OT 55 Jonathan Helps David Escape

Reference: 1 Samuel 18-20

Big Idea: Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Verse: Leviticus 19:18b - ...but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Motions for the Big Idea:
Love - place both hands over your heart
Neighbor - pretend to put your arm around an imaginary person next to you.
Love - same as before
Yourself - point to yourself with both thumbs

Motions for the Verse:
You shall - point your finger acquisitively at someone else
Love - place both hands over your heart
Neighbor - pretend to place your arm around an imaginary “neighbor”
Yourself -  point to yourself with both thumbs
Eye - point to your eye
Lord - point up

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who wanted to kill David? // King Saul
What did Saul throw at David? // A spear
Who was David’s friend who helped him escape? // Jonathan
Who was David’s wife who helped him escape? // Michal
What did Michal do to trick Saul’s men into thinking David was sick in the bed? // Put a statue, some hair, and clothes on the bed.
What did Jonathan shoot to let David know that he needed to run away? // Arrows
How did the Bible say Jonathan loved David? // Like he loved himself
What did God do to show us he loved us? // Sent Jesus to die for our sins
What is today’s big idea? // Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
What is today’s Bible verse? // Leviticus 19:18b - ...but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson | Resources

OT 54 Saul is Jealous of David

Reference: 1 Samuel 18

Big Idea: Blessed are the ones whose sins are forgiven.

Verse: Psalm 32:1 - Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (ESV)

Motions for the Big Idea:
Blessed - point to your cheeks and smile
One - hold up one finger
Sins - two thumbs down
Forgiven - Forgive - hold left palm up, brush it off twice with the fingertips of your other hand 1
1 This is the ASL sign for “forgive.” See a demonstration.

Motions for the Verse:
Blessed - point to your cheeks and smile
One - hold up one finger
Transgression - form a “T” with your hands
Forgiven - Forgive - hold left palm up, brush it off twice with the fingertips of your other hand 1
Sin - two thumbs down
Covered - form a roof over your head with your arms
1 This is the ASL sign for “forgive.” See a demonstration.

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did David do that made him famous in Israel? // Defeated the giant, Goliath
What song did people sing about David and Saul? // Saul has defeated thousands, David has defeated tens of thousands
How did Saul feel when he heard this song? // Very angry
What did Saul do to try to hurt David? // Threw a spear at him
Did Saul hit David with the spear? // No, David escaped both times
Name one of the commandments of God that Saul broke. // Do not covet, do not murder
Name the other commandment of God that Saul broke. // See previous answers
What is the one big difference between Saul and David? // David had faith in God to forgive his sins
What is today’s big idea? // Blessed is the one whose sins are forgiven.
What is today’s Bible verse? // Psalm 32:1 - Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (ESV)

Google Docs Links:
Lesson | Resources

OT 53 David and Goliath

Reference: 1 Samuel 17

Big Idea: Don’t trust in stuff; trust in God.

Verse: Psalm 20:7 - Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Motions for the Big Idea:
Don’t - wag your finger “no”
Trust - tap your temple with a finger, then tap the fist of that hand on top of another fist*
Stuff - hold your hands up and wiggle your fingers
Trust - see above for “trust”
God - point up
*This is the ASL sign for faith, which is a synonym of trust. See here to watch a video.

Motions for the Verse:
Trust  - tap your temple with a finger, then tap the fist of that hand on top of another fist
Chariots - pretend to steer a steering wheel
Horses - pretend to hold the reins of a horse
We - point to yourself
Name - hold out the first two fingers on each hand; tap one set of fingers on top of the other
God - point up

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who were the two armies that battled in today’s story? // The Philistines and the Israelites
Who was the Philistines best soldier? // Goliath
How tall was Goliath? // Over nine feet tall
What did Goliath say to the Israelites? // Come out and fight me; whoever loses will become slaves to the other
For 40 days, did any Israelite come out and fight Goliath? // Nope.
When Jesse’s sons were with Saul at the battle, where was their younger brother, David? // Home watching the sheep.
Who decided to fight Goliath? // David
What two scary animals did David help fight when he watched sheep? // A lion and a bear
What did David use to defeat Goliath? // A slingshot and give stones
Why was David able to defeat Goliath? // God helped him.
What is today’s big idea? // Don’t trust in stuff; trust in God!
What is today’s Bible verse? // Psalm 20:7 - Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson | Resources

OT 52 David Plays Music for Saul

Reference: 1 Samuel 16:14-23
Big Idea: Sing to the Lord because he is good.

Verse: Psalm 92:1 - It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High (ESV)

Motions for the Big Idea
Sing - place one hand on your heart, gesture out with the other, and sing the word “sing”
Lord - point
Good - two thumbs up

Motions for the Big Idea:
Good - two thumbs up
Give thanks - cup your hands together and gesture away from you
Lord - point up
Sing praises - place one hand over your heart, gesture out with the second hand, sing the words as you say them
Name - pretend to write on your palm
O - make an O with your arms
high - reach up really high with your hands

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was king in today’s story? // Saul
Who was going to be the next king of Israel? // David
What was bothering King Saul? // An evil spirit
What idea did King Saul’s servants have to make him feel better? // Find someone to play music
Who did they find to play music for Saul? // David
What instrument did David play? // Harp
What happened when David played the harp? // Saul felt better, the evil spirit would leave
Why did the evil spirit leave? // Because of David’s songs to God
What does the word “psalm” mean? // Song
What is today’s big idea? // Sing to the Lord because he is good.
What is today’s Bible verse? // Psalm 92:1 - It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High (ESV)

Google Docs Links:
Lesson | Resources

OT 51 David is Anointed King

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)

Google Docs Links:Lesson | Resources

OT 50 Saul Disobeys God

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.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson | Resources

OT 49 Saul Becomes King

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