Curriculum

God Calls Samuel

God Calls Samuel Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

God speaks love and truth to each of us, and we should listen. We can choose to answer God’s call when we hear from Him.

Scripture Summary

Things had changed since God spoke directly to Moses and Joshua. God had become silent to the prophets during the hundreds of years ruled by judges. And it’s no wonder. Even the sons of Eli, an excellent priest, turned against God and followed wicked ways.

Elkanah and Hannah didn’t have any children. Hannah prayed to the Lord and asked for a child. If God blessed them with a child, Hannah had promised to give him to the Lord. Hannah followed through on her promise and dedicated their son, Samuel, to the Lord. And Samuel lived with Eli at the temple.

The ark of God was kept in the innermost place in the temple—the Most Holy Place. Only the high priest could enter this room once a year in an attempt to hear a word from the Lord. And just outside the Most Holy Place was the Holy Place. And outside the Holy Place were small rooms where Samuel more than likely slept alongside the other priests.

While it was expected that God would speak directly to Eli, not the child Samuel, Eli had already heard this message and done nothing. God called out to Samuel multiple times overnight, and Samuel went to Eli thinking he had a message for him. Once Eli told Samuel that it was God Himself speaking, Samuel responded with nothing but willingness. While Eli was a gifted priest, he was not a responsible father. The wicked ways of Eli’s sons were a testament to this. And after prophesies, Eli continued to ignore the situation. The time had come that there would be no atonement or forgiveness for the acts of Eli’s family.

Samuel continued to be obedient. God gave Samuel a message, and Samuel delivered it—though it was difficult—in its entirety.

Why Is This Important

God is always speaking through His word, through others, and through our conscience. We can choose to listen and to obey. By far the best decision is to choose a life of listening and obedience to God.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“‘But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!’” (Luke 21:13-15, NLT)

Too many times I’ve stuck my foot in my mouth. I’ve said the wrong thing. Even with the best of intentions, I have a knack for using the wrong word or the wrong tone and defeating the message.

But God calls us to speak up on His behalf, to speak His truth. If I’m honest, the times that I’ve fallen on my face in a discussion are the times I’ve attempted to go at it alone. Somehow (even subconsciously), I think that I know better or I can rely on my own experience. I don’t wait and listen for God’s words, and I get it wrong. Thankfully, many times the other person was graciously willing to forgive me for my blunder.

God has a much better way. He wants to give me the words to say. My role is to be willing and obedient and to open my mouth when He says to. It’s then that God takes over. When I’ve sought Him first, I’ve experienced more eloquent words coming out of my mouth than I could have planned. I’ve witnessed a reaction from the other person that was beautiful and meaningful.

I’ve learned the hard way to take time and to listen. There are countless opportunities for me to stop and ask probing questions:

  • Before I send the crafted text, “God, is this of You?”
  • Before I speak, “God, is this the right thing to say right now?”
  • Before I respond, “God, what would You have me say at this moment? Or is this a time to be silent and listen?”
  • Before I post on social media, “God, is this what You want me to say? Could I inadvertently offend someone?”

God is faithful to call us to speak His words and to provide just the right timing. Take a moment before you speak to listen to Him and His wonderful calling.

Prayer

Dear God, I thank You that You care about every word that comes out of my mouth. As I communicate with friends, family, and those in my community, I pray that You provide just the right words at the right time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Star cutouts, Markers

Get Ready: Before class, write a word on each star from today’s Bible memory verse. Hide the stars around the room. If you use glow-in-the-dark stars, hide the stars and turn off the lights.

“Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’ ” (1 Samuel 3:4)

  • Read aloud 1 Samuel 3:4.
  • Invite kids to find the hidden stars.
  • Once all the hidden stars are found, instruct kids to put them in order of the Bible memory verse.
  • After the verse is in order, have the kids read the verse using the stars. After each round, take a star away until kids can say the whole Bible memory verse.

SAY: Today we are going to learn more about how God called Samuel and he answered, “Here I am.”

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bibles, Paper, Pens or pencils

Divide the class into small groups, and follow these steps for the experience:

  • Give each child a Bible, and give each group one sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Have groups choose one person to be the Recorder.
  • Explain that in their small groups they are going to read 1 Samuel 3:1-10. As they read, the Recorder should list the names of everyone mentioned in the passage (Samuel, Eli, and God).
  • After they read, groups should work together to discuss and write down the things they learn about each person on their list based on the verses.
  • After each group has finished, invite groups to share what they learned. Start first with Samuel and allow a group to read off what they learned. If another group wrote down the same information about Samuel, they are to mark it off their sheet. Continue with each group sharing about Samuel until everything noted has been shared.
  • Then do the same with Eli and God.

