Lesson

Samuel Anoints David Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free Samuel anoints David Sunday school lesson (1 Samuel 16) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with games, Bible story, questions and take-home.

Preschool–Grade 6

Samuel Anoints David Sunday School Lesson for Kids

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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages: Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
Time: 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
Scripture: 1 Samuel 16
Bible story: David Is Anointed King

What you need

A Bible (mark 1 Samuel 16:7 and 1 Samuel 16:13)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
7 paper hearts, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
Paper sheep or cotton balls to hide around the room (preschool opening game)
A paper towel tube or a rolled-up paper cone to be Samuel's horn (acting out the story, preschool to 2nd grade)
A nicely wrapped box with a rock inside, and a plain paper bag with a treat for each child inside (3rd to 5th grade opening game)
A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (preteens)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed Samuel anoints David word search and crayons for early finishers

This free Samuel anoints David Sunday school lesson teaches kids that God looks on the heart, and everyone matters to Him. God sent Samuel to Jesse in Bethlehem with a horn of oil. Samuel looked at the oldest son, but the LORD said, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Seven sons passed by, and God chose the youngest, David, who was out keeping the sheep (16:11–13). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Pick the one that fits your class. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a Find the Sheep game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("the LORD looketh on the heart") with a motion, and a heart drawing activity.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: a Who Is Missing? game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Heart Verse game with seven paper hearts, and Send and Fetch Him, where kids act out the story.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: a Pick a Prize game with a wrapped box and a paper bag, then kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (the horn of oil, Eliab, seven sons, the youngest with the sheep, the anointing, and David playing the harp for Saul), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a First Impressions opening, students read 1 Samuel 16:1–13 and 16:14–23 out loud themselves, then discuss judging by the outside, the overlooked son, waiting and serving, and a heart after God's own heart. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (1 Samuel 16:7 and Acts 13:22).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: 1 Samuel 16
Main point: God looks on the heart, and everyone matters to Him.
Memory verse: 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV), with Acts 13:22 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about someone missing, finding the sheep, or judging by the outside.
Bible story: God tells Samuel, "fill thine horn with oil, and go" (1 Samuel 16:1), Samuel looks on Eliab (16:6), "the LORD looketh on the heart" (16:7), seven of Jesse's sons pass by (16:10), "Are here all thy children?" and the youngest who "keepeth the sheep" (16:11), "Arise, anoint him: for this is he" (16:12), and Samuel anoints David with the horn of oil in the midst of his brothers (16:13). Older kids also hear how David played the harp for King Saul (16:14–23). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn 1 Samuel 16:7.
What this means for us: God sees the heart, the LORD came in the flesh in Jesus (1 Timothy 3:16), the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the Samuel anoints David word search, the Samuel anoints David crossword, the Samuel anoints David maze, the Samuel anoints David worksheet, the Samuel anoints David craft, acting out the story, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching Samuel anointing David

Read 1 Samuel 16:7 straight from your Bible. It is the heart of the story: "the LORD looketh on the heart."
Use the King James words: "fill thine horn with oil" (16:1), "Are here all thy children?" (16:11) and "Arise, anoint him: for this is he" (16:12).
Count carefully: seven of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel (16:10), and David was the eighth, the youngest (17:12). The Bible names only Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah here (16:6–9).
For young kids, leave out King Saul and the evil spirit (16:14–23); older kids get it in the Bible's own words, with a short teacher note.
Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this Samuel anoints David lesson take?

It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.

What is the main point of the story of David being anointed king for kids?

God sees the heart, and everyone matters to Him. Samuel looked at Jesse's oldest son, but the LORD said, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). God chose David, the youngest, who was out keeping the sheep (16:11–13).

Why did God choose David instead of his older brothers?

The Bible says the LORD does not see as man sees: "the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Seven of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel, and the LORD had not chosen them (16:10). Later God said of David, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart" (Acts 13:22).

How many sons did Jesse have?

Eight. Jesse "had eight sons" (1 Samuel 17:12). Seven of them passed before Samuel (16:10), and David was the youngest, out keeping the sheep (16:11). The Bible names Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah in this story (16:6–9).