HANDS-ON WORSHIP 65

WEEK

BIBLE POINT God knows us.

SCRIPTURE Samuel anoints David. (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

BIBLE VERSE “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me” (Psalm 139:1).

BIBLE BASISAs a young man, Saul was certainly something to look at. In fact, if Saul were around today, he might be voted “most popular” or “most likely to succeed.” First Samuel 9:2 says that he was “the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.” So the Israelites probably weren’t surprised when the prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king. “Of course,” they might have nodded with satisfaction, “he’s the perfect choice!”

But God saw beyond Saul’s impressive stature into a heart that had become arrogant and rebellious. Saul’s ways became so sinful that the Lord was grieved that he had made Saul king. So God sent Samuel to the home of a man named Jesse, to anoint a new king. And when David (the youngest of Jesse’s sons and a shepherd no less!) stood before Samuel, God proclaimed, “He’s the one.” A surprising choice? Not at all! For God knew that inside this shepherd boy beat the heart of a godly king.

Each child who attends your Sunday school holds inside a collection of secrets. Unspoken dreams, aspirations, fears, and questions lie beneath the surface. Therefore, it’s comforting for children to realize that God knows them perfectly—from the inside out! Children will be delighted (and even surprised) to discover that the big God who created the universe knows every detail of their hearts. Use this lesson’s activities to reassure children that God knows and loves them because he made them.

Samuel Anoints David7

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YOU’LL NEED• Bible• Hands-On Worship Sing & Play

Music CD • Hands-On Worship Sing & Play

Music Video DVD• DVD player• “God Sightings” poster• tape• markers (1 per Crew)• 3x5 cards (1 per Crew)• offering basket• copies of the “Person Outline”

page (at the end of this lesson), cut out, 1 per child

• crayons• copy of both of the “Jesse’s Sons”

pages (at the end of this lesson), with pictures cut apart

EASY PREPGather in Crews. If you have more than four children, form Crews of two or more children. Keep the Crews as consistent as possible week to week. Designate an older child as the Crew Leader in each Crew. Relationships will strengthen as the junior leaders get to know their Crew members, everyone will learn names, and all children will be able to share in discussion times. (See the introduction to this Leader Guide for more details.)

Get ready for God Sightings. Each week, children will report their God Sightings to their Crew. Each Crew Leader will write the God Sightings on a 3x5 card and tape the card to the “God Sightings” poster. As the weeks progress, you may need to add another sheet of poster board to hold more God Sightings cards. (See the introduction to this Leader Guide for more details.)

BONUS IDEA:YOU’LL NEED

• cookies (1 per child)• a variety of frosting flavors• M&M’s candies• licorice strips• sprinkles• mini marshmallows• paper plates• napkins• plastic knives

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SING & PLAY

WELCOME

Play the Hands-On Worship Sing & Play Music CD or DVD in the background to create a welcoming atmosphere. As children arrive, have them gather with their Crews. If guests arrive, help them join Crews. Crew members can introduce themselves to each other and tell about their week.

When you’re ready to begin, greet kids warmly. Say: Welcome everyone! Let’s start our time together by singing a song of praise to our loving God.

TRACK

2Lead kids in singing “Children of God.”

BIBLE VERSE AND BIRTHDAYS

After the song, say: God knows and loves all of his children. In the Bible, Psalm 139 says, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” That verse means God knows us. (“Thank you, God!”) Lead kids in punching their fists in the air when they shout the response words. Let’s learn some motions to help us remember the verse.

Have everyone point up for “O Lord” and then place hands on their hearts for “you have examined my heart.” Motion from head to toes for “and know everything about me.”

Say: God knows all of us, because he made us! Let’s get to know some special people right now…our birthday people!

Ask people who have birthdays this upcoming week to tell one thing about them they want everyone to know—their favorite color, food, movie, or sport. Afterward, have everyone shout “Glad to know you!” and say the name of each birthday person.

Say: That was fun getting to know more about our birthday people! I’m so thankful God knows us. (“Thank you, God!”) God’s so faithful. He created everything and everyone. Let’s sing a song of praise to him!

TRACK

7Have the birthday people help you lead kids in singing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

Say: Our one true God is faithful. He doesn’t change. God was the same when he was with people in Bible times, God is with us now, and he’ll be with us in the future. God is faithful! When we look for God Sightings, we’re looking for signs of God’s faithfulness. Let’s talk about God Sightings!

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GOD SIGHTINGS

Bring out the “God Sightings” poster, 3x5 cards, tape, and markers. Say: Each week, we’ve been looking for God Sightings—ways we see God loves us and is with us—all around us. God Sightings are evidence of the one true God all around us every day! We’re looking for things that God has done or made, such as God creating a sunset, bringing a refreshing rainstorm, or giving us food for a tasty snack. We can practice being a God Sighting, too, by showing God’s love! We can give a hug, tell a kind word, or pray with someone.

