LESSON 20: HEARING GOD’S VOICE
THEME: The Story of Samuel and Eli (1 Samuel 3)
VOCABULARY: night, tired, laid, happened, voice, adopted, priest, thinking, calling, again, second (2nd), third, voice, servant, listening
STORY: There is a boy. His name is Samuel. Samuel is a good boy. Samuel was adopted by a priest named Eli. One night, Samuel was very tired. He laid down to sleep. While Samuel was sleeping, he heard someone call him. Thinking it was Eli calling him, Samuel got up and went to ask Eli what he wanted. Eli looked at him and said, ”I did not call you.” He told Samuel to go back to sleep. So Samuel went back to sleep. Again he heard someone call him, “Samuel!” He got up and went to Eli a second time. Eli again said, “I did not call you. Go back and lie down.” A third time the same thing happened. Samuel was confused. Samuel did not know the Lord, but Eli realized that Samuel was hearing God’s voice calling him. Eli told Samuel to answer God the next time the voice spoke. When Samuel heard someone calling him again, this time he said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” God told Samuel many things. From that night on, the Lord was with Samuel as he grew up.
STORY WITH QUESTIONS: There is a boy. (Is there a boy or girl?) His name is Samuel. (What is his name?) Samuel is a good boy. (Is he a good boy or a bad boy?) Samuel was adopted by a priest named Eli.(Who adopted Samuel?) One night, Samuel was very tired. (Is he happy or tired?) He laid down to sleep. (What did he do?) While Samuel was sleeping, he heard someone call him. (What did Samuel hear?) Thinking it was Eli calling him, Samuel got up and went to ask Eli what he wanted. (Who did he go to?) Eli looked at him and said, ”I did not call you.” (Did Eli call Samuel?) He told Samuel to go back to sleep. So Samuel went back to sleep. (What did Samuel do?) Again he heard someone call him, “Samuel!” He got up and went to Eli a second time. (Where did Samuel go?) Eli again said, “I did not call you. Go back and lie down.” (Did Eli call him?) A third time the same thing happened. Samuel was confused. (How did Samuel feel?) Samuel did not know the Lord, but Eli realized that Samuel was hearing God’s voice calling him. (Does Samuel know the Lord? Who was Samuel hearing?) Eli told Samuel to answer God the next time the voice spoke. When Samuel heard someone calling him again, this time he said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”(Who was Samuel listening to?) God told Samuel many things. From that night on, the Lord was with Samuel as he grew up. (Who did Samuel grow up with?)
ACTIVITIES:
- Review the vocabulary words. Listen to the Vocabulary File for pronunciation. Look up the meaning of any words you don’t know.
- Listen to Audio 1 as you read through the story.
- Listen to Audio 2 – Story with Questions as you read through the story and answer the questions.
- Focus on the importance of hearing the Lord’s voice.
- Discuss how everyone can hear from our Father.
- Can we hear from the Lord? (Yes)
- How does the Lord speak? (He speaks in many different ways.)
- How can we hear from God? (Listening, praying, reading our bible, focusing our thoughts on the Lord)
- Explain to the students that you are going to do an activity. They are to quiet themselves (close their eyes, sit, lay down, etc.), keep their eyes on Jesus, and write down what He will tell them.
- Have the students quiet themselves.
- Explain to them that you are going to quietly play worship music quietly in the background. They are going to listen and not talk. They can close their eyes if they want to.
- During this time they are to only focus on Jesus. Encourage them to focus on what they have learned, and to pray to Jesus.
- Have them draw or write down the first thing that comes to their mind. After about five minutes, stop the activity and ask the students what God revealed to them.
- Explain to them that this is one way we can hear from God.
- Have a student pray in English.