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God told Samuel that he had chosen a new king for Israel, and the new king was to be one of Jesse’s seven sons. When Samuel saw the sons, he assumed the Lord would choose Jesse’s oldest son. Instead, to everyone’s surprise, the Lord chose the youngest son, David. Samuel anointed David as the new king, but it would be many years before the time was right for David to take Saul’s place. The Lord chose David even though he did not look as big and handsome as his older brothers. The Lord does not judge by outward appearance but by the heart.

Bible verses used in this episode:

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Outline:

1. God sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, (1 Samuel 16:1-5)
2. Samuel anoints David. (1 Samuel 16:6-13)

Tips for teaching children:

• Before the session, ice and decorate plain cookies but add salt to a few of them. Show the iced ookies to the children and ask them to judge which would taste the best (without tasting). Finally, allow the children to taste the cookies and talk about how what looks good on the outside does not show what the inside is really like .
• Make a craft involving hearts.
• Anoint each of the children to show them what it was like for David. Use water as it is less messy than oil.
• Talk to the children about what is in their hearts.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Read the text or choose another person to read this story. Follow up the reading with the question: What does it mean that God was looking for a man after God’s own heart? What kind of heart would this be?
• Use the rest of class time to set up a date and time for your class to go “people watching.” The idea is to watch people and try to see them with the eyes of God, seeing them as God sees them.
  • Meet at a public space where there are people who are out and about. This could be a mall, the downtown area or any place where there are people walking about. Pair up and spread out. Each pair should find a spot to sit and watch people walk by. As you watch people walk by, think about what God may see in these people. Ask yourself the questions: “What does God see?” “What is their heart like?” “What is their story?” “What would God want to say to them?”
  • Do this for about ½ hour or so and then gather for a coffee and sit and reflect on this experience. Here are some further questions to ask: “What was this experience like?” Did you see people in a different way? How so? Was there anyone you saw that stood out to you? Why? What would you say to them? How would we interact with others if we saw them as God sees them?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Samuel Anoints David

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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The Lord gave King Saul specific instructions on how to handle a battle with the enemy, the Amalekites. King Saul disobeyed the Lord in front of all of the people, and then he refused to admit his own sin. When Samuel confronted him, Saul made excuses and even blamed others. Although Saul would remain in place as king for many years, it was at this time that the Lord rejected him as King.

Bible verses used in this episode:

1 Samuel 13:5-14; 15:1-35

Outline:

1. Saul’s impatience costs him the crown. (1 Samuel 13:5-14)
2. Saul disobeys God’s plan for battle. (1 Samuel 15:1-9)
3. Saul makes excuses and Samuel delivers God’s judgment. (1 Samuel 15:10-35)

Tips for teaching children:

• Discuss taking responsibility when we have done something wrong.
• Discuss God’s forgiveness when we repent. As a prayer exercise, provide small pieces of paper and pens. Children write their sins on the paper and then pray to ask God’s forgiveness. After the prayer, crumple up the paper and throw it in a rubbish bin. Plan for a quiet and thoughtful time for this, so the children do not rush through it. One way to do this is to turn the lights low and light candles.

Tips for teaching adults:

• The big takeaway from this story is the words Samuel spoke to Saul, “to obey is better than sacrifice.” Here are some questions to ask the class members. Remember to give them time to think and to formulate a response:
  • What does Samuel mean by this?
  • Does this mean that ritual in worship is not important? Why or why not?
  • How does this apply to our context today? How can we be guilty of sacrifice without obedience?
• Pass out paper and have each person in class write down an area of their life in which they struggle to obey God fully. After a period of time, ask each class member to pray about what they’ve written, asking God to give them strength and courage to obey and not to offer excuses. Ask God for the strength to trust him more, even when it is difficult.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: King Saul Disobeys God

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

Send us a text

Although God warned Israel of the many problems associated with having a king, the people still demanded one. They wanted to be like the nations. Though reluctant, a handsome young man named Saul was anointed as Israel’s first King. The people quickly found out that having a king was not as good as they thought it would be.

Bible verses used in this episode:

1 Samuel 8-10

Outline:

1. Israel demands a king. (1 Samuel 8:1-22)
2. Samuel and Saul meet, and Samuel anoints Saul as king. (1 Samuel 9:1-10:8)
3. Saul is announced as King. (1 Samuel 10:9-27)

Tips for teaching children:

• Use water in a small pitcher to “anoint” kings in the class.
• Discuss the negative aspects of wanting to do things just because others are doing them.
• Younger children can “find the donkey” like Saul did. Use a toy donkey or pictures of a donkey.
• Make a crown.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Ask the class if they would be willing to share decisions they have made (big or little) and an unintended consequence of their decision, whether good or bad. What did they learn from their decision?
• This is a longer story, so you, the teacher, will need to summarise it for the class. Alternatively, you can ask the class to read the story before class, so everyone will be familiar with it when they come to class.
• How do you make decisions? When do you bring God into the picture in making decisions? How can you make decisions that honour God and are within his will?
• When Saul met Samuel, he didn’t know that God was orchestrating this meeting. Think about a time in your life where you believe you experienced a God moment, a meeting with someone or an event that you think was a God-orchestrated meeting or event. Share this with the class. Why do you believe this? How did it affect or change you or others?
• When Saul was announced as the king, he was hiding. Are you hiding from a ministry God is calling you to? Ask the class to share something they think God is calling them to, but they are ‘hiding’ from? How can the class encourage them to come out of hiding?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Saul Becomes Israel’s First King

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org