date: Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 3 (God Speaks to Samuel) REMEMBER VERSE The Lord causes his miracles to be remembered. He is kind and tender. Psalm 111:4 (NIrV) God Wants Me to Know His Voice SERVICE SCHEDULE Explore:: Welcome & Engage 10 15 minutes Discover & Respond:: Large Group 30 40 minutes Respond & Bless:: Small Group 20 35 minutes ENVIRONMENT: Storytelling The power of The Big God Story impacts our lives by giving us an accurate and awe-inspiring perspective into how God has been moving throughout history. It is the story of redemption, salvation, and hope and tells how I have been grafted into it by grace. It further compels us to see how God is using every person s life and is creating a unique story that deserves to be told for God s glory.. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.
Inspire I ve been trying to remember the first time I heard God s voice calling to me. It was around the time I became a Christian at the ripe old age of seven. I m pretty sure that first decision to listen to His voice was based more on escaping judgment than becoming a Christ-follower, but still, it was when I gave my heart to Jesus and He s been talking with me ever since! We ve been walking this journey together now for almost 50 years, Jesus and me, and I like to think I ve gotten better at hearing His voice, although I m not exactly sure how to explain just how I hear Him. People do ask children, teens, and adults because we definitely want to know how to hear Him when He speaks. One of the things God has taught me is to resist the urge to put words in His mouth. A couple of years ago, I was praying for God to give me a word to guide me during the coming year. This had been my custom on New Year s Eve for about three years, and God had always clearly given me a phrase or a verse that helped me navigate the following year. Unfortunately, I thought I would help the process and decided for God what the word would be. As I read 1 John 4 that New Year s Eve, I told God His word for me was, There is no fear in love (v. 18). I smugly closed my Bible, thanked Him, and went off to bed. That night I slept just fine, but when I woke up on New Year s Day, a restless heart sent me back to the passage. It turned out that the verse God really wanted for me was 1 John 4:17, and specifically the phrase in this world we are like him. That clarification drastically changed how I lived the next year. God was faithful to speak to me and I continue to learn how to listen for His voice in the quiet of my soul. I would profoundly miss even one day of not talking with God. Hearing His voice brings me joy. Listening to His words gives me peace. Talking with Him lets me know, without a doubt, that I am not ever alone. Knowing that He wants me to hear Him makes me feel incredibly loved. I hope I can encourage others along the journey young and old to listen and know God s voice. It s a voice that has spoken throughout the ages to children and kings, prophets and fishermen. As we listen He will guide us, direct our lives, and show us what piece is ours to play in His master plan. I m amazed He talks to me at all, but I m so grateful that He does. I want to live in the expectancy of hearing from Him every day. God wants us to know His voice. Janet Lee TruWonder Team 2
Equip After many years of bringing prayers and petitions to the Lord for a child, Hannah vowed to give the son she was blessed with into the service of the Lord. Hannah kept her promise, for when Samuel was a young child some scholars speculate him to be around three or four years of age his parents brought him to the temple of the Lord in Shiloh. They offered a sacrifice and gave him to minister to God under the guidance of the priest, Eli. Here he would learn the ways of worship and acts of service within the temple. Further Resources Remember Verse Motions Inspired by American Sign Language; demonstrated at signingsavvy.com and http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/ browser.htm. But Samuel was ministering before the Lord a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice (1 Samuel 2:18 19). Ephods were sacred religious garments which indicated priestly service. In ancient times the wearing of such an outer garment marked the wearer as bearing a particular status or role of significance. Samuel s specified him as having entered the priestly service as an apprentice. The robes his mother brought for him each year were likely worn under his linen ephod. Samuel faithfully served the Lord and continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men (v. 26). In this period of the judges, the Word from the Lord a spoken message to the people through a prophet was rare, nor were many people experiencing visions from the Lord. When the Lord began to call Samuel by name, he got up from his bed and ran to Eli to answer the call. It is important to note that Samuel was still a child when God first called his name. Each time the Lord called, Samuel went to Eli believing it to be his voice calling to him. Up to this point, it appears from Scripture that Samuel had not experienced or met God in this way, so it makes sense that the child would not recognize God s voice. Finally, after the third time, Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling to Samuel and directed the child as to how he should respond. When the Lord came and stood there, again calling as He had the other times, Samuel responded by saying, Speak, for your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:10). This was the day Samuel was initiated by the Lord as a prophet to Israel. The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground [or go to waste]. