Samuel Hears His Name

Five-minute object lesson

Prop: a pillow in a quiet corner

Hold up a pillow in a quiet corner. In about five minutes, tell the class this: A boy in the temple learns to answer when God calls his name in the night. Show the prop and ask, “What does this have to do with Samuel Hears His Name?” Let two children answer. Then read 1 Samuel 3:10 together: “Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.”” Close by asking one child to say the lesson back in their own words, using the prop.

Story script

Samuel was a boy who lived at the house of the Lord and helped the priest Eli. One night Samuel was lying down near the lamp of God. He heard a voice: “Samuel!” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.” Eli had not called him. This happened again. And again.

Then Eli understood. He told Samuel, “If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” Samuel went back to bed. The Lord came and stood and called as before. This time Samuel answered the way Eli taught him.

God spoke to a child who was willing to listen. Samuel grew up still listening, and Israel came to know him as a prophet who did not hide God’s words. The beginning was a dark room, a lamp, and a boy who got out of bed.

God may not call your name out loud tonight the way he called Samuel. He has already spoken in the Bible, and he loves a heart that says, “I’m listening.” You can practice that sentence before you sleep.

Open the bedtime version