Samuel Hears God's Voice: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · 1 Samuel 3:1-21
Elementary kids hear how God called Samuel by name. They play a listening game, make a Listening Ear door hanger, and learn to answer, "Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth."
Memory verse
And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. (1 Samuel 3:10, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell how God called Samuel and how Samuel and Eli responded.
- Explain that God speaks to us today, especially through the Bible, and that we can listen and obey.
- Practice a listening response by saying, "Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth."
The full lesson plan
Whisper Warm-Up (5 min)
Say: "Welcome! Today we meet a young helper who heard his name called in the night."
Say: "First, let's test our listening ears. I will whisper. Only quiet ears will hear me."
Whisper three commands, one at a time. Wait until the room is quiet each time:
1. "Clap two times."
2. "Touch your toes."
3. "Give a silent thumbs up."
Celebrate those who heard. Ask: "What helped you hear?" (Being quiet, paying attention.)
Say: "Listening takes quiet and attention. Samuel had to listen too."
Say: "Now let's hear what happened to Samuel."
The LORD Calls Samuel (8 min)
Open your Bible to 1 Samuel 3. Tell the story in order. Kids do the actions.
Say: "Background: the Bible says the word of the LORD was rare in those days (v.1)."
1. The child Samuel served the LORD under Eli the priest. Eli's eyes were growing dim. Samuel lay down in the temple of the LORD (vv.1-3). (Action: lay your head on your hands.)
2. The LORD called, "Samuel!" Samuel ran to Eli: "Here am I; for thou calledst me." Eli said, "I called not; lie down again" (vv.4-5). (Action: cup a hand to your ear, then jog in place while seated.)
3. This happened a second time and a third time. Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy (vv.6-8).
4. Eli told Samuel to say, "Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth." Samuel did. (vv.9-10)
5. The LORD gave Samuel a serious message about Eli's family (vv.11-14). Samuel was afraid to tell Eli. Eli asked him to hide nothing, and Samuel told him everything (vv.15-18).
6. Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him. All Israel knew he was a prophet of the LORD (vv.19-21).
Say: "Now let's think about what this shows us."
God Speaks, We Listen (6 min)
Say: "Samuel did not recognize God's voice at first. Even so, God kept calling him."
Say: "God wants to speak with his people. Today we hear God mainly through the Bible. The Bible points us to Jesus, God's Son, who is the greatest message God has given us (Hebrews 1:1-2)."
Teach three ideas. Hold up one finger for each.
1. God speaks. He called Samuel by name, and he knows each of us by name.
2. We need help to listen. Eli, an older believer, helped Samuel know what to do. Parents, teachers and church friends help us listen to God.
3. Listening means obeying. Samuel said the hard thing, and the LORD was with him.
Say: "We can say Samuel's words: 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' Then we open our Bibles and obey what we read."
Say: "Let's play a listening game."
Who's Calling Samuel? (8 min)
Setup: Arrange the chairs or a rug in a circle. Kids stay seated the whole game.
Time: 8 minutes.
1. Choose one child to be "Samuel." Samuel sits in the middle with eyes closed or looking down.
2. Silently point to another child to be the "voice." The voice whispers, "Samuel!"
3. Samuel keeps eyes closed, points to where the voice came from, and says, "Here am I."
4. If Samuel points correctly, the group says together, "Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth!" Then choose a new Samuel and a new voice.
5. For the last round, everyone is Samuel. Close your eyes and listen while you read 1 Samuel 3:10 aloud.
Safety: Eyes closed is optional. Any child may look down instead. No touching. Everyone stays seated.
Say: "Great listening! Now let's make something to remind us to listen."
Listening Ear Door Hanger (9 min)
Setup: Pre-cut a cardstock door hanger for each child with a hole at the top. Cut yarn into pieces. Set out crayons and tape.
Time: 9 minutes.
1. Write "Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth" across the front. Help younger children trace the words.
2. Draw a big ear on the front and decorate it.
3. Turn it over. Draw or write one way you can listen to God this week (read my Bible, pray, obey my parents).
4. Thread the yarn through the hole and tie or tape it in a loop.
5. Hang it on a bedroom doorknob at home.
Safety: Only the teacher uses scissors. Check for marker or glue sensitivities before starting.
Say: "Now let's talk about what we learned."
Talk About It (5 min)
Ask the group:
1. Why do you think Samuel ran to Eli the first time? (He thought Eli was calling him. He did not yet know the LORD's voice.)
2. How did Eli help Samuel? (He figured out it was the LORD and told Samuel what to say.)
3. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the message, but he told him everything anyway. When is it hard to tell the truth? (When we are afraid of getting in trouble or of upsetting someone.)
4. How can we listen to God today? (Read the Bible, pray, listen at church, obey what we learn.)
Say: "God was with Samuel as he grew, and God is with us when we listen to him."
Say It and Pray It (4 min)
Memory verse: Read 1 Samuel 3:10 together two times. Then say it with actions. Cup your hand to your ear for "called," and put your hands on your heart for "Speak; for thy servant heareth."
Say: "Let's pray and tell God we are ready to listen."
Prayer points. Pray a line, then kids repeat:
- "Thank you, LORD, that you know my name."
- "Help me to listen when you speak through your Word."
- "Help me to obey and tell the truth, even when it is hard."
- "Thank you for people who help me know you, and for Jesus, your Son."
End: "Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth. Amen."
Say: "Take your door hanger home and hang it up!"
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- Cardstock door hangers, pre-cut with a hole
- Crayons or markers
- Yarn or string
- Tape
- Scissors (teacher use only)
- Chair or rug for the "Samuel" game
Teacher notes
- Verses 11-14 are a serious message about Eli's family. Keep it brief and calm: Samuel told the truth, and God was with him.
- Adaptation: for children who need a quieter option, let them look down instead of closing their eyes, or be the "voice." Pair younger kids with older buddies for the craft. Show the story with picture cards.
- Safety: scissors are for the teacher only. Check for allergies or sensitivities before using markers, glue or yarn.
- Tell the story in your own words, but keep to the order and details of the text.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied 1 Samuel 3, where God called young Samuel by name. Eli helped Samuel respond, "Speak; for thy servant heareth." Samuel listened, obeyed, and told the truth even when it was hard. The Bible points us to Jesus, the greatest message God has given.
- What do you think it was like for Samuel to hear God call his name?
- Who helps you learn about God, the way Eli helped Samuel?
- What is one way you can listen to God this week?
Have a quiet minute together. Everyone sits still and listens for sounds around the house. Then read 1 Samuel 3:10 aloud and pray, "Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth."
Each day, say Samuel's words before you read a short Bible passage or pray. Hang your Listening Ear door hanger where you will see it.
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