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word (vv. 19, 21). Samuel faithfully brought the Word of the Lord to the people as His prophet and the last judge of Israel, all the days of his life. 3
Support We were created in the image of God. He has designed us to know His voice. Why is it, then, that it can be so difficult to hear Him? Why is it that we can feel so blocked? Many people would tell us that because there are so many voices and there s so much noise in our daily lives, it can be hard to know whose voice is whose. Or, perhaps we re making hearing and listening to God much too difficult. If He has wired us to be tuned to Him, then it s within our ability to hear Him. We simply need to adjust our focus and tune ourselves into the Creator. We will recognize His voice when He speaks because He created us to know Him and recognize His voice. He wants us to know His voice! This week, take some time and adjust your tuning. Spend time connecting with God in the way that suits you. It may be taking your Bible and finding a comfy spot in nature, singing loudly in your car, or finding a quiet place to just be still and meditate on a verse or two. Whatever it is that helps you focus and be present with the Lord, get to that place. If you re not sure what that is, experiment a bit with different settings and situations. Then ask Him to speak to you in a way that you will recognize His voice. Lord, as each of us come before You, we desire to hear Your voice. Please remove any distractions that would hinder us from hearing from and listening to You things both seen and unseen. Lord, when You speak, let us know without question that it is You we hear. We will listen. Amen. 4
Lesson Overview Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List under Resource Tab) Explore:: Welcome & Engage 10 15 min. Exploration stations create space intended to transition children to lead them from the external world into an environment where they can commune with God, just as they are with all that they are. Focus Station: Do You Hear What I Hear? (per table) CD player audio clips of the following sounds: doorbell, car engine, birds chirping, snoring, rainstorm, wind, laughing, fire engine siren (see Resource Folder) Do You Hear What I Hear? Picture Cards (see Resource Folder for cards to match each of the sounds listed above) exploration bin (Optional) Station 2: Oh, the Noises We Can Make! (per table) any items that create noises and sounds suggestions: 2 blocks wrapped with fine-grain sandpaper small handbell egg shaker (plastic egg with rice inside) tambourine finger cymbals maracas sheet of wax paper sheet of bubble wrap packing material tap shoes sand in a bottle exploration bin Discover:: Large Group 20 25 min. Facilitate interactive games, songs, and storytelling, allowing children to participate in discovering God s Word. Chloe (puppet or person) Chloe s Rules video or script (see Resource Tab) preschool program theme song 2 upbeat worship songs (suggestion: The Big God Story, TruWorship Songs from the Playhouse) optional: countdown video Mail Time intro clip and slide (see Resource Tab) Remember Verse slide and cards (see Resource Folder) Mail Time envelope art printed and attached to a large envelope (see Resource Tab) Bibles (your personal and large children s) mailbox Wardrobe of Wonder intro clip and slide (see Resource Tab) (Continued) 5
Lesson Overview Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List under Resource Tab) Discover:: Large Group (Continued) Wardrobe of Wonder Wardrobe of Wonder sound effect (see Resource Tab) optional: silly hats for prop/hat box 2 small stools or chairs What sit: A Call (see Resource Folder for sound effect and slide of an ear to indicate audio cue) The Big God Story intro clip and slide (see Resource Tab) Respond:: Large Group 10 15 min. Create space for children to respond to the Holy Spirit in worship and community. title slide (see Resource Tab) or worshipful video loop worship song focusing on listening for God s voice (suggestion: For Who You Are, Hillsong Kids) Respond:: Small Group 15 30 min. Further process the story through discussion and interaction with others, and respond to God in worship through creative expression. Connect: Telephone! (per small group) none Create: His Words Speak (per table/small group) Bible modeling clay or play dough Wonder Questions Bless:: Small Group 5 min. Bless the children that they may experience God fully and be a blessing to others. Blessing/Remember Verse HomeFront Weekly 6
