby boy. If you do, I will give him back to serve you.” Let’s all say that together: “Please give me a baby.” [Wait for response.]
Hannah was praying from her heart so much that she was crying. Hannah’s lips were moving, but no sound came out. Watch my lips. [Move your lips without sound.] Can you move your lips like me, with no sound? [Let kids respond.]
There was a man there named Eli. He was a priest at the tabernacle. Eli saw Hannah’s lips moving and thought, “Oh no, she must have had too much wine!” But Hannah was not drinking. She was praying.
Hannah told Eli, “I am not drinking. I am sad, and I am talking to God.” Eli felt happy that Hannah was praying. He said, “May God give you what you ask for.”
[Whisper.] After that, Hannah felt better. She went home. And guess what? God heard Hannah’s prayer! God answered! Can you say, “God answers prayers”? [Wait for response.] Louder! [Let kids respond louder.] God answers prayers!
Hannah had a baby boy! She named her baby Samuel. Samuel means “asked of God.” Can you say, “Samuel”? [Wait for response.] Samuel was God’s answer to Hannah’s prayer. Hannah kept her promise too. When Samuel was big enough, she gave him to serve God at the tabernacle.
So remember, God always listens when you pray. God answers prayers. Can you put your hands together like this? [Fold hands.] God hears you. Let’s all say it one more time together: “God answers prayers!” [Wait for response.]
Amen!
Object Lesson: The Whisper Prayer [Hold up a small baby doll or a picture of a baby.] See this baby? Hannah prayed and prayed for a baby, and God gave her Samuel. Now [hold up a small pillow or blanket], when you are sad or scared at night, you can talk to God too. [Whisper into the pillow.] “God, please help me.” [Pass the pillow around.] Each of you can whisper a prayer to God into the pillow. God always hears, even when we whisper. God answers prayers.
Theological Questions:
- Who listened to Hannah when she prayed? (God)
- What did God give Hannah because He answered her prayer? (A baby boy named Samuel)
Life Application Questions:
- Can you talk to God when you are sad? (Yes, God always listens.)
- What is something you can pray to God about this week? (Anything, like being brave, helping a friend, or saying thank you.)
Prayer: Dear God, thank You that You always listen when we pray, just like You listened to Hannah. Help us to talk to You about everything, because we know You answer prayers. Amen.
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35
PRAYER 6:35-6:45 p.m.
[Transition the kids to the floor for prayer time. Have them sit in a circle on the floor and fold their hands.]
Pray for something you want to talk to God about, just like Hannah talked to God when she was sad. Pray for [a time when you felt sad and wanted God to help you].
BIBLE VERSE GAME 6:45-6:55 | 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.
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55-7:10 | Prayer Sandwich Craft
Items Needed
- Prayer Sandwich Template (Pre Cut)
- Ziploc Bags
- Crayons
- Tape
Precut the pieces and pre glue the sandwich bread pockets. Give each child a bread pocket to color first. Then have kids take turns picking a piece of the sandwich off of the wall to color. Practice praying for each thing before putting it into the sandwich.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat while watching the Bible Story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Balloon Prayer Pop
Items Needed
- Balloons
- Prewritten prayer ideas (or requests)
Have several balloons scattered across the floor. Inside of each balloon, prewrite something a child can pray for. Have children take turns running to get a balloon, sit on it, and pop it. When it pops, they bring the prayer list to the teacher to read and pray for. Repeat for each child or until all balloons are popped.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE | 1 Samuel 1:1-20 (ESV)
There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 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.
Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put away your wine from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: God Answers Prayers
What I Learned Today: Today we learned about a woman named Hannah who wanted a baby very much and prayed to God about it. God heard Hannah’s prayer and gave her a baby boy named Samuel. We learned that God always listens when we pray and that He answers our prayers.
Questions to Ask Me:
- Who listened to Hannah when she prayed? (God)
- What did Hannah ask God for? (A baby boy)
- What did Hannah name her baby? (Samuel)
- Was Hannah in the Old Testament or New Testament? (Old Testament)
- Who thought Hannah was drinking but she was really praying? (Eli the priest)
- Can you talk to God when you are sad? (Yes, God always listens.)
- What is something you can pray to God about? (Anything, like being brave or saying thank you.)
- Where can you pray to God? (Anywhere, like at home, at church, or outside.)
- How did Hannah feel after God answered her prayer? (Happy)
- What can you say to God tonight before bed? (Thank You, God, or please help me.)