Samuel obeys God
key words
biblical reference
1 Samuel 3:1-27; 7:3-17; 8:21; 9:16-17
memory verse
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV*).
lesson objective
To help children understand that God speaks to those who hear his voice and obey.
prepare yourself to teach
Samuel is someone who we can call a “miracle baby,” because he was a response to the prayer of his mother. While still a child, his family took him to Shiloh so that he could stay to live with Eli, the priest. This was to fulfill the promise that his mother had made to God that when the child was born, she would dedicate him completely to his service.
When Samuel grew up, he learned to help Eli in several components of the Tabernacle. It was there that he received his education. His sensitivity to listen and obey the voice of God began when he was just a young man. He heard the Lord’s voice calling him to give a message to Eli. And, even when the message was judgment, Samuel told all that God asked him to tell; he did not remain silent.
Samuel lived in a time of transition in the history of Israel. The era of the judges was reaching its end, and the time of kings was about to begin. Because of his faithfulness to hear the voice of God, the people trusted that Samuel could be relied on for guidance. When God chose a leader, Samuel received his instructions to give to the people.
adaptation
Your children are old enough to take responsibility. They want to be “big” and “independent.” What they do not understand is the more independent they will be, the more responsibility they will have.
Samuel heard the voice of God when he was a child, and did what he asked him to do. That sensitivity at such a young age to hear the voice of God established the parameters for life.
Listening often requires effort and concentration. Children easily forget what their parents or other elders tell them. The same applies to parents. Sometimes, they also forget what their children told them.
It is not easy to develop listening skills. Help children realize that they may more easily develop some skills because they are young. They are ready to hear the voice of God. No need to wait to be adults for that.
Highlight the fact that God speaks in different ways to let people know what is his will. Emphasize that he is always with them and helps them do the right thing.
introduce the lesson
Tell the group: “From the time he was very little, Samuel learned to listen to the voice of God.”
This is a very important detail for children, as they often think they are too young to be involved in the things of the Lord. Emphasize that Samuel grew up in the temple, and that is an example that they can follow by being active in their church. Age is no barrier to have a personal relationship with God and to hear his voice.
teach the lesson
Read 1 Samuel 3:1-27; 7:3-17; 8:21 and 9:16-17 prior to the session and be prepared to tell the story in your own words.
For this lesson, you can bring a blanket or a small cushion to dramatize when Samuel was sleeping and heard the voice of God. Ask a volunteer to lie down and pretend to be asleep. Then call him by name, saying that today’s lesson is about someone who was sleeping and heard a voice.
Emphasize obedience, because the message that Samuel received was not an easy message to deliver because he liked and respected the priest, Eli. However, he obeyed and delivered the message as it was and as God asked him to do it. Make the connection to last week’s lesson reminding your children that Samuel is the son of Hannah.
Highlight the fact that God speaks to us in many ways. Talk about some of these ways with the class, so they know how and where to listen for the Lord’s voice.
connect the lesson
Trust in God to do it right
You will need Student Activity Sheet #125-A, pencils or pens. Allow the children to use the code on the worksheet to finish the Bible verse. When they have completed the verse, repeat it together. Option: Choose a volunteer to tell you what a letter should be. Allow all the children to participate. Ask them to look at the completed verse. Say, “This is a prayer to God.” Ask, “To whom is the writer speaking?” (To God) “What is the writer asking?” (To teach and to guide them.)
How does God speak?
You will need: Student Activity Sheet #125-B, scissors, glue or tape, drawing paper, crayons or markers.
Make an example of this activity so your children can see how it should look. Teach it to the children and tell them, “Let’s talk about some ways God communicates with us today.” Have the children take the activity sheet and discuss what is happening in the different pictures; let them tell how God could speak to us in each of the examples. Discuss each picture or situation as much as you feel your children need.
The situations depicted in the pictures for discussion are:
• Music/singing.• The Bible.• Christian books.• Preaching.• Teacher in Sunday School.
Ask, “How does God speak to people?” (Through a hymn or through reading his Word. The music serves to praise him. The Bible teaches us the right way to live. Prayer helps us to know what God wants us to do. Sunday School teachers and pastors can have lessons or messages that people need to hear to encourage them to live the Christian life.)
Talk about Samuel and his response to God. He said: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). Say, “We have studied the different ways in which God can speak to us. When he speaks we must listen.” Give each child a worksheet and have them cut along the solid black lines and fold on the dotted lines. This will form a window. Then glue a blank piece of paper to the back of the worksheet, so it shows through the opening. (Note: Do not glue the area of the window, as this should be free to open.) Then, have your children draw a picture showing how God can speak to them. Now when they open the window, they will be reminded of how God speaks to us. Finally, encourage your children to listen and obey the voice of God.
practice the memory verse
Write on different cards the words of the memory verse. Before children arrive to class, hide them (you can tape them under chairs, on the back of the door, etc.). When it is time to say the verse, tell your children that Samuel thought it was Eli who first spoke to him. It was later that he could tell it was the voice of God. Somehow God’s voice was hidden the first time. Tell them the memory verse is hidden in the classroom, and the task is to find the words and put them in order. Once they have found all of the cards, have them put them in order, and repeat the verse several times.
wrap-up
Pray
Conclude with a prayer. Thank God for the way he communicates with us and pray for children to have that kind of experience. Do not forget to ask if they have prayer requests and include them in your prayer.
Encourage
As in previous classes, help children not to forget anything that they must take home, and thank everyone for attending today’s session.
Invite
Create anticipation for something from the next session, trying to make a connection and awaken interest for not missing it. Challenge them to come with a friend.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™