Small Group Explore:: 10 15 min. S E C T I O N Host/Small Group Leaders Exploration stations create space intended for wonder to pique children s curiosity and allow them to engage in hands-on experiences as they begin their time in worship. Focus Station Invite children to participate at the Focus Station (or optional stations, if available). Explore the materials with the children and engage them in open-ended questions about their observations. This will encourage them to explore and form questions on their own throughout the lesson. Station 1: Do You Hear What I Hear? SUPPLIES (per table) CD player audio clips of the following sounds: doorbell, car engine, birds chirping, snoring, rainstorm, wind, laughing, fire engine siren (see Resource Folder) Do You Hear What I Hear? Picture Cards (see Resource Folder for cards to match each of the sounds listed above) exploration bin Prepare Download the audio clips from the Resource Folder and prepare a CD for the station. Print and cut out one set of the Do You Hear What I Hear? Picture Cards per child. Paper clip each set of cards. Place all materials in the exploration bin. Set Up Set the CD player on or near the table. Place one set of picture cards at each child s place at the table. ENGAGE Welcome children to the exploration station. Encourage them to listen to the sounds, one by one, and try to identify the picture that belongs to each sound. In just a moment you will hear a pattern of different sounds. Each time you hear a new sound, find the picture that belongs to the sound you just heard. When you find the picture, place it in front of you. When you re finished, it s your turn to tell me what you heard. Are you ready? Here we go. Partner Church Comments We taped the pictures in different areas around the room. When the leader played the sound bite, the kids walked to the picture that matched the sound. Big hit! After the children have identified all the sounds, the Small Group Leader will then ask the children to identify the sounds they heard using the cards they have selected. Each sound will be repeated and the children will get to hold up their card and share their findings. Ask: How were you able to identify the sounds you heard? Did you use your nose? Your eyes? Your hands? Your ears? Which sounds were most familiar to you? Which do you like better: watching TV or listening to music? Note: For a fun, low-tech spin on the Focus Station, have the Small Group Leader hold up a picture card and encourage the children to make the noise for that picture. The Beacon 7
Partner Church Comments Our kids really enjoyed playing different instruments and listening to the different sounds. Great listening idea. Very fun! Mt. Paran North Church of God (Optional) Station 2: Oh, the Noises We Can Make! SUPPLIES (per table) any items that create noises and sounds. Suggestions: 2 blocks wrapped with fine-grain sandpaper small handbell egg shaker (plastic egg with rice inside. Suggestion: Seal opening of the egg by gluing the edges with craft glue.) tambourine finger cymbals maracas sheet of wax paper sheet of bubble wrap packing material tap shoes sand in a bottle exploration bin Prepare Gather all materials. Place in an exploration bin. SET UP Place all items on the table. ENGAGE Welcome children to the exploration station. Encourage them to explore the various items on the table. Ask: What do you hear? What do you see? Tell me about the sounds you re hearing. What sounds are loud? What sounds are quiet? Which things sound like music? Partner Church Comments The activity with the musical instruments worked well. The kids really enjoyed playing them and discussing. The Rock Church 8
Discover:: 20 25 min. Host/Worship Leader/Storyteller Children move into a large group setting and participate in discovering God s Word through storytelling, worship, and interactive experiences. Large Group S E C T I O N The following instructions have been condensed, but if you d like more information about any of the components of the large group program, please see Putting It Together under the Resource Tab. Ponder Point God Wants Me to Know His Voice Chloe s Rules Host/Worship Leader Begin large group by using Chloe (a puppet or person) to review the rules of your program. It s a great time to remind children how we can all be part of a loving community through the words we speak, sitting with our small group, and sharing. Add a theme song to your program for a fun way to help give identity to your large group program. Also choose two upbeat worship songs from a worship album that fits. The supplies you ll want to gather for this section are the Chloe s Rules video or script (see Resource Tab), Chloe (a puppet or person), your preschool program theme song, worship music (suggestion: The Big God Story, TruWorship Songs from the Playhouse), and a countdown video (optional). Mail Time Host/Worship Leader Have children retrieve mail (the current Remember Verse from the Bible) from their mailbox. Review the meaning of the verse and any unfamiliar words with the children as they prepare to memorize it. Supplies to gather include the Mail Time intro clip and slide, Remember Verse slide (for projection and Mail Time envelope), Remember Verse cards (print and distribute along with HomeFront Weekly), Mail Time envelope art printed and attached to a large envelope, a Bible, a large children s Bible, and a mailbox. REMEMBER VERSE The Lord causes his miracles to be remembered. He is kind and tender. Psalm 111:4 (NIrV) 9