Give a 3x5 card and marker to each Crew Leader. Ask kids to sit in a circle with their Crew and share God Sightings such as a friend who helped them feel better when they were sad or a bright-colored bird flying in the sky. Allow time for Crews to share and for Crew Leaders to write on their Crew’s card. Have kids or Crew Leaders tape the cards to the “God Sightings” poster for everyone to see.

Read a few of the God Sightings from the poster, and then hold up the offering basket. Say: You can be God Sightings to others through your offerings, too. The money you bring in will help others know how much our one true God loves them! Remind children about the outreach project the offering will go to at the end of the quarter, and collect the offering.

Say: We can be God Sightings to everyone we meet. We want everyone to know about our awesome, good and faithful God. Let’s sing a song of praise to our awesome God!

TRACK

11Lead kids in singing “Awesome God.”

Say: Wow! Our awesome God loves us and God knows us. (“Thank you, God!”)

Hold up a Bible and say: Today we’ll learn how God helped a man named Samuel be wise when he chose the next king for God’s people. God knew that’d be a tough job! Let’s sing “If Anyone Lacks Wisdom.”

TRACK

6Lead kids in singing “If Anyone Lacks Wisdom” (James 1:5).

Say: If we’re ever confused and need wisdom, we can ask God. God knows what to do! God knows us. (“Thank you, God!”) Let’s head into a Bible time and get to know Samuel and David.

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BIBLE EXPERIENCE

SAMUEL’S SEARCH

Gather Crews, and hold up a Bible. Say: God chose a big guy named Saul to be Israel’s first king. Saul started out as a good king, but later he didn’t follow God. So God decided he’d choose a better king for Israel. God sent a prophet named Samuel on…well, kind of an adventure. A prophet is someone who can hear special messages from God. And, boy, did Samuel hear something amazing! We’re going to see what it might’ve been like to be there with Samuel! Samuel met Jesse who was a dad with a bunch of sons. We’re going to play a game show called Who Wants to Be King? Motion to the Crews. You’re the game show audience! After you hear me tell about all of Jesse’s sons, I’ll ask you to applaud your choice for a king. We’ll use our Applause-o-Meter to see which son you think should be king.

Demonstrate the Applause-o-Meter. Stand like the figure below. As kids applaud more loudly, raise your arm higher and higher, like the needle on a gauge, leaving your elbow in place. Practice a couple of times with the kids.

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At least he had enough sense to fall into a big tub of goat milk! I guess a king should love adventure, shouldn’t he? Motion to a child. You look like someone who loves adventure, just like Jesse’s boy! Would you come up and hold his picture for me? Have the child hold the picture.

Hold up the picture of three sons. We could be here all day! Jesse had so many sons, and he thought they’d all make good kings! Point to each son in the picture. Jesse thought he’d make a good king…and so would he…and him, too! Motion to a child. I need help! Would you hold this for me? I’m getting tired! Have the child hold the picture.

Well, audience, let’s see how Jesse’s sons rate on our studio audience Applause-o-Meter. Who wants to be a king?

Stand behind one picture at a time. As you indicate each “son,” act as the Applause-o-Meter and rate the applause for each son. When all the sons have been applauded, shake your head.

Say: You know what? It doesn’t appear that any of Jesse’s sons is meant to be king. Hmm. Jesse did have one more son. But he was just a small boy. Hold up the picture of David. His name was David. He was a good-looking boy. He loved music and played the harp pretty well. He was also a pretty decent shepherd. And even though he was little, he was very brave. David attacked a bear and a lion when they tried to take his sheep away. The most important thing was David really loved the Lord. Ask a child to hold the picture of David. Then act as the Applause-o-Meter, and have the studio audience wildly clap and cheer. David would be the next king!

Collect the pictures from the kids, and have the children return to their Crews. Then say: Well, our game show was fun and a little silly! I don’t think Jesse’s sons really did all those things, but the Bible does tell us that Samuel was impressed with Jesse’s sons.

WHO WANTS TO BE KING?

During the game show, you’ll show five pictures of Jesse’s sons. Save the picture of David for after the Applause-o-Meter.

Show the picture of Eliab to the audience. Well, they didn’t have photos in Bible times, so I brought some pictures instead. This is Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab. He was the fastest goat milker at the Bethlehem Go-Go-Goat Track. You should’ve seen him! A king has to be fast! Motion to a child. You remind me of someone who’s always on the go, like Jesse’s son Eliab. Why don’t you stand here and hold his picture for me? Have the child hold the picture.

