Talk
WELCOME TO WEEK 2
Who do you share your troubles to? Who do you share all of your joys with? Hannah was hurting and she turned to God and he heard her prayers. This week we will see how God we can talk to about anything!
BIBLE STORY
Play a version of Heads-Up using items of food. Place card on forehead and guess whaat card you have on your forehead. You can ask the audience questions to receive clues as to what food item you have on your head.
Was it easy or hard to guess what food you had on your forehead when you couldn’t just read the card? Being able to talk to a partner helped you figure out what card you were holding. This week we are reading a story about Hannah. She was married and really wanted to have a son but was not able to. She went to the temple to pray and ask God sincerely for a baby. God wants us to talk to him about our problems and concerns. He wants us to go to Him when we have questions or when we are in need. Let’s read or listen to our story for the week to see what happens to Hannah after she prays for a son.
Let’s read the Bible story for the week I Samuel 1:4-20
Why did Peninnah make fun of Hannah? (Because Hannah didn’t have any children but she did)
How long did the teasing go on? (For years)
How did this make Hannah feel? (She would cry and not eat)
Who was there while Hannah prayed at the tabernacle? (Thee priest Eli)
What vow did Hannah make? (If God answered her prayer and gave her a son, she would give him back to Him)
What did Eli see as he watched Hannah pray? (Her lips moving but not hearing any sound)
What did he accuse her of? (Drunk with wine)
After Hannah explained her prayer in anguish, what did Eli tell her? (To go in peace and may God grant her request)
How did Hannah feel after this news? (She was no longer sad and began to eat)
Did God answer Hannah’s prayer? (In due time she gave birth to Samuel)
Why did Hannah name him Samuel? (His name means “I asked the Lord for him”)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Play this game of God answers prayers. In a bag or bowl, place the following strips of paper cut out. Place a fun snack in a bowl nearby. Pull out a strip of paper, read it, and decide if God answered the prayer right away or if the person had to wait. If the answer is yes, you get to eat a snack, if the answer is no, you don’t get a snack; if the answer is wait, you have to wait until another turn.When we talk to God He will answer us, even if the answer is not always what we think it should be. God’s answer might be yes, no or wait. We can trust that His answer is what is best for us
Materials: Printed strips of paper, a bowl, a small bowl of treats, scissors
Alternate
Make a telephone line out of cups and string. Practice using is together sending messages to each other. Did the sound carry to the other person immediately or did you have to wait a little for thee sound to come through? Did the length of thee string change the amount of delay? How do we talk to God? Do we have to pick up the telephone to speak to Him? Of course not, we know we can simply pray and God can hear us. God may not always respond immediately, but we can trust that He hears us and will answer our prayer.
Materials: String, cups, thumbtacks,
Independent activity:
God wants us to share with Him. He wants to hear about the good and the bad things that are going on. On this activity sheet, draw or write in something that describes the different things you feel, like or dislike.
Materials: activity sheet
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, scissors
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Who is always with you?
How do you talk to God?
How do you hear God’s answers?
How did Hannah hear God’s answer?
Do we still need a priest to hear from God?
Is there only a special time you can talk with God?
How did Hannah know that her prayer was answered?
How do you know that Hannah believed Eli’s words that she would have a baby?
Practical Application at Home
We can talk to God any time. We do not need a priest or someone to go between us and God. When Jesus died on the cross He made a way for us to speak directly to God. We don’t need to sacrifice a lamb because Jesus was our sacrificial lamb. His death freed us to have a relationship with God. God sent the Holy Spirit to be with us all the time. We can speak to God any time.
Keep a prayer journal for this week. Write down the things you are thankful for, the people you are grateful for, others you want to pray for, and things you want to share from your heart. Keep the journal for at least a week and then continue on if you desire. After the first week, think about your experience during the week of prayer.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?