Remember Verse Motions The Lord: Index finger points up. causes: Hands closed at chest; extend arms out in front, palms up. his miracles: Open palms next to face, facing out; bounce them down several times. to be remembered: Index fingers point to the temples. He: Index finger points up. is kind and tender: Pull hands up and cover heart. Wardrobe of Wonder Storyteller/Host/Worship Leader Hide the What sit connected to The Big God Story within the wardrobe. Together as a community, the children will discover the identity of this object as they begin to ask questions from their observations and experiences. You ll need to have ready a Wardrobe of Wonder, Wardrobe of Wonder intro clip, slide, and sound effect (see Resource Tab), silly hats for the prop/hat box (optional), and two small stools or chairs. For this What sit we ve provided a sound effect of a call ( Samuel! Samuel! ) in the Resource Folder. (See optional slide of an ear to indicate an audio cue, available in Resource Folder.) Audio option: To make your own low-tech call, use a paper-towel tube to change your voice to a deep and powerful one. Then speak slowly and authoritatively, Samuel! Samuel! What sit: A Call Samuel heard God call his name when he was a child. The Lord called to Samuel three times in the night. From this night forward Samuel knew God s voice and responded to Him when He called. The audio cue helps us to remember that God wants us to know His voice too. ASK What did you just hear? (Insert child s name here), why do you think the Wardrobe of Wonder has someone calling as the What sit? (Allow volunteer to give you some suggestions.) Have you ever heard someone call your name? When would someone call to you? (Children will respond.) I wonder where we will find the What sit in this part of The Big God Story today! Friends, what do you think? Let s find out because, do you know what time it is? 10
Prayer of Release A Prayer of Release is a prayer asking God to remove any distractions that would get in the way of hearing from and responding to Him. As we pray, we dedicate this time to the Lord and quiet ourselves, so that we might hear specifically from Him. In this way, we are consciously laying aside our worries, successes, and requests for the moment. We ask to be filled with knowledge and understanding from Him, giving God His rightful role as teacher. Then as we move into Respond, we can better create space to interact with His Holy Spirit. The Big God Story 1 Samuel 3 Storyteller SUPPLIES The Big God Story intro clip and slide (see Resource Tab) Bible (adult or children s to use during teaching) What sit: A Call (see Resource Folder for sound effect and slide indicating audio cue) Hello, friends! It s so good to see you here today! Before we jump into The Big God Story, let s stop and ask God to teach us. Let s quiet our voices and rest our hands and feet as we close our eyes and talk to God. (Lead children in a Prayer of Release.) This part of The Big God Story took place many years ago, when the judges were still leading the people of Israel. If you remember, a judge was a special person called by God to watch over God s people. Their job was to listen to everything that God said and follow His directions for the best way to lead the people. During this time there lived a boy named (pause) Samuel. That s right! When he was young, he went to the temple of the Lord to live with the priest, Eli. Eli taught Samuel all about the Lord and how to serve God in the temple. It was a great honor to serve God and His people. One night, while Samuel was sleeping, he woke up because he heard someone calling his name. (Tech: Cue audio of call from What sit.) Wait a minute. Where did we just hear a call? (Wait for children to answer.) In the Wardrobe of Wonder! That s right! The call was our clue to The Big God Story! Samuel got up and ran to Eli, the priest who was teaching him, and said, Here I am; you called me. But Eli said, I didn t call you; go back and lie down. So, Samuel went back to his bed to lie down. (Tech: Cue audio of call.) Again, he heard someone call, Samuel! And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. My son, Eli said, I did not call; go back and lie down. Each time Samuel heard his name, he got up and went to Eli. Each of these times Samuel responded, Eli sent him back to bed. If it wasn t Eli calling to Samuel, who do you think it could have been? (Allow children to respond.) It was the Lord God, you re right! (Tech: Cue audio of call.) The Lord called to Samuel a third time and once again Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. You see, Samuel had never heard God s voice, so he didn t know it was God who was calling. Finally, Eli realized it was God who was calling to Samuel. He told Samuel that he should go back to bed and if the Lord called to him again, he should say, 11
