Free Bible lessons for kids · 4 lessons
Samuel: Bible lessons for kids
Samuel was the answer to his mother Hannah’s prayer. As a boy he heard God call his name and said, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
4 Bible stories, one subject: the life of Samuel. Teach them as a series or one at a time; each lesson has its film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and game, all free.
“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)
- Lessons
- 4
- Passages
- 1 Samuel 1:1–28, 1 Samuel 3:1–21, 1 Samuel 8:4–22, 1 Samuel 16:1–13
- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Each lesson
- Story film (KJV), coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
- Cost
- Free: no subscription, no cost per child, no sign-up to teach
Bible stories that teach the life of Samuel
Hannah’s Prayer
1 Samuel 1:1–28 · story film
Every year Elkanah’s family went up to worship the LORD at Shiloh, and Hannah was very sad because she had no children. In the temple she prayed and wept, and she promised that if God gave her a son, she would give him to the LORD all the days of his life. Eli the priest said, “Go in peace,” God answered her prayer with baby Samuel, and when he was weaned Hannah brought him to the house of the LORD.
Big idea: We can pour out our hearts to God, and He hears our prayers.
Memory verse:
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
1 Samuel 1:27 (KJV)Ask: Why was Hannah so sad? She had no children (1 Samuel 1:2).
Game: Lip Reading (about 8 minutes)
Speak, LORD
1 Samuel 3:1–21 · story film
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.
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)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).
Game: Samuel! Samuel! (about 10 minutes)
Israel Asks for a King
1 Samuel 8:4–22 · 10:17–24 · story film
When Samuel was old, the elders of Israel came to him and said, “Make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” Samuel prayed, and the LORD told him that the people had not rejected Samuel but had rejected God as their King. At Mizpeh God chose Saul, who had hid himself among the stuff, and all the people shouted, “God save the king.”
Big idea: God is the true King, and He wants the first place in our hearts.
Memory verse:
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24 (KJV)Ask: Why did the elders want a king? Samuel was old, his sons did not walk in his ways, and they wanted to be like all the nations (1 Samuel 8:5).
Game: Hiding Among the Stuff (about 10 minutes)
Samuel Anoints David
1 Samuel 16:1–13 · story film
God sent Samuel to Bethlehem with a horn of oil to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king. Seven of Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel, but God said, “The LORD looketh on the heart.” The youngest, David, was out keeping the sheep; when he was brought in, Samuel anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.
Big idea: God does not look at the outside; He looks on the heart.
Memory verse:
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)Ask: Where did God send Samuel? To Jesse the Bethlehemite, because God had provided a king among his sons (1 Samuel 16:1).
Game: Pick the Box (about 10 minutes)
Plan it as a series: 4 weeks
| Week 1 | Hannah’s Prayer (1 Samuel 1:1–28). We can pour out our hearts to God, and He hears our prayers. |
|---|---|
| Week 2 | Speak, LORD (1 Samuel 3:1–21). God speaks to us, and even children can listen and obey. |
| Week 3 | Israel Asks for a King (1 Samuel 8:4–22). God is the true King, and He wants the first place in our hearts. |
| Week 4 | Samuel Anoints David (1 Samuel 16:1–13). God does not look at the outside; He looks on the heart. |
Each week: welcome and pray, show the story film, talk through the questions, learn the memory verse, then color the page or do the class sheet.
Memory verses about the life of Samuel (KJV)
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:”
1 Samuel 1:27 · Hannah’s Prayer
“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 · Speak, LORD
“Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.”
1 Samuel 12:24 · Israel Asks for a King
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 · Samuel Anoints David
Questions people ask
Who was Samuel in the Bible?
Samuel was the answer to his mother Hannah’s prayer. As a boy he heard God call his name and said, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
Which Bible stories teach the life of Samuel?
Hannah’s Prayer (1 Samuel 1:1–28), Speak, LORD (1 Samuel 3:1–21), Israel Asks for a King (1 Samuel 8:4–22), Samuel Anoints David (1 Samuel 16:1–13).
Are these lessons free?
Yes. Every lesson, film, coloring page, class sheet and game is free for churches, families and schools, with no subscription, no cost per child and no sign-up needed to teach.
Which Bible translation is used?
The films and memory verses show the King James Version word for word. In the lessons you can switch the verses to the Berean Standard Bible, the ESV or dozens of other English Bibles, every verse is labelled with its translation, and tapping a verse on the film opens its whole chapter.
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