Free Bible lesson for kids · The Judges
Speak, LORD
The child Samuel served the LORD in the temple at Shiloh with old Eli the priest. One night, as he lay down where the ark of God was, the LORD called, “Samuel!” Three times Samuel ran to Eli, until Eli understood and told him to answer, “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” Samuel listened, and as he grew the LORD was with him and made him a prophet to all Israel.
- Bible passage
- 1 Samuel 3:1–21
- Big idea
- God speaks to us, and even children can listen and obey.
- 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)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
The boy Samuel served the LORD under Eli the priest, at a time when the word of the LORD was rare (1 Samuel 3:1). One night, as Samuel lay in the temple where the ark of God was, the LORD called him (1 Samuel 3:3–4). Samuel ran to Eli, saying, “Here am I,” but Eli had not called him. This happened again, for Samuel did not yet know the LORD (1 Samuel 3:5–7).
The third time, Eli understood that the LORD was calling the child (1 Samuel 3:8). He told Samuel to answer, “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:9). The LORD called, “Samuel, Samuel,” and Samuel answered, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10). The next morning Samuel told Eli everything (1 Samuel 3:15–18). As Samuel grew, the LORD was with him, and all Israel knew he was a prophet (1 Samuel 3:19–20).
Read it in the Bible: 1 Samuel 3:1–21 (KJV)
1And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. 11And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 14And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. 15And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 17And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. 19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
Questions to ask
Where was Samuel lying down when the LORD called?
In the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was (1 Samuel 3:3).
Who did Samuel think was calling him?
Eli the priest (1 Samuel 3:5).
What did Samuel answer the LORD?
“Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10).
What this story teaches
- God speaks to His people through His Word (1 Samuel 3:21).
- God calls even children to know and serve Him (1 Samuel 3:1, 10).
- We should listen when God speaks and be ready to obey (1 Samuel 3:10).
- We must tell the truth, even when it is hard (1 Samuel 3:18).
- God stays with those who listen to Him as they grow (1 Samuel 3:19).
Jesus Is the Word
The LORD made Himself known to Samuel by His word. Jesus is the Word who became a man and lived among us, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us listen to His Word and obey Him while we are young. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God speaks to us, and even children can listen and obey.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say 1 Samuel 3:10 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
Samuel! Samuel!
You need: Nothing
- Everyone lies down and “sleeps”.
- A leader softly calls one child’s name from somewhere in the room.
- Only that child gets up, runs to the leader and says, “Here am I!” Anyone who answers to someone else’s name helps call.
Samuel answered, “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” We can listen for God too.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 20 minutes
Listening Lab
You need: Bibles, journals
- Phones away. Read 1 Samuel 3:1–10 slowly.
- Spend ten minutes in silence with a psalm, writing anything that stands out.
- Share in pairs: what did you hear in God’s Word?
God speaks through His Word. We learn to hear Him by listening.
Pray
Ask God to help us listen to His Word and obey Him while we are young.