Week 290 · about 45 minutes
1 Samuel 14
1 Samuel 14 · Memory verse 1 Samuel 14:18
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Queues the lesson plan, this story’s coloring page (1 Samuel 14), the matching word search and answer key (1 Samuel 14 word search), the memory-verse tracer, and a parent slip.
Five-minute object lesson
Prop: a ribbon
Hold a ribbon. Read 1 Samuel 14 in about four minutes, stopping at 1 Samuel 14:18: “Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.” Ask, “What does this prop have to do with 1 Samuel 14?” Let two children answer, then say the memory verse together.
Story script
1 Samuel 14 is a real chapter from the Old Testament. It starts, “Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side.” But he didn’t tell his father.” That is not a motto invented for a poster. It is the first sentence a family hears when this page is opened at night.
Keep going a little further. The chapter also says, “But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.” 1 Samuel 14 opens with these words: “Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, and let us go over to the…” The line to keep is 1 Samuel 14:18: “Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.” Carry the word “saul” from that verse into the rest of the day.
The line worth learning out loud is 1 Samuel 14:18: “Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.” If the rest of the chapter feels crowded, hold that one sentence until the room is quiet.
What happens first in 1 Samuel 14? Then try this: Read “Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.” once more. What does it show you about God? You do not have to finish every verse. You can close the book after the memory verse and still have read the Bible together.
Group game
Walk the room as if you are moving through 1 Samuel 14. Every time you freeze, a child says one word from 1 Samuel 14:18. The last child says the whole verse.
Craft
On a US Letter sheet, draw one picture from 1 Samuel 14 and write 1 Samuel 14:18 under it. Send it home as tonight’s reminder, not as a decoration contest.
Memory verse
1 Samuel 14:18
“Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.”
Take-home prayer
Father, thank you for 1 Samuel 14. Help us remember 1 Samuel 14:18 when we wake up, and teach us to notice you in an ordinary night. Amen.