WEEK 4

LESSON GUIDE

BIG IDEA BIBLE

God tells me what God Calls Samuel:
is true. 1 Samuel 3:1–20; Job 38:1–11

LARGE GROUP TIME

Welcome back to Recess! Not gonna lie, recess used to be my favorite time of the day when I was in elementary
school. I mean, I could say my favorite was science, but that wouldn’t be the truth — I just loved playing with my
friends! Today we’ll learn about the importance of listening to God and telling the truth through the story of Samuel.

WHAT? What are we talking about today?

ACTIVITY | Mirror, Mirror

INSTRUCTIONS: For this activity, split kids into teams of at least five, sit in a circle, and put their heads down with
their eyes closed. Walk around and discreetly tap one person from each team on the shoulder. They are the mirror
that everyone else on their team has to reflect. Tell everyone to put their heads up, and everyone who didn’t get
tapped has to try to locate the “mirror” on their team by copying the movements of someone in the circle. Nobody
is allowed to speak. The mirror is not allowed to give any indication that the people are following (or not following)
the right person. Once everyone in the circle seems to be following the same person, reveal who the real “mirror” is.
# ACCESSIBILITY HACK: Some kids might get confused with this activity and not know what is
going on. Consider modifying this activity so that everyone is told who to follow, and only one kid
(who was not told) has to guess who the original mirror is.
Some of you were able to figure out who the true mirror was, and others of you may have went along with
what the group was doing.
In today’s Bible story, we’ll find out that there’s someone who will always show us what is true and ways we
can reflect that truth always!

ACTIVITY | Balloon Tetherball

INSTRUCTION: Attach a punch balloon to a length of rope. Secure the rope to a pole, a microphone stand,
or — if a volunteer is feeling brave — a leader can hold it while standing on a stool. Invite two kids to face off in
a one-minute tetherball match. Play a few times so more kids have a chance to play.
# ACCESSIBILITY HACK: Pass out puffer balls that kids can play with freely. Remind them to
hold tight to the loop so the ball doesn’t fall to the ground.
The cool part of tetherball is that the ball is anchored, or tethered, to the pole (that’s where the name comes
from). The players could try to get the ball to move in any direction, but the ball won’t leave the pole because
it’s firmly attached.

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We’ll learn today that when we are tethered to God’s truth, our actions will remain true, too, no matter what
other people or our own feelings might want us to do.

QUESTION | “What is something that’s true?”

What are some things that you are certain are true? Maybe they are things you learned about in math or
science, something you know about a family member, or facts about famous people.
Just like we are confident these things are true, we can be sure that what God tells us is true. We just have
to make sure we are listening, and we act on the truth in the positive ways.

SO WHAT? Why does it matter to God and to us?

SCRIPTURE | 1 Samuel 3:1–20 (God Calls Samuel)

INSTRUCTIONS: Have the lead storyteller dress up like a P.E. coach in trainers, or a sweatsuit with accessories
like a whistle, sweatbands, a clipboard, and tube socks. Feel free to read parts of the Scripture passage before
following the script below. Pass out a small piece of yellow paper to each kid. If possible, hold or dribble a soccer
ball as you teach.
# ACCESSIBILITY HACK: As we talk about how Samuel heard God’s voice in today’s Bible story,
keep in mind that listening looks different for kids with disabilities or certain conditions. Let kids
know that detecting sound is not the only way of listening to God. Sign language uses “receive” or
“understand” in place of “hear.” Also, avoid using God “knows” and God “hears” synonymously as it
may cause a disconnect for kids who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Welcome to another fun-filled field day! We’re going to learn stories from the Bible while getting some
exercise in. Let’s get ready to train up our bodies and mind all at once!
One of my favorite things to play during recess was soccer (or football). The cool part of this was
that whenever a player would commit a foul by making an illegal move or just being a bad sport,
a referee would issue a yellow card as a warning.
So today, all of you get to be refs as I tell you the Bible story. If you think that something I said is
not the truth, hold up your yellow card. Ready? Break! (Blow whistle.)
If you remember our story from last week, a woman named Hannah had prayed to God and asked for a
baby boy. She promised that if God gave her a baby, she would give the baby right back to God — meaning,
he would serve God. God did give her a baby, and she named him Samuel. So when Samuel was just a boy,
he went to go live in the place of worship with Eli, the high priest.
Samuel ran away and joined a traveling circus. (Wait for kids to hold up their yellow cards.) Okay,
that wasn’t true! Samuel stayed at the temple and helped Eli.
There was a reason why Samuel was so valued at the temple. Eli had two sons. Usually, a high priest’s son
would take over his job after he died — but Eli’s sons were not ready for the job. Not even close.
They would have epic sword fights and destroy the house of worship! (Wait for kids to hold up their
yellow cards.) Ah, you got me again!
They might not have been physically destroying the temple, but the problem was they did not follow God,
and many people disliked them. Because they were dishonest and did not honor God, they didn’t make for
the best leaders.
So back to Samuel. One night, Samuel was lying down in the tabernacle.
All of a sudden, Samuel heard a voice saying, “Samuel. I am your father!” (Wait for kids to hold up
their yellow cards.) Good call, refs! That’s not what the voice said.

