📖

We Want to Be Like Everyone Else

Israel Wants a King

Day 151of 180
Week 31of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that God's plan is always best

2

Learn how the Israelites wanted to be like other nations

3

Recognize the importance of trusting God's guidance

1 Samuel 8:4-9

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel to Ramah. They said to him, 'Look, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the other nations.'

1 Samuel 8:4-9 (WEB)

Shows how people sometimes want to follow others instead of trusting God's unique plan

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bible (World English Bible)
  • Crown (paper or toy)
  • Blank paper
  • Crayons
  • BibleMouse Resource Guide: Grade 1 Bible

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

In today's BibleMouse lesson, we'll learn about a time when people wanted to be just like everyone else instead of being special to God.

💭 Review Question: What did Samuel learn about listening to God in our last lesson?
2Teaching (8 min)

The Israelites told Samuel they wanted a king, just like other countries had. They thought having a human king would make them look important.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • God had been their special king
  • The people wanted to be like other nations
  • God knew this would cause problems
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Why do you think the people wanted a king?
  • How might wanting to be like everyone else be a problem?
3Activity: Crown of Choices (10 min)
storytelling

Children draw pictures showing times they can choose to follow God or follow what others do

📝 Instructions:
  1. Give each child a paper crown
  2. Draw good choices on one side
  3. Draw challenging choices on the other side
  4. Share your crown with the family
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parent helps draw pictures

Challenge: Write simple words describing choices

4Closing (3 min)

Remember, God has a special plan for you that's different from everyone else!

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did the people ask Samuel for?
  • Why is it important to trust God's plan?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us listen to You and not just follow what others do.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about God's warning about kings

1 Samuel 3:10

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

1 Samuel 3:10 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: King's Listening Game - Children sit in a circle and take turns being the 'king' who must listen carefully to a whispered message

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson introduces the concept of peer pressure and trusting God's unique plan

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use simple language
  • Encourage personal reflection
  • Connect lesson to child's daily experiences
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children may find it hard to understand why following the crowd isn't always best

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to describe making good choices

Extension Activities

  • BibleMouse Printables Library: King and Servant coloring page
  • Act out the story using simple costumes
  • Sing a BibleMouse song about listening to God

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 152Back to Bible