Storytelling Suggestion You may consider including the children in the storytelling section when God calls Samuel. One option would be to have two children act out the roles of Eli and Samuel while you storytell. Or, have the children lie down when you say, One night while Samuel was sleeping. When you say, He got up direct the children to sit up and say, Here I am; you called me! Then when Eli tells Samuel to go back to bed, have the children lie down. Repeat this pattern throughout this section of the story. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening. What do you think Samuel did? (Children will respond.) He went back to bed and lay down. Then the Lord came and stood there by Samuel and called to him a fourth time, Samuel! Samuel! And what do you think Samuel said? (Children will answer.) That s right! He said, Speak, for Your servant is listening! What do you think God did? (Children will answer.) Yes, He spoke to Samuel and gave him a special message for Eli and his family. This was Samuel s first job as a prophet of God. The Lord God was with Samuel as he grew from a boy into a man. When he was grown, Samuel became the last judge of Israel before they started having kings. Not only was he a judge for Israel, but he was also a prophet and a priest! God wanted His people to know Him so He chose Samuel to tell them everything He said. People everywhere knew Samuel as a prophet who listened to God. The Lord told Samuel many things about Himself and His plans. Samuel knew God and loved Him all of the days of his life. Wow, God had a very special plan for this little boy! I wonder what special plan God has for each one of you in His big story. Why do you think God kept calling Samuel s name? (Allow children to answer; interact with their answers.) God wanted Samuel to know His voice. God s voice was not like anyone else s. He called to Samuel until Samuel knew it was God and no other. Did you know God wants you and me to know His voice? There are many ways we can hear from God. What are some of the ways we can hear Him? (Allow children to respond freely.) Those are very good thoughts. God talks to us in lots of different ways. He speaks to us when we re praying, singing, or reading The Big God Story from the Bible because God wants us to know His voice. Partner Church Comments Having the kids lie down and get up along with the story kept their attention. They liked it! 1st Baptist Church of Hemet Partner Church Comments This week I used two kids to help me act out the story and the kids got a hoot out of it. Mt. Paran North Church of God 12
Respond:: 10 15 min. Worship Leader Children have the opportunity to respond to God and to what they have heard and experienced through His Word. Special attention should be given to create space for the Holy Spirit to minister to each child. Partner Church Comments I used this time to read Scripture over the kids as they sat and listened to the Lord. I thought this was a sweet way to worship and respond to what we had heard. The kids were really listening during this time. Mt. Paran North Church of God Large Group S E C T I O N The worship response time in large group varies from week to week. Some weeks children will respond in worship through music, while other weeks are designed for more specific interactive expressions of response. This time is intended for children to freely express their worship as God s Spirit leads them. SUPPLIES title slide (see Resource Tab) or worshipful video loop worship song focusing on listening for God s voice (suggestion: For Who You Are, Hillsong Kids) Worship-through-Response This week when you re transitioning from large group storytelling into large group Respond, you ll be leading the children in prayer asking for God to speak. This time will be followed with a time of worship through singing. Samuel was a young boy who heard God speak, and he listened. As soon as Samuel knew it was God s voice he was waiting to hear, he got ready to hear from God. Samuel didn t know for sure that God would speak again in the same way, but no matter how God decided to speak to Samuel, he was ready to listen. God wants all of us to know His voice. Sometimes God speaks to us in different ways. He may choose to speak out loud, or to our hearts. He may speak when we pray, or when we re listening to or reading the Bible. No matter how God decides to speak to us, we can get ready to hear Him. We re going to take just a moment to pray and ask God to speak to us. We can say what Samuel said: Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening. Now, God may or may not speak to us the way He spoke to Samuel, but no matter how He chooses to speak to us, or when He chooses to speak to us, we can get our hearts ready and tell Him we will listen to His voice. Take a couple of moments to lead the children by praying: Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening. Repeat this a few times. Encourage children to pray if they want to when they re ready. Begin by modeling this for the children and praying out loud. Then encourage children to stand and pray, Speak, Lord, Your servant, (insert name), is listening, or Speak, Lord, I am listening when they re ready. 13
