● As kids arrive, give each kid a different colored dot sticker. This will determine which team they’re on. Each small group will need a different color.

● Prepare all activity supplies before the activities start!

● Keep kids in small groups until their parents pick them up, while one volunteer checks kids’ name tags at check out.

*We’re switching up the schedule this month! The hour is broken up into FIVE parts, alternating between large and small groups:

Part 1 (15 minutes)● Large Group (5-10 minutes after service

starts)Part 2 (10-15 minutes)

● GamePart 3 (10 minutes)

● Cool Down TimePart 4 (10-15 minutes)

● Large GroupPart 5 (10-15 minutes or until the end of service)

● Small groups

How to prepare for timing of the new lesson format:

● 5 minutes before starting the first Large Group portion of the lesson, turn on the 5-minute countdown video to draw kids attention when it’s time to start!

● There is a 10-minute keynote timer during part of the lesson that requires a game and transition.

Consider delegating different parts of the lesson to different volunteers. One person can teach part 1 large group, while another leads part 2 game time. You can choose to have one person present both parts of large group, or have someone different do each part!

God speaks to us.1 Samuel 3

SamuelAugust 18-19, 2018

K-2nd

GATHER IN ONE LARGE GROUP

Main Goal: Introduce and discuss today’s BIG IDEA: God speaks to us.

Supplies: None

Video:

Time: 15 minutes

Tip: During this part of the script, you can either have everyone act out the story (as it’s written), OR invite a few volunteers to the stage to act it out.

*Start small groups 5-10 minutes into the service. Presenter should play the 5 minute countdown video to draw kids in and help them transition into large group.

INTRO: GOD SPEAKS TO US● Welcome: Hi everybody, welcome to Kids’ Club. I’m so

happy to see you guys here! Today we’re talking about this BIG IDEA: God speaks to us.

● Say: Can you believe that God, who created the universe and everything in it, and who has the power to do ANYTHING….wants to speak to US!? Pretty cool right?

● Ask: The thing is….in order for him to speak to us, what do WE need to be doing? (Let kids respond.) Yep, we need to LISTEN! If we’re not listening really carefully, we won’t be able to hear what God wants to tell us!

INTRO: SAMUEL● Say: To help us understand how we can listen for what

God is saying, we’ll hear about a guy named Samuel. Here’s a couple important things to know about him:

○ When Samuel was a kid, his mom sent him to live with a priest named Eli, so he could learn how to serve God.

○ Eli lived in a place called the Lord’s house, and it was sort of like what we would call a church today. It was a house where people went to talk to God.

○ When Samuel was young, he was still getting to know God. He watched Eli and learned from him, but he hadn’t really experienced God on his own.

● Say: OK, I want all of you guys to pretend you’re Samuel. It’s the middle of the night, and you’re fast asleep. Pretend to be asleep. (Let kids pretend; you can make some snoring noises.)

● Say: Suddenly, you hear your name: (in the microphone, create a booming voice as you say, “Samuel!”). You wake up (let kids stretch as if waking up), run to Eli (have them pump their arms as if running in place while seated) and say, “Here I am!” Can you guys say that? (Let kids say: here I am!) Eli said, “I didn’t call you! Go back to bed.”

● Say: So Samuel went back to bed. (Lead the kids in pretending to be asleep again.) Suddenly, he heard (in another booming voice): “Samuel!”

Part 1 (Large Group)

GATHER IN ONE LARGE GROUP

Main Goal: Introduce and discuss today’s BIG IDEA: God speaks to us.

Supplies: None

Video: Samuel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P13uIsFW7OA)

Time: 15 minutes

SAMUEL (CONTINUED)● Say: Samuel woke up (let kids stretch as if waking up), ran

to Eli (have them pump their arms as if running in place while seated) and said, “Here I am!” (Point at the kids to cue them to say: here I am!) But again, Eli said, “I didn’t call you! Go back to bed.”

● Say: So Samuel went back to bed. (Pretend to be asleep.) But guess what? All this happened again when Samuel heard “Samuel” a third time! This time though, Eli realized it was GOD talking to Samuel. He said, “If someone calls again, say ‘Speak Lord, your servant is listening.’”

● Say: So Samuel went back to bed. (Pretend to be asleep.) And when he heard “Samuel!” he said, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.” Can you guys say that with me? “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” Good job!

● Say: To help us understand this story a little bit better, let’s watch the video version. As you watch, imagine how Samuel felt when God called his name!

● Video: Young Samuel● Say: Wow, how do you think Samuel felt when God called

his name? (Let kids respond.) Yes! I bet he felt scared, than excited. And as Samuel grew up, he got to know God’s voice well by listening to him!

● Say: Remember, God spoke to Samuel, but that’s not all! God speaks to us too!

