In this lesson, children learn that God helped the people of Israel win a battle and that Samuel set up a stone to remember it, so we can remember how God has helped us too. This lesson is for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God helps His people, and we can remember His help by thinking about the good things He has done for us.
Memory Verse
1 Samuel 7:12
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “The LORD helped us until now.”
(WEB)
Have children hold up one hand, then place their other hand on top of it like a stacked stone. Lift the top hand up and say “Until now!” together. Repeat it a few times so children learn the words with the motion.
The Story: 1 Samuel 7 for Kids
The people of Israel had been without the special box called the ark of the LORD for a long time. It had been in a house on a hill in a town called Kiriath Jearim for twenty years. The people missed God and were sad because they had stopped following Him well. They had been worshiping false gods called Baals and Ashtaroth.
Samuel was a man who listened to God. He told all the people, “If you want to come back to the LORD with all your heart, then throw away the false gods. Turn your hearts to God and serve Him only. He will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the people threw away their false gods and served only the LORD.
Samuel said, “Gather all of Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” The people came together, poured out water before the LORD, and fasted. They said, “We have sinned against the LORD.” When the Philistines heard the people were gathered, they came to fight. The Israelites were afraid, so they asked Samuel, “Please don’t stop praying for us!”
Samuel offered a young lamb to the LORD and cried out to Him for Israel. God answered Samuel. While Samuel was offering the lamb, God made a huge thunder roar against the Philistines, and they were confused and struck down. The men of Israel chased them all the way to a place called Beth Kar.
Then Samuel took a big stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, which means a stone of help. He said, “The LORD helped us until now.” The Philistines did not come back into Israel’s land while Samuel lived. God kept helping His people, and the cities that had been taken were given back to Israel.
Read It Together
1 Samuel 7:3
Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
(WEB)
Point out that Samuel told the people to turn their hearts back to God and serve Him only. Ask children what things might pull our hearts away from God today, and remind them that God wants our whole heart.
1 Samuel 7:10
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.
(WEB)
Show children how God answered Samuel’s prayer with a great thunder. Explain that God can do more than we can ask or imagine, and that He answers prayer in His own wonderful way.
1 Samuel 7:12-13
12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “The LORD helped us until now.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped coming within the border of Israel. The LORD’s hand was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
(WEB)
Point out the stone named Ebenezer and the words “The LORD helped us.” Explain that the Philistines stopped coming into Israel’s land, and that God’s hand was against them during Samuel’s life.
Talk About It
- What did the people of Israel do when they wanted to come back to God?
- Why do you think Samuel took a big stone and named it Ebenezer?
- What is something God has helped you with recently?
- How can we turn our hearts toward God every day?
- What did the people do when they were afraid, and what can we do when we feel afraid?
Activity Ideas
Decorate a Help Stone
You will need smooth stones or paper cut into stone shapes, paint or markers, and a pencil. Have each child write or draw one way God has helped them this week on their stone. Then let them decorate it and place it somewhere in the room as a reminder of God’s help.
Stack the Stones Game
You will need a pile of small blocks, cups, or rolled socks. Divide children into two teams and have them race to stack the items into a tower. As they stack, call out “The LORD helped us!” and have them cheer. This helps children connect the story’s stone with the idea of God’s help.
Take-Home Stone Reminder
You will need a small smooth rock or a piece of cardboard, a marker, and a sticky note. Have each child write “Ebenezer: The LORD helped us until now” on their stone or cardboard. Encourage them to place it on their nightstand or kitchen table and read it aloud with their family during the week.
Teacher Notes
This passage shows that God remains faithful to His people even when they have turned away from Him. When the people returned to the LORD, He answered Samuel’s prayer and delivered them from their enemies. Samuel’s stone reminds adults to look back and remember how God has provided, so that our faith grows stronger over time.
Be careful not to suggest that obeying God automatically removes all trouble from a child’s life, because the people still faced real danger and fear. Focus instead on God’s faithfulness and His help in every season, not a promise that nothing hard will ever happen.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Father, thank You for helping Your people and for helping us today. Help us turn our hearts toward You and serve You only. Help us remember all the good things You have done for us, just like Samuel’s stone. Thank You for always being with us. Amen.
