Reference: 1 Samuel 16
Big Idea: People look at the outside, but God looks at our hearts.
Verse: 1 Samuel 16:7b - For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. (ESV)
Motions for the Big Idea:People - point to yourselfLook - pretend to look through binocularsOutside - rub your cheeks with your handsGod - pointLooks - pretend to look through binocularsHearts - tap your heart
Motions for the Verse:Lord - point up Sees - pretend to look through binocularsMan - flex your musclesLooks - pretend to look through binoculars againOutward appearance - pretend to brush your long hair Heart - tap your heart
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
- Who was the first king of Israel? // Saul
- What was Saul like? // Tall and handsome
- What happened when Saul sinned? // God said he wouldn’t be king forever
- To whose house did God send Samuel? // Jesse, in Bethlehem
- What was the name of the son God picked to be king? // David
- Was David the person that Samuel thought would be king? // No, he picked the other brothers
- Where was David when Samuel was looking at the other brothers? // Looking after sheep
- People look at the outside, but what does God look at? // Our hearts
- How was David’s heart different than Saul’s heart? // David trusted God to forgive his sins.
- What is today’s big idea? // People look at the outside, but God looks at our hearts.
- What is today’s Bible verse? // 1 Samuel 16:7b - For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (ESV)
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Reference: 1 Sam. 11 & 13
Big Idea: Bad news: you and I have sinned. Good news: Jesus died for our sins.
Verse: Romans 5:6 - For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (ESV)
Motions for the Big Idea:Bad news: droop your shoulders and look sadYou: point to another personI: point to yourselfSinned: two thumbs downGood news: thrust your fists in the air, like celebrating a touchdownJesus: form a cross with your forearmsDied: form an “X” over your chest with your forearmsSins: two thumbs down
Motions for the Verse:We - point to yourselfWeak - droop your shoulders and lean your head sideways like a weaklingRight time - pretend to tap your watchChrist - form a cross with your forearmsDied - form an “X” over your chest with your forearmsUngodly - two thumbs down
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
- What did King Nahash say he was going to do to the Israelites? // Poke out their eyes.
- Who led the Israelites to fight King Nahash? // King Saul
- Who came upon King Saul in power? // The Holy Spirit
- Who won the battle, King Saul and the Israelites or King Nahash? // Saul and the Israelites.
- What were the special people who offered sacrifices to God called? // Priests
- What was the name of the other group of people the Israelites battled? // The Philistines
- What was the name of the priest Saul was waiting for? // Samuel
- How long did Saul wait for Samuel? // 7 days
- What did Saul do when Samuel did show up on time? // He offered the sacrifice himself
- What was God’s punishment for Saul? // He wouldn’t be king forever
- What is today’s big idea? // Bad news: you and I have sinned. Good news: Jesus died for our sins.
- What is today’s Bible verse? // Romans 5:6 - For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
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Reference: 1 Sam. 8-10
Big Idea: Jesus is our good king forever.
Verse: Philippians 2:10 - ...so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (ESV)
Motions for the Big Idea:Jesus - form a cross with your forearmsgood - two thumbs upking - pretend to put a crown on your headforever - repeatedly trace a sideways 8 (∞) with your finger in the air
Motions for the Verse:Name - point with two fingers on each hand; tap the right two fingers on top of the other1Jesus - form a cross with your forearmsKnee - grab your kneeBow - hold your hands up and bow as if in worshipHeaven - point upEarth - tap the floorUnder the earth - pretend to dig with a shovel1 This is the ASL Sign for “name”. Watch a video demonstation.
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
- What did the people of Israel ask for? (A king.)
- Who was supposed to be their king? (God.)
- How did Samuel and God feel about this? (They were angry.)
- What was Saul searching for? (Lost donkeys.)
- Who did Saul and the servant ask for help from when they were looking for the donkeys? (Samuel.)
- Who did God tell Samuel was going to be the king of Israel? (Saul.)
- What did Samuel pour on Saul’s head? (Oil.)
- Why did Samuel pour oil on Saul’s head? (He was anointing him as king.)
- When Samuel was selecting the king of Israel, where was Saul? (Hiding amongst the supplies.)
- What is today’s big idea? (Jesus is our good king forever.)
- Philippians 2:10 - ...so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (ESV)
Google Docs Links:Lesson | Resources
Reference: 1 Sam 4:1-11, 5, 6
Big Idea: There is no god like our God.
Verse: 1 Samuel 2:2 - There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
Motions for the Big Idea:No - wag your finger “no”god - hold your hands apart vertically, about a foot apart (you’re pretending to hold a statue like Dagon)Our - point to yourself with both thumbsGod - point up
Motions for the Verse:None - wag your index finger “no”Holy - hold your hands up and bow forwardLord - point upBesides - pretend to put your arm around an imaginary person next to youRock - tap one fist on top of the otherGod - point up
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
- Who did the Israelites lose a battle against? // The Philistines
- After they lost the battle, what did the leaders of the Israelites go get? // The ark of the covenant
- What did the Philistines take from the Israelites? // The ark of the covenant
- What was the name of the Philistines’ god? // Dagon
- What did God do to the statue of Dagon? // Make it fall over, made it’s head and hands break off
- What happened to the Philistines when the ark was in their cities? // They had painful growths on them
- What things did the Philistines put on the cart with the ark? // Five gold “growths” and five gold rats
- How did the cows walk back with the ark to Israel? // They walked straight, not turning, and mooing all the way
- What is today’s big idea? // There’s no god like our God.