TRANSITION● Say: Now it’s time to play a game that requires some

careful listening! (You’ll be dividing the room into teams for the next game.)

*Start the 10-minute timer for the next part of the lesson.

Part 1 (Large Group)

STAY IN ONE LARGE GROUP

Main Goal: Play a game to help kids understand today’s big idea.

Supplies: None

Video: None

Time: 10 minutes

SECRET MESSAGE RACES● Split the room into two even teams. ● Decide on two “obstacle courses” for this game. Here are

some ideas:○ Choose a pathway around the room that kids have to

follow (for example, going in a path around or under tables, in and out of chairs, to each corner of the room, etc.)

○ Instead of just running or walking, the course can involve some sort of hopping, skipping, crab walking, lunging, jumping jacks, walking backwards, etc.

● Have teams line up by their “obstacle course”. One kid from each team goes to the front and the leader whispers a secret phrase to them.

● Those kids have to go through the obstacle course, then whisper the secret phrase to the next kid on their team. That kid then does the obstacle course, and delivers the secret phrase to the next kid, etc.

● Each kid on the team has to go through their obstacle course and deliver the secret message to the next kid.

● Once teams have gotten through every kid in the group, they win! But also, have them tell the secret phrase to the whole room, and see which team’s phrase is closest to the original!

● Adaptations for different sized rooms:○ If you have a very large group of kids, you may want to

split into small groups and have several teams. If you do this, you may not be able to do a full obstacle course for each team, but could instead have them do a set of commands (ex: 10 jumping jacks, 3 hops on each foot and crab walk from one wall to the other).

○ If you have a very small group of kids, have kids pair up and form teams of two. They can do their obstacle course, deliver the message to their partner and repeat. Then, after that first round, the leader whispers a NEW secret phrase to each team and they have to do it again. Play a few rounds like that to extend the game.

TRANSITION● Say: Now let’s get back into Large Group! Everyone freeze in a

position like a statue, and try to keep that exact position as you go find a seat on the floor. (Stay in the large group area and sit down.)

Part 2 (Game Time)

STAY IN ONE LARGE GROUP OR BREAK INTO SMALL GROUPS

Main Goal: Play a game to help kids understand today’s big idea.

Supplies: Bible

Video: None

Time: 10 minutes

*You can stay in one large group OR break into small groups for this portion.

● Play “Samuel Says”, a low key version played like Simon Says!

● Whenever you say a command with “Samuel” before it, kids should obey the command. If you don’t say Samuel, though, they should NOT do it. If they do it, they’re out!

● Samuel Says….○ Lay down and sleep (give kids time to lay down and

pretend to sleep for a few seconds)○ Pretend to snore○ Sleep on your tummy○ Sleep on your back○ Wake up and say “Here I am, Eli!”○ Go back to sleep○ Wake up and say “Here I am, Eli!”○ Go back to sleep○ Sleep on your side○ Wake up and say, “Here I am, Lord!”

● If you want, you can throw in some silly commands that aren’t related to the story, like clapping, stretching, standing on one leg, etc.

● Debrief: ○ What would you have thought was happening when

you heard your name called while you sleep?● Ask:

○ Why do you think God called Samuel when he was sleeping?

○ Do you think God speak to us when we sleep or dream?

○ What other ways do you think God speaks to us?

Part 3 (Cool Down Time)

GATHER IN ONE LARGE GROUP

Main Goal: Give kids a chance to respond to what they’ve heard today, and worship!

Supplies: None

Video:

Time: 15 minutes

DEBRIEF FROM GAME TIME:● Ask: How did you have to use listening skills to win? (Let

kids respond.) ● Ask: What other times in hour life do you need to listen

carefully?● Ask: Why/how did Samuel have to listen? Did he

understand God’s voice right away?

LISTENING TO GOD’S VOICE● Say: Guess what?? We can listen to God to! Because

God wants to speak to every single one of you! He might give us a message for someone else or tell us how much he loves us or tell us one way he wants us to obey.

● Say: But here’s the thing: we have to listen carefully for God’s voice. It doesn’t always sound loud, like it did for Samuel. Sometimes God puts an idea in our head…or we see a picture in our mind! Sometimes God talks to me by (share a personal example of a way God speaks to you).

● Say: Now when we listen to God, there’s something really important besides just hearing what he says….we have to actually OBEY, and DO what he tells us! Let’s practice that right now.

● Say: I’m going to tell you something, and you have to listen as closely as you can to my instructions. (Let kids respond after each of the following instructions: Stand up, give someone a high five, spin in a circle, do 5 jumping jacks, strike a “statue” pose.)

● Say: Now, what did you have to do to actually listen to me? (Let kids respond.) Yep, you had to DO some funny actions. You didn’t just hear what I said, you had to obey too.