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Samuel did hear a voice, so he quickly got up and ran to Eli’s room, because who else could it be? Eli said
he didn’t call Samuel so he should go lie down again. The voice called Samuel a second time. At the third
time, Eli finally figured out what was going on.
He told Samuel that the next time he hears the voice, he should hunt the voice down and report
the intruder to the authorities. (Wait for kids to hold up their yellow cards.) Ooh, I thought I had you
there.
What Eli actually said was to ask the voice to speak while he listened . . . because it was God calling
Samuel! So Samuel did that. The next time the voice called, he said, “Speak, I’m listening.”
God told Samuel that Eli and his sons would have to answer to God for the way they dishonored God,
especially as members of the house of worship. In the morning, when Eli asked what God told Samuel,
Samuel wasn’t sure he could tell Eli the truth.
So he lied. He told Eli that he was doing great and that God would send him on vacation to a
tropical island! (Wait for kids to hold up their yellow cards.) Nope. Samuel didn’t say that . . . but I bet
he wanted to because the truth was so hard to say.
Samuel obeyed God and stayed true to the message he was given. Eli asked for the whole truth, and
Samuel did not leave one thing out. Eli was very sad, but he knew Samuel was telling the truth and he knew
that God was right.
As Samuel grew up, he learned more and more about what God wanted him to do. Samuel told many
people how to love and obey God. That’s why God’s people usually listened to Samuel — because his words
were wise, and they truly were from God.
Throw your yellow cards into the air!

BIG IDEA | God tells me what is true.

INSTRUCTIONS: Like last week, write the Big Idea on a piece of masking tape, and attach it to a jelly ball. Bounce
it to one kid in the group. Have them read the first word out loud, then bounce the ball to someone else. Keep going
until all the words are read out loud. Continue to pass the ball around but have everyone say the Big Idea together
each time the ball is passed to another person.
Just like God spoke the truth to Samuel, God does the same to us. There are a lot of messages being shared
in our world, and so many of them claim to be true, even when they’re not.
That’s why it’s good to know that there is always one unchanging source of truth — God! God tells me what
is true.

ACTIVITY | Jumping Teddy Bear

INSTRUCTIONS: Invite leaders or kids to turn a rope. Teach the kids the rhyme below. Encourage one kid at a
time to try jumping the rope while the group chants the rhyme. Allow every kid who wants to participate have a
turn. If a kid makes it all the way through the rhyme without stopping, they can sit back down. Anyone who gets
stuck has to say the Big Idea before sitting back down.
# PRETEEN HACK: You could also level this up by adding a second rope and having preteens
attempt double dutch ropes.
Everyone let’s learn this old school jumprope rhyme together:
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do!

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(Add these lines for an extended version.)

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the lights,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say goodnight!
What skilled jumpropers you are! Let me add one more line to the rhyme: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, tell me
something true! What are some things you know to be true about God?
I know one thing — God tells me what is true!

ACTIVITY | Who’s Calling Me?

INSTRUCTIONS: For this activity, have everyone spread out around the room. Select one volunteer to close their
eyes or wear a blindfold. To play, designate one person in the group who will be the “caller” — they have to call the
name of the person who’s closing their eyes. When you give the signal, have everyone in the room talk at once. The
person who is blindfolded has to navigate the room, and find the person who’s calling their name. Have kids look
out for this person so they don’t bump into or trip over any hazards.
Sometimes, it’s hard to hear one voice with all these other, loud voices talking at the same time. It’s the
same way with the truth — it can be hard to tell what’s true when you hear all these other voices trying to
talk over it. God tells us what is true.
How can we learn to recognize God’s voice in the middle of all the noise and chaos?

SCRIPTURE | Job 38:1–11

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the passage together.
To better understand what’s going on here, I need to tell you a little bit more about Job. Job was a good
man who loved God. He had a large, happy family and tons of farm animals. His life was pretty great. Satan,
the enemy of God’s people, said that Job was only faithful to God because God gave him everything he
needed.
God knew Job’s heart, so God knew though tested, Job would be faithful. Then everything went wrong. Job
lost his wife, his children, and even his health. He trusted God through it all, but eventually, he cried out to
God because he didn’t understand why this was happening to him.
The passage we just read was God’s response to Job. Job probably wanted to hear words of comfort, or
at least an explanation, but what God offered are simple words of truth.
The truth is, even when things don’t make sense to us, God sees a bigger picture and has a plan to make
things right always. In the end, Job was given his life back, and it was even better than it was before.
God always gives us a way to find the truth. When Jesus came to earth, he told everyone he was “the way,
the truth, and the life” (John 14:6, NIV). Basically, he was saying that he was the answer.
He was the way to know God.
He could reveal the truth about God’s love and forgiveness.
He could offer life that lasts forever when people choose God.
God tells me what is true, and we can learn more about it when we follow Jesus!

VIDEO | Recess, Episode 4

INSTRUCTIONS: Play this week’s episode of Press Play.