Suggestion If you use the song For Who You Are, consider using the first verse as a song of prayer over the children. Then encourage them to join you on the chorus. You may want to go over the words of the chorus with them one time before the song starts. For example: Friends, some songs we sing can be prayers from our heart to God. In just a moment some music is going to start to play and the song is a prayer to God, worshipping Him. I will sing the first part of the song as a prayer over you. Then, we can all sing the words, I will worship You for who You are. I will worship You for who You are. I will worship You for who You are, Jesus. Let s try that together. Sing the chorus with them without music. (Tech: Cue music.) Begin leading the song. Remind the children you re going to sing the first part over them as a prayer. Then as the song begins to build to the chorus, give them verbal cues that they can join you when they re ready. You can sing with me when you re ready. Let s sing it out to God! Close with a worship song. At the close of the song, end in a time of prayer and corporate blessing. To streamline large group dismissal, try dismissing one age group at a time. Give the children and leaders cheerful reminders of exit doors as they re preparing to leave. This could be a fun time to bring Chloe back to help with moving into small groups. Use her to remind little ones to stay with their Small Group Leaders, wait patiently for their friends as they walk out together, etc. 14
Respond:: 15 30 min. Small Group Leaders Children have an opportunity to reflect (within the faith community) on what they have heard, and to respond to God individually or corporately. This time is focused on the wonder of God and the foundational Truth of His Word. Small Group S E C T I O N Your small group time is designed to encourage conversations between you and your children about what God is doing in them. Some children will be more responsive when they re engaged in something artistic. Others will be more open once their bodies get moving. Choose from the options given here or use your own ideas. The Wonder Questions may be used to start conversations during any of these activities or in a quieter, more contemplative time. Connect: Telephone! (Optional Game: 5 10 min.) After a time of responding to God on a personal level, increase the energy by allowing time and space for children and leaders to connect with each other in a lively largemotor-skills activity. Fun and challenges foster unique opportunities for conversation and growing your faith community. SUPPLIES (per small group) none SET UP Clear a space for you and the children in your small group to sit in a circle. ENGAGE Gather children in a circle on the floor or in chairs around a table. Be sure to include yourself in the circle. Explain how the game is played. Today we re going to play a fun game about listening with our ears. The first person to start will whisper a message to the person on his left. Then that person will pass the message on to the person on her left. We ll keep going until we ve passed the message all the way around our circle. Then the very last person to hear the message will get to say what he heard out loud! We ll compare that final message to the message we started with to see if it changed much while being passed around. Remember: We need to use our listening ears and our whispering voices. I ll start our game. Here we go Suggested messages: God wants us to know His voice. God has something special to tell me. Samuel was a boy who heard God s voice and answered. Samuel listened and obeyed God s voice all his life. God has a big story and He wants me to share it with others. After the first message is relayed, discuss the change between the original and ending message. Make the game silly and fun! 15
Create: His Words Speak Create is more than just a time to make a craft. It s a hands-on opportunity for children to give artistic expression to what God is doing within them. What is created can then become a physical reminder of time spent responding to God. SUPPLIES (per table/small group) Bible modeling clay or play dough SET UP Place a child-sized handful of modeling material at each child s place. ENGAGE Sit with your small group at the table. Share with the children the purpose of Create today. There are many different ways God chooses to speak to us. One of the ways He can speak is through His Word, the Bible. Take a few minutes and read Scripture over the children. Invite the children to use the clay or dough to create shapes of what they re thinking, hearing, and feeling as they listen. Read each verse twice. The second time you read through a verse or section of Scripture, pause and dialogue with the children about what they just heard. Ask: What did you hear? What do you think about God when you hear this verse? Talk with the children about the things they re creating out of the modeling dough. Tell me about. What does this make you think of? Before you begin this time of Create, lead the children in a short time of prayer asking the Holy Spirit to speak to each person as you read the Scriptures. Possible Scripture choices: Praise the Lord, you mighty angels. Praise the Lord for his glory and strength. Praise the Lord for the glory that belongs to him. Worship the Lord because of his beauty and holiness. The voice of the Lord is heard over the waters. