God Calls Samuel Sunday School Lesson for Kids

This free God calls Samuel Sunday school lesson teaches kids to listen to God and obey Him, from 1 Samuel 3, where the LORD called the child Samuel in the night and Samuel answered, "Speak; for thy servant heareth." 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 name-calling game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, the memory verse with a listening motion, and a drawing of the lamp of God.
• Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the Who Called? game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Speak Strips memory verse game, and a Here Am I game where kids act out the four calls.
• 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: a Point to the Caller opening game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (the lamp of God, three times to Eli, "Speak; for thy servant heareth", the hard message for Eli, Samuel the prophet), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
• Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: students read 1 Samuel 3 out loud themselves, then discuss hearing and listening, being helped and helping others hear God, and telling the truth when it's hard. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (1 Samuel 3:10 and James 1:22).

Lesson at a glance

• Bible passage: 1 Samuel 3
• Main point: Listen to God and obey Him. Even kids can serve God.
• Memory verse: 1 Samuel 3:10 (KJV), with James 1:22 added for preteens
• Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

1. Opening game: a short game about hearing your name called.
2. Bible story: the child Samuel serving before Eli, the lamp of God still burning, the LORD calling Samuel three times while Samuel went to Eli, Eli's words in 1 Samuel 3:9, the fourth call and "Speak; for thy servant heareth", and Samuel growing up as the LORD's prophet. Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
3. Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
4. Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn 1 Samuel 3:10.
5. What this means for us: listen to God in His Word, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
6. Activity: the God calls Samuel word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the God calls Samuel craft, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
7. Prayer.

Tips for teaching God calls Samuel

• Count the calls with the kids. The LORD called three times and Samuel went to Eli each time (1 Samuel 3:4–8). The fourth time, Samuel answered the LORD (3:10).
• Read 1 Samuel 3:9 and 3:10 straight from your Bible. Eli told Samuel what to say, and Samuel said it: "Speak; for thy servant heareth."
• God's message about Eli's house (1 Samuel 3:11–14) is a teacher note in the preschool and kindergarten to 2nd grade lessons. The 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons tell it simply.
• Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.