Here are some ideas that you could do with your children at home, that link the children’s everyday experiences to the Bible. As you play or create, you can talk about what happened in the story of Samuel.

You could watch this video of the story:

TEACHING POINT

God looks at the heart.

PROGRAMME

Let’s Pretend

Go on a magnifying hunt… what can you find?

Magnifying Glass Craft

Make yourself your own magnifying glass to remind yourself that God looks at your heart.

Heart Suncatcher

Make your own heart suncatchers, to hang in the window. Let’s remember that our God looks at the heart and we should look at the hearts of other people too. What beautiful things can you see in other people?

Ugly Fruit

Find some uncut fruits that are ugly on the outside. (Some fruits that would work would be: ugli fruit, rambuttan, dragon fruit, passion fruit, jackfruit, durian.)
Explain that some fruit may look ugly on the outside but they are delicious on the inside. Try the fruits together.
Explain that it doesn’t matter what people look like on the outside, what matters is what we are like on the inside. Being kind, sharing, thinking about others before ourselves, telling others kind things, encouraging others…. Can you think of more? Jesus can see what’s on the inside and He loves all the wonderful things He can see.
Follow this link for more info.

MESSAGE AND PRAYER TIME

God looks at the heart.

Up to 3 years old (Fruitshoots)

Thank you that you are our Daddy in Heaven and that you love our hearts and you are kind. Help us to be kind like you!

From 3 years to Reception age (Acorns)

Thank you that you are our Daddy in Heaven. Thank you that you love our hearts and you are kind. Help us to be kind like you! What do you want to tell us? Help us to listen to you.

School years 1-6 (Hive)

A thought: David was small and young but God had great plans for Him! He was going to be king and a GREAT king. God knew him and knew his heart.

Thank you that you are our Father in Heaven. Thank you that you love our hearts, you love what you see inside us and you want us to do great things with you. No matter what other people think, you will always tell us wonderful things. What do you want to tell us? Help us to listen to you. What kind things do you want us to tell others? Help us to do that.

Pray!