ASK:

  • What was the coolest thing you learned today?
  • What would you do if you heard God call your name?

SAY: You all did a great job collecting clues about the people in the Bible today. We have to remember that Eli and Samuel weren’t superheroes. They were real people, and God wanted to speak to them. God wants to speak to you, too. We can learn all about God through the Bible.

Snack

Bedtime Snacks

You’ll Need: Paper plates, Graham crackers, Large marshmallows, Fruit by the Foot

Get Ready: Have kids clean their hands.

Give each child a paper plate, a graham cracker, a large marshmallow, and some Fruit by the Foot. Explain that the kids are each going to make a bed using their supplies.

Have kids follow these steps:

  • The graham cracker will be the base.
  • The marshmallow will be the pillow at the top.
  • The Fruit by the Foot will be the covers.
  • After they create their beds, invite kids to show their bed creations to others.
  • Enjoy.

ASK:

  • What do you think about as you lie in bed at night?
  • How do you think you would react if you heard God calling your name?

SAY: Samuel was lying in his bed and heard the voice of God call out to him. That is pretty crazy, right? Samuel wasn’t sure who was calling him at first, and he was right to go to a trusted adult. After hearing his name called three times, he learned it was God calling out to him. That’s a night Samuel would never forget.

Game

Here I Am Game

You’ll Need: Blindfold

Have children gather around together in the classroom or a designated area. Lead them in playing this game.

  • Blindfold one child and turn him or her around a few times.
  • Have the other children call out “Here I am!”
  • The blindfolded child will try to tag one of the children.
  • The tagged child sits out and watches the game, and play continues until only one child hasn’t been tagged.
  • The child who wasn’t ever tagged will be the blindfolded child in the next round. Play the game again.

ASK:

  • If you were blindfolded, was it easy or hard to tag others? Was it easy or hard not to be tagged?
  • Is it easy or hard to listen for God’s voice? Explain.

SAY: When you were the one blindfolded, you had to listen very carefully to find the people. Samuel had to learn to listen carefully. When Samuel thought it was Eli calling him, Eli’s wisdom pointed him to go and listen because it was God speaking.

ASK:

  • What are ways you make time to listen to God?
  • Who are some people who follow Jesus who help to point you to Him?

Craft

Listening Pillowcases

You’ll Need: Plain white pillowcases, Permanent or fabric markers, Construction paper

To make “Listening Pillowcases,” have kids follow these steps:

  • Give each child a pillowcase and a piece of construction paper.
  • Instruct kids to put the construction paper in the middle of the pillowcase so the ink won’t bleed through to the other side.
  • Invite kids to use permanent or fabric markers to write the following on one side of the pillowcase: “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
  • Next, kids can decorate that side of the pillowcase.
  • After kids finish decorating one side of the pillowcase, discuss ways they can listen to God, like read the Bible, go to church, listen in sermons, pray, and so on.
  • On the back side of the pillowcases, invite kids to write or draw pictures of the ways they can listen to God.

SAY: Samuel was lying in bed when he heard the voice of God calling out to him. We, too, can listen to God through reading the Bible, going to church, praying, and more. Use this pillowcase as a reminder when you go to bed that God speaks to us and we are to listen.

Prayer

Pillowcase Prayers

You’ll Need: Pillowcase, Index cards, Pens or pencils

  • Give each child an index card and a pen or pencil.
  • Invite kids to each write a prayer request they have on an index card. When they are finished, hold up the pillowcase and have all the kids put their index cards in it.
  • After all the prayer requests are in the pillowcase, shake them up. Then explain that one important thing friends can do is pray for each other.
  • Guide each child to take out an index card.
  • Instruct kids to spread out around the room and silently pray for the prayer request on their cards. When they’ve finished, they can return the index cards to the pillowcase.
  • Explain to kids that you’ll keep the pillowcase of prayers so you can pray for each one of them.

PRAY: Dear God, thank You for hearing our prayers. Thank You for friends who pray for us. We are so glad that not only do You listen to our prayers, but You speak to us, too. God, give us ears to hear You! In Jesus’ name, amen.