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NOW WHAT? What does God want us to do about it?

REFLECTION | Breathing Exercises

INSTRUCTIONS: Have kids slow down with some breathing exercises before you invite them to reflect on some
prompts. You can have them sit on the ground with the lights dimmed. You could even provide exercise mats, if
available.
It’s time to slow down and think about everything we talked about today. Researchers say the average
person has 6,200 thoughts per day! That’s a lot! We get thoughts from friends, movies or shows, books
we’ve read, social media, family . . . everywhere.
If we’re not careful, we can believe that all the thoughts that pop into our heads are true. They might help
us understand what we’re feeling, but God helps us know what’s true when we are confused, worried, or
unsure.
Let’s practice taking in some deep breaths as we focus on the word “true.”
Let’s sniff out the truth with our breaths today.
Take three short sniffs.
Hop forward three times.
Take three short sniffs again.
Let’s try this a few more times.
Now say all the words that come to mind when you hear the word “true.”
Why is knowing the truth so important?
Should we ever keep the truth from someone we care about? Why or why not?

RESPONSE | Tell Me Something True

INSTRUCTIONS: Share with kids some truths paraphrased from Scripture. You could even include past Big
Ideas. You might say things like, “God loves you,” “You belong in God’s family,” “You are wonderfully made,” “You
were created on purpose for a purpose,” “You are valuable.” and others. Then have kids go around the room and
ask someone, “Tell me something true,” and have the other person say one of the things you’ve said. If you’re
concerned about kids fooling around with the statements during this time, you can tell kids they have to approach
a leader, and the leader gets to impart a truth statement. They could even make it personal to the kid like, “God
gave you a beautiful voice.”
# PRETEEN HACK: Preteens are testing all kinds of boundaries, and one of them is with truth-telling.
Leaders should realize that kids don’t often lie to be malicious but for a host of possible reasons:
to avoid getting in trouble, to gain approval, to evade a line of questioning, or because they like the
attention. As you talk about how Samuel and Eli were given some hard truths from God in today’s
Bible story, talk to kids about why truth is important. If you catch a kid in a lie, remember not to
draw attention to it but speak with them individually and calmly, allowing them to retell their story.
That was so much fun, exchanging all these truth statements together! It’s so good to know who we can
turn to when we need to know something true.
Samuel wasn’t sure where the voice was coming from in the middle of the night at first. Once he learned it
was God, he listened to what God had to say. It wasn’t happy news he received, but God gave him words to
let him know what his job would be in the future.
Sometimes we can hurt people when we don’t tell them the truth. Even when we think we’re trying to protect
them, when we lie or cover up the truth, it often does more damage than good. Even when the truth you
need to speak is hard to say, you can find a way to deliver it in a kind way.

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 RECESS (ELEMENTARY) | WEEK 4 | LESSON GUIDE 6

What are some examples of when you might have to tell someone something true from God? Maybe you
need to tell someone that their words and actions are hurtful. Maybe you need to invite someone to come
to church with you. Maybe you need to say sorry for something you did.
God tells me what is true, and that means I need to tell others what is true, too.

MEMORY VERSE | 1 John 3:1a (NIV)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
INSTRUCTIONS: Have two teams line up facing each other with an object placed evenly between the two teams.
Assign a number to each player on both teams so that there are two players per number. Call out a number and
the person on each team who is that number runs to get the item in the middle. They get one point for getting the
object first and a bonus point if they can recite the verse properly.

PRAYER
Dear God, in a world full of so much information, we are so thankful that you tell us what is true. Help us to
hear your voice and choose the truth over what is harmful or wrong. Amen.

SMALL GROUP TIME

DISCUSSION
SCRIPTURE QUESTIONS
Who did Samuel think was calling him? Who was actually calling him? Eli; God.
What did Eli tell Samuel to say after he heard the voice a third time? “Speak, Lord, for your
servant is listening.”
How did Samuel obey God? He told Eli the truth about why God had spoken to him.
Read Job 38:4 Why do you think God reminded Job that he wasn’t there at the beginning of
time, but God was?
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
What are some ways God speaks to us today?
How can we tell the difference between what is true and what is untrue?
Do you think it’s better to tell a hard truth or to hide it?

ACTIVITY | Playpen Of Truth

INSTRUCTIONS: Give every kid a ball pit ball, a label from the printable, and a pen. Have them complete the
statement: “God tells me I am ___ and that’s the truth!” Once they stick their label on their ball, have everyone
throw their ball into a container. Pick one out and read it out loud. Have all the kids chime in on “that’s the
truth!” Hand the ball back to its owner and continue until you’ve read them all.
# PRETEEN HACK: Write a different Bible verse (just the reference) on each ball. Have kids dig
around to find all the balls that have a Scripture reference on them. Afterward, have preteens look
up the passages on the balls and share what they know to be true about God because of that verse.
Who knew that knowing and telling the truth can be so fun! Keep your truth ball close with you at home to
remind yourself that since God tells me what is true, we need to actively listen to God’s voice and be truth-
tellers ourselves!

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