- What is today’s Bible verse? // 1 Samuel 2:2 - There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. (ESV)
Google Docs Links:Lesson | Resources
Reference: 1 Samuel 3
Big Idea: Jesus was punished for our sins.
Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)
Motions for the Big Idea:Jesus - form a cross with your forearmsPunished - punch your palm with your fistOur - point to yourselfSins - two thumbs down
Motions for the Verse:Our sake - point to yourselfMade him -pretend to hammer or saw (making something)Sin - two thumbs downKnew no sin - tap your temple while shaking your head “no”Righteousness - place your left hand over your heart and hold up your right handGod - point up
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
- What was the name of the boy that lived at the tabernacle? // Samuel
- What was the name of the high priest at the tabernacle? // Eli
- How many times did the Lord God call Samuel? // Four times.
- Who did Samuel think was calling him? // Eli.
- What did Eli tell Samuel to say when God called? // Speak. I’m listening.
- What message did God give Samuel? // He was going to punish Eli’s family.
- Why was God going to punish Eli’s sons? // They were breaking God’s commandments.
- Why doesn’t God punish Christians for their sins? // Because Jesus died to pay our punishment.
- Who is the only righteous person? Why? // Jesus, because he never sinned.
- What is today’s big idea? // Jesus was punished for our sins.
- What is today’s Bible verse? // 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)
Google Docs Links:Lesson | Resources
Reference: 1 Samuel 1
Big Idea: Pray to your Father in heaven because he cares for you.
Verse: Matthew 6:9-13 - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Motions for the Big Idea:Pray - fold your hands in prayerFather in heaven - point upCares - give yourself a hugYou - point to another person
Motions For the Verse:Father - Hold your hand with fingers spread, touch your thumb to your forehead*Hallowed - Place your palms flat together and bowKingdome - Pretend to place a crown on your headEarth - Tap the floorHeaven - Point upBread - pretend to eat a sandwichDebts - two thumbs down (since debts means “sins”)Evil - hold up your index fingers like devil horns*This is the ASL sign for “Father”. See a video demonstration.
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
- What were the names of Elkanah’s two wives? // Hannah and Peninnah
- What couldn’t Hannah do? // Have any kids
- What did Peninnah do to Hannah? // Tease her
- What did Hannah ask God to do? // Give her a child
- What promises did Hannah make to God in her prayer? // Give her child back to God, won’t cut his hair
- Who saw Hannah praying and thought she had too much wine? // Eli
- Did Hannah have a baby? If so, what was his name? // Samuel
- After Samuel was done drinking milk, what did Hannah do? // Took him to live with Eli and work at the tabernacle
- After she gave Samuel back to God, what did God do for Hannah? // She had five more children
- What is today’s big idea? // Pray to your Father in heaven because he cares for you.
- What is today’s Bible verse? // Matthew 6:9-13 - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (ESV)
Google Docs Links:Lesson | Resources
Reference: Ruth 1-4
Big Idea: Jesus, our Redeemer, died to forgive our sins.
Verse: Ephesians 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses...
Motions for the Big Idea:Jesus - make a cross with your forearmsRedeemer - cross the first two fingers of each hand, cross your forearms in an “X”, then pull apart for hands until they are even with your shoulders, facing out, with fingers still crossed*Died - cross your arms over your chestForgive - hold left palm up, brush it off twice with the fingertips of your other hand**Sins - two thumbs down*This is the ASL sign for “redemption”. See a demonstration.**This is the ASL sign for “forgive.” See a demonstration.
Motions for the Verse:Him - make a cross with your forearmsRedemption - cross the first two fingers of each hand, cross your forearms in an “X”, then pull apart for hands until they are even with your shoulders, facing out, with fingers still crossed*Blood - point to each wrist, where Jesus’ nails would have been placedForgiveness - hold left palm up, brush it off twice with the fingertips of your other hand**Trespasses - two thumbs down*This is the ASL sign for “redemption”. See a demonstration.**This is the ASL sign for “forgive.” See a demonstration.
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
- What happened to Naomi’s sons and husband? // They died.
- Who went with Naomi to Bethlehem? // Ruth
- What was life like for widows back then? // They were poor
- How did Ruth and Naomi get food to eat? // Ruth gathered grain from the field
- Who’s field did Ruth go to? // Boaz
- Who was Ruth’s redeemer? // Boaz
- What was the name of Ruth and Boaz’s child? // Obed
- Who was Ruth and Boaz’s great-great-great-great etc. grandson? // Jesus
- What does it mean that Jesus is our redeemer? // He bled and died to pay the price for our sins.
- What is today’s big idea? // Jesus, our Redeemer, died to forgive our sins
- What is today’s Bible verse? // Ephesians 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses... (ESV)
Google Docs Links:Lesson | Resources