Hold up the picture of Abinadab. Here’s Jesse’s award-winning son Abinadab. He won a trophy in a sheep herding contest. You should’ve seen how he guided all those sheep! It takes patience working with stubborn sheep. A king must be patient working with people. Motion to a child. Why, you—you look like a patient person, just like Abinadab. Would you come up here and patiently hold his picture for me? Have the child hold the picture.

Hold up the picture of Shimea. Here’s a picture of Jesse’s son Shimea. Jesse thought he’d make a good king because he won the Jokester of the Year award down at the Sabbath School! He was always telling the funniest jokes—why, everyone loved Shimea! And you know that a king should have a good sense of humor. Motion to a child. You, there—you remind me of Jesse’s jokester, Shimea. You like to make people laugh, don’t you? Come on up here, and hold Shimea’s picture for everyone to see. Have the child hold the picture.

Hold up the picture of a boy with the palm branches attached to his arms. Now here’s a picture of another one of Jesse’s boys—before the accident. He was always trying crazy stunts like this! He made wings out of palm branches and jumped off the barn in an attempt to fly.

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Hold up a Bible and say: The Bible tells us that the prophet Samuel looked at Jesse’s oldest son and thought he should be the king. But God told Samuel not to consider how Jesse’s sons looked on the outside because God was looking on the inside—at their hearts! Samuel learned that God knows us. (“Thank you, God!”)

Let’s tell some of the cool things God knows about each of us. In your Crew, take turns saying, “God knows that I…” Then tell something God knows about you, such as a gift or talent.

Allow four minutes so everyone has at least one turn. Then get everyone’s attention, and say: God knows us. (“Thank you, God!”) God cares more about our hearts than what we look like or the things we can do. God knew that David loved God. God knew that little David would grow to be a great leader. Let’s head into a prayer time and thank God for making us and knowing us.

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PRAYER PLACE

Distribute the people-shaped cutouts and crayons. Point out that people see the outside of us—our facial features, how we dress, and the things we do. Encourage kids to decorate their paper people to look like themselves. After kids are finished, get everyone’s attention.

Say: Today’s Bible verse says, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” That verse means God knows us. (“Thank you, God!”) God knows everything about us.

Have children turn over their cutouts and draw or describe things that only God knows about them. Then have Crews get together.

ASK:• What does God know about you?

• Why do you think God wants to know you?

Ask several children to report back to the large group. Say: People can look at us on the outside, but God searches our hearts and knows us inside and out! Let’s close by holding our pictures and thanking God for knowing and loving us.

Have kids share with their Crews the dreams they have that they want God to fulfill. Then pull everyone together in a large circle and pray: Dear God, thank you for loving us enough to know us inside and out. Thank you for having amazing plans for us, just as you did for David. In Jesus’ name, amen. Say: Take your picture home as a reminder that God knows us. (“Thank you, God!”) When you leave today, remember to look for things God has done or made. We’ll talk about God Sightings when we meet again next week. You are God Sightings to me. You shared so many good ideas in our discussions. I thank God for you!

Give any other announcements, and then dismiss the children. Play the Hands-On Worship Sing & Play Music CD or DVD in the background while they leave.

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BONUS IDEAGOD KNOWS US

Provide a variety of edible art supplies that kids can use to create cookie faces—cookies, a variety of frosting flavors, M&M’s candies, licorice strips, sprinkles, and mini marshmallows. Set out paper plates, napkins, plastic knives, and all snack supplies on a table.

Say: People look at us on the outside, but God searches our hearts and knows us inside and out! The Bible says, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” That verse means God knows us. (“Thank you, God!”) God knows everything about us.

Motion to the snack supplies. Say: Today’s treat is also an art project. You’re going to use these snack supplies to make your own face…from food!

Let children make their snacks. After they’re done, say: Before we eat, let’s have a “snack show-and-tell.” Show each other your snack designs and tell everyone one thing about yourself nobody knows—maybe it’s your favorite color, or favorite movie, or most fun vacation.

After the snack show-and-tell, say a prayer of thanks and let everyone eat.

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JESSE’S SONS (1) Copy this page and cut out the individual pictures.

SHIMEA ABINADAB

ELIAB

Permission to photocopy this page from Hands-On Worship Leader Guide, Fall, granted for local church use. Illustrator: Gioia Fiammenghi Caputo. Copyright © 2014 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland CO 80538. group.com

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DAVID

Permission to photocopy this page from Hands-On Worship Leader Guide, Fall, granted for local church use. Illustrator: Gioia Fiammenghi. Caputo. Copyright © 2014 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland CO 80538. group.com

JESSE’S SONS (2) Copy this page and cut out the individual pictures.

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PERSON OUTLINE

Permission to photocopy this page from Hands-On Worship Leader Guide, Fall, granted for local church use. Illustrator: Wes Comer. Copyright © 2014 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland CO 80538. group.com

Make 1 copy of this page for each child, and cut out the outline.