I Will Listen to God: A Christian Preschool Lesson

Sep 8, 2010
Mary Hudlemeyer

A Tool for Listening to God - MAHudlemeyer

Teach preschoolers about how God first spoke to Samuel when he was a young boy. Tell the story, do a craft and play a game.

Preschoolers connect to Samuel because his story begins when he was their age. Even as a young child, Samuel learned to listen to God.

Suggested Materials: A piece of 8" X 11" paper for each child, crayons, clear tape (as used for gift wrapping)

Set up This Preschool Bible Story

Have the children sit around you in a close circle. Say, "I have some important things to tell you. I want you to listen carefully though and so I'm going to whisper." In a very, very soft whisper, say things such as "God loves you" and "God wants you to listen to Him." You might also say, "God talks to us through the Bible" and "We can get to know God better by praying." Make sure the children know that you are saying something, but try to speak softly enough that they cannot quite understand what it is.

Ask, "Was it hard to hear me talk to you? Sometimes it can be hard to hear what God says to us too, unless we listen in the right way. The boy in our story today had to learn how to listen to God."

Tell the Story of Samuel Being Called by God

Read the story of God calling the boy Samuel from your Bible or from a children's story book that adapts 1 Samuel 3:2-10. The Read With Me Bible: An NIrV Story Bible for Children, Published by ZondervanPublishingHouse is a good version.

In either case, the children will enjoy participating in calling, "Samuel!"

Make sure the story ends with Samuel listening.

Make the Connection to Jesus

Say, "Because Jesus came and died for us, we can have a close relationship with God. There are tools that God has given to us to help us listen to Him. I don't know if God will talk to you the way He talked to Samuel, but God talks to everyone who reads the Bible and to everyone who prays. God also uses other people, like our parents and our teachers, to talk to us."

Make a Sunday School Craft

Give each child a piece of paper and some crayons. Ask them to decorate the papers. As each child finishes, write along one long edge of the paper, "I will listen to God." Roll up the piece of paper into a tube such that the message is written along the length of it.

Conclude the Preschool Lesson

Gather the children into a circle again. Allow the children to take turns holding their "listening tubes" up to their ears. Use the same volume of whisper as before, and communicate the same messages, but speak into the tubes. The children will be able to hear you clearly this time.

Say, "This tool makes it easier for you to listen to me. Can you think of any tools that make it easier to listen to God? Let's pray and thank God that He helps us listen to Him."