Lesson 1: Old Testament Stories
Aim
* to review the Old Testament stories
* to learn that God blessed those who trusted Him
Materials
* Bible story of Samuel
* memory cards of Old Testament bible stories
* pictures and titles of Bible stories to cut and paste
* worksheets
Lesson Outline
1. Introduction
2. God talks to Samuel
3. Discussion
4. Review of Bible Stories
5. Activities – match pictures and names, memory game, Simon Says, Chinese Whispers
6. Review the aims
7. Prayer
1) Introduction
…………………….
The Bible is in two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The first part contains the stories before Jesus. The second part is about Jesus and his first followers. Before we begin the New Testament, we will review the stories of the Old Testament. Today we will learn about one person God chose, Samuel.
2) God talks to Samuel
God often spoke to his people, the Israelites, through men and women who were called prophets. They had to speak sternly when people did not want to follow God’s will. They also had to comfort people when they had a hard time. One of these prophets was Samuel.
Up in the mountains lived a man named Elkanah. His wife Hannah longed very much for a child. Every year she and her husband travelled to the temple in the town of Shiloh. There Hannah prayed to God that she would have a child.
She cried and said, ‘God, if you give me a son, and I’ll give him to you, and he will serve you throughout his life. “
When Eli, who was a priest in the temple, was told why Hannah was so sad, he told her: “Go home and do not worry. The God of Israel will give you what you have asked of Him.”
And it came to pass that Hannah gave birth to a boy called Samuel. She remembered her promise to God, and when Samuel was a little bigger, she went with him to the temple. There he was to stay with Eli. God blessed her with 5 more children. She still loved Samuel and visited him often. One night, when Samuel was sleeping, God called to him. Samuel woke up. He hurried to Eli and said, “Here I am. Did you call me.”
But Eli answered, “I didn’t call. Go back to bed.”
God called out again to Samuel. He got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am. Did you call me.”
Eli replied, “I didn’t call, my son. Go back to bed.”
For the third time God called Samuel.He got up and went to Eli and once again said, “Here I am.
Did you call me.”
And Eli realized that it was God who had called the boy. He said to Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say: Speak, Lord, I am your servant and I hear you.” And Samuel went and lay down again. And then God called once more, “Samuel, Samuel,” Samuel replied: “Speak, your servant hears.”
People realized that God had chosen Samuel to be his prophet. He also became a judge who told people what was right and wrong.
3) Discussion
What did Hanna promise to do if God gave her a child?
Who did Samuel stay with?
How did God talk to Samuel?
Because Samuel listened when God spoke to him, God could trust him. God chose Samuel to be the first prophet of Israel. He also anointed the first and second kings of Israel, Saul and David God also calls us. He doesn’t use a loudspeaker or a telephone. It is a heart feeling that tells us to trust Him and listen to our conscience. God talks to us through our conscience – a little voice in our head that tells what is right and wrong. If we listen to our conscience and do the right thing we feel good and God will bless us. If we go against our conscience and do something wrong we feel bad. Our conscience tells us to listen to our parents and do what they say. When we do, we feel good. When we don’t we feel bad.
In the Bible there are many stories of chosen people who listened and trusted God. When they followed God’s direction, they were blessed. When they didn’t they lost God’s blessing.
4) Review of Bible Stories
Review the Bible stories using pictures and words. Can the children name the Bible characters?
– Noah, Abraham, Jacob , Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David , Solomon, Elijah, Daniel
5) Activities
* Worksheet: Help the children to match the pictures and words in the correct order. When this is done they cut and paste the pictures in the correct order and write the correct names under each
picture. For younger children only use the first page only
* Play the memory game using the pictures
* Play “Simon Says” as a listening activity
* Play “Chines Whispers” as a listening activity
* Worksheets – Find 10 differences between the pictures, Which picture is different?
* God Called Samuel – Fill in the missing words and complete the crossword
6) Review the lesson aims
* to review the Old Testament stories
* to learn that God blessed those who trusted Him
7) End with a prayer