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is majestic. (Psalm 29:1 4 NIrV) Shout to the Lord with joy, everyone on earth. Worship the Lord with gladness. Come to him with songs of joy. I want you to realize that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him. We are his people. We are the sheep belonging to his flock. Give thanks as you enter the gates of his temple. Give praise as you enter its courtyards. Give thanks to him and praise his name. The Lord is good. His faithful love continues forever. It will last for all time to come. (Psalm 100 NIrV) 16
Connecting with Wonder Questions What does God s voice sound like? Allow children to pause to think through this question. Oftentimes young children will hear a response and feel it s the correct answer, and will then repeat what they just heard being said. To help kids think through their thoughts and feelings about these questions, affirm the answers of the first child who shares and then say: Yes, it may sound like (insert what the child said, for example, a whisper), or it may sound like something different for you. Then ask the question again. Knowing the dynamics of your small group best, you will be able to discern the right time to move on to the next question. Be sure to allow a few moments for children to respond to your prompting before moving on to the next question. You make springs pour water into the valleys. It flows between the mountains. The springs give water to all of the wild animals. The wild donkeys satisfy their thirst. The birds of the air build nests by the waters. They sing among the branches. You water the mountains from your palace high in the clouds. The earth is filled with the things you have made. You make grass grow for the cattle and plants for people to take care of. That s how they get food from the earth. (Psalm 104:10 14 NIrV) Wonder Questions Discuss the following questions with the children. Wonder Questions are meant to prompt further conversation about what children have been experiencing. They also invite children to ponder this truth and dwell with the wonder of God. Be sure to pause long enough after each question to allow the children time to wonder. Encourage them to share their unique perspectives with the group. Today in The Big God Story we heard about a young boy named Samuel and the very first time God spoke to him. He didn t know it was God right away. But when Samuel knew it was God s voice he would be hearing, he waited. God called to him again. God wants to speak to you and me, too. He wants us to know His voice. I wonder What does God s voice sound like? I wonder What does God want to say to me? I wonder How will God speak to me today? 17
Bless:: 5 min. Small Group Leaders A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement and guidance. A blessing can be offered in order to ask God s Spirit to overflow from the child s life in such a way that blesses others, while it can also be prayed over a child for the purpose of declaring God s protection, joy, or wisdom. Partner Church Comments Bless is going smoother. The kids are starting to ask to be blessed! 1st Baptist Church of Hemet Small Group S E C T I O N Today, send your little ones out with a blessing by praying Scripture over them. The time of blessing is an opportunity for children to practice another physical posture of worship. Have children place their hands out in front of themselves, palms up as if cupping them together to hold water. This is a posture that demonstrates our expectancy in receiving what God has for each of us. Read the Remember Verse over the children and then close your time with a prayer of blessing. (You may choose to read through the Scripture more than once as God s Spirit leads you.) Children, may you always hear and know God s voice. May all of His words stay with you as you trust Him with all of your days. The Lord causes his miracles to be remembered. He is kind and tender. Psalm 111:4 (NIrV) HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God s Word together before children arrive at church. HomeFront Monthly: Every four weeks we highlight one of the 10 environments. For each new environment, parents should receive HomeFront Monthly. This resource gives families ideas for how to create fun, spiritually forming times in their home setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives! 18