● Say: That’s what real listening is, and that’s what Samuel did when he heard from God. He didn’t just hear God, and then ignore him. He actually did what God told him to do!

● (Close in prayer) God, we want to hear from you, and act on what you say. Please help us make space for you to talk. Amen!

Part 4 (Large Group)

GATHER IN ONE LARGE GROUP

Main Goal: Give kids a chance to respond to what they’ve heard today, and worship!

Supplies: None

Video: Wavewalker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bGE47nQbnw) I Am Yours (https://vimeo.com/128518927#)

Time: 15 minutes (Cont.)

WORSHIP AND PRAYER● Set up worship: We’ve talked a lot about listening, and

how God speaks to us, today. Now it’s time to focus on him in another way–through worship! (Depending on the dynamic of your room, you could have kids sit and watch this one, or stand and be active.)

● Music Video: Wavewalker● Music Video: I Am Yours

TRANSITION● Say: Now it’s time to get into our small groups. Let’s see if

you can be the first one to your group by doing an army crawl across the floor!

*Dismiss kids to small groups for the rest of the hour.

Part 4 (Large Group cont.)

SPLIT INTO SMALL GROUPS FOR THE REST OF THE HOUR.

Main Goal: Discuss today’s story and how it applies to kids’ lives through asking questions and doing a hands-on activity.

Supplies: ● Image of 2 ears (1/kid)● Pipe cleaner (1/kid)● Markers (1 set/group)

Time: 10 -15 minutes (or until parents pick up)

Tip: You can ask the review questions at the beginning of Small Group, or DURING the activity.

*Keep kids in small group until parent pickup.

CONNECT AND DEBRIEF:● Ice breaker (go around and have each kid share):

○ What’s your name?○ Play a quick game of telephone: whisper a funny phrase

to one kid, and let it travel around the group until it gets to the last kid. See how much it changed!

RESPOND TO THE STORY● In today’s story, why did Samuel think that Eli was calling his

name? (he hadn’t heard God speak before)● What did Samuel do when he realized God was speaking? (he

said “Speak, God. Your servant is listening.”)● Isn’t it cool that God spoke Samuel’s name? He knew his name

and specifically wanted to talk to him. Do you think God knows your name? Does God want to speak to you?

● What are some ways God speaks to us? (Through the Bible, prayer/talking to God, a word or picture in our thoughts, an idea to help somebody else, through experiencing nature...)

● How do we know something we hear in our head is from God? (Have kids share ideas. Here are ideas to help: If it lines up with what the Bible would say, if it’s something Jesus would do, or even if it’s something Jesus would do that you wouldn’t have thought of on your own, it’s probably from God. But he will NEVER ask us to do something that’s unloving or out of his character.)

ACTIVITY● Give each kids an image of 2 ears and a pipe cleaner. ● They can color the ears with markers and cut them out with

scissors.● Help kids attach the ears to each end of the pipe cleaner by

poking the pipe cleaner through the “ear” at the top.● Once an ear is attached to each edge, bend it like a headband

over the head, and wear it!● With the ears on, ask kids to come up with one place they want

to listen for God this week. It can be their room, the car, a favorite tree at a park they like, etc. Have them draw it on a blank sheet of paper if you need an additional activity.

EXTRA TIME?● Give kids maze and word-search activity sheets to work on

until their parents pick them up.

Part 5 (Small Groups)

Tell me about Samuel.How can God speak to us?

K-2ndAugust 18/19, 2018

Small GroupItem Usage Details Provided by

Colored dot stickers 1 per kid

Provide enough colors for each group at a service to use a

separate color.Staples: Avery 5472 or Avery 5795 or

Avery 5473

site

Coloring page - Samuel Quantity determined by site.

8.5x11 paper, black&white, Page 10 site

Maze sheet - Samuel Quantity determined by site.

8.5x11 paper, black&white, Page 11 site

Word search sheet - Samuel

Quantity determined by site.

8.5x11 paper, black&white, Page 12 site

Markers 1 set per group, reused site

Scissors 1 set per group, reused site

Sheet of 2 ears 1 per kid 8.5x11 paper, black&white, cut into half sheets site

Pipe cleaner 1 per kid Oriental Trading KC National

Large GroupItem Usage Details Provided by

Adventure Bible for Early Readers1 per large group,

reusedBiblesbythe Case.com site

Tell me about Samuel.How can God speak to us?

Read more about this story in 1 Samuel 3.

1. KC Logo Slide: for when kids enter the room (All that You Need instrumental; mp3 only; can be downloaded on website)

2. Video: 5 minute Countdown Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BninSrxsqM)3. Video: Samuel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P13uIsFW7OA) 4. Video: 10-Minute Timer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn31KFenBIo) 5. Music Video: Wavewalker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bGE47nQbnw) 6. Music Video: I Am Yours (https://vimeo.com/128518927#)

K-2nd