Youth Sunday School Lesson

Transcription

1 Lesson Construct: Often it is difficult for a student to understand God calls them for a purpose. Calling seems to be an adult activity; something they can look forward to as a mature disciple. Truth is God calls people of all ages for a specific purpose. Yet it is hard to imagine God calling you when think no one likes you, a common myth in student life. Many feel unworthy, insignificant, overlooked and not special at all. Expect a host of emotion as students wrestle with what it means to be called. Remember the first time you grasped the idea? Prior to Sunday: The success of the opening activity is dependent on making contact with each student before Sunday. Depending on the makeup of your class, make contact in one of the following ways: Class comprised of youth grades 7-12, male and/or female: Vary the contact. Call your younger students. the older ones. Call your most active students and mail a personal letter to those who have irregular attendance [the thought here is you are already calling your irregular attendees and probably don t have to contact your most active students]. Class comprised of youth grades 7-8, male and/or female: Call all students. Youth this age like equal contact and shy away from being different. Class comprised of youth grades 9-12, male and/or female: Vary contact. Class comprised of one grade level and gender: Vary contact. The exception being younger youth who do not appreciate being different. Title: God Calls David for a Purpose Written By: Katrina Brooks Focal Passages: 1 Samuel 16: 1-13 Lesson Objective: To help students consider what it means to be called by God for a purpose. Students should walk away from lesson asking the question: What is God calling me to do?

2 2 Only you know your class. Varying the contact will enhance the conversation, but it isn t necessary. The goal is to discuss what it means to have received the contact, not to make a student feel excluded. The essential part is making contact. Supplies: Bibles for all students Pencils Markers Cards with one of the following written on them for every student: David Jesse Samuel Saul On sheets of paper or poster board write one of the following: 1) I received a text and I felt; 2) I received a phone call and I felt; 3) I received an and I felt; 4) I received a letter and I felt. Have a sheet of paper or poster board for each of the methods of contact you used with your students. Song by Mercy Me entitled, Beautiful [Official Music Video] - Music Videos Uplifting/sacred instrumental music (ideally of hymns so students can connect what is happening this Sunday morning with music they ve heard before). Check out Audiotreasure ( for several great hymn options. The purpose of the music is to enhance the research environment. Keep that in mind when making your music selection. Device to play music. Bookmarkers with the words I Am Called written on them (typically stores with a craft section sell blank ones). To add to the experience, think about each of your students as you create these bookmarkers. Allow yourself the ability to dream about what purpose God might have for them. Pray for each one and the adults who will help them become the ones God desires. Before Students Arrive: At the core of every Sunday School lesson is prayer.for yourself and your students. Continue your prayers by praying for each student by name as they arrive. Thank God for their uniqueness, giftedness and the plan God has for them. Write 1 Samuel 16:13 on the main focal wall/board. Place sheets of paper/poster boards around room creating stations. Have markers at all stations. Have music prompted for both times you will use it. Make sure you are well rested. Come into the lesson excited with your preparation, knowing you have bathed the morning in prayer and God is blessing you with this opportunity to introduce students to what it means to be called for a purpose. As you wrestle with this concept and prepare this lesson, you may have some questions. Please contact one of your spiritual leaders for assistance in understanding this biblical truth.

3 3 Bible Background: David is a major part of Israel s story. As the most significant king in their history many Jews consider David to be the Messiah prototype, meaning the messiah would be everything David was and more. Scripture says Messiah will come from the lineage of David and every year as we prepare for Christmas we tell the story of Joseph, from Nazareth who is of the house of David. Consequently, David s call story is considered significant. Note the detail in the story. Unlike other biblical characters, David s call comes early in life as he is going about his shepherding duties. He is the eighth son of an ordinary shepherding family from Bethlehem in contrast to Saul who is from a wealthy Benjaminite family. (v 1) Opens with a lament. Samuel is mourning over Saul. God has rejected Saul and Samuel finds himself in a hard position. Samuel was the one who anointed this first king of Israel. Saul was from a wealthy family, from the clan of Benjamin. Not only does God reject Saul, he sends Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint one of his sons to be king. There is a risk to Samuel anointing a son of Jesse. Israel already has a king. To anoint another would be considered treason. (vv 2-3) God provides a plan. God tells Samuel to go and offer a sacrifice and invite Jesse and his sons. For further information about the rites of sacrifice consider a commentary. One of your spiritual leaders can recommend a good one. (vv 4-5) The folks in town are not convinced that Samuel being in town is a good thing. Samuel invites them to consecrate themselves and come to the sacrifice. (vv 6-10) Seven sons pass by. Each time Samuel thinks this may be the one. Each time God says no. When Samuel is convinced this one is surely the anointed one God tells Samuel no. Samuel may look on the outside, but God considers the heart. (vv 11-12) Samuel is persistent. If God sent him to anoint the future king, surely there must be someone else. Almost reluctantly Jesse sends for David. When he comes God prompts Samuel. This is the future king. David is the one called for God s purpose. (v 13) From the moment he is anointed the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. As he grew up, even when he made bad choices, the Spirit was with David guiding him and readying him for God s purpose, according to God s plan. After the anointing, Samuel heads to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16: 1-13 (NIV) 1 The LORD said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way: I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king. 2 But Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me. The LORD said, Take a heifer with you and say, I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate. 4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, Do you come in peace? 5 Samuel replied, Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me. Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought Surely the LORD s anointed stands here before the LORD. 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance. But the LORD looks at the heart.

4 4 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, The LORD has not chosen this one either. 9 Jesse then had Shannah pass by. But Samuel said, Nor has the LORD chosen this one. 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, The LORD has not chosen these. 11 So he asked Jesse, Are these all the sons you have? There is still the youngest, Jesse answered, He is tending the sheep. Samuel said, Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives. 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, Rise and anoint him; this is the one. 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah. As Students Arrive Activities: As students arrive invite them to go to the station which states the method of contact they received and write how they felt upon receiving the contact from you earlier in the week. Play instrumental music during this time and encourage students to be honest. After writing on the sheets of paper/posters invite students to use their Bible to search 1 Samuel for information on the character on their card. Encourage individual research but understand some students or visitors may not know how to navigate a Bible. Be ready to jump in as a research assistant. Call time (be sure to give a five minute, a one minute and a 30 seconds left warning. After all, if you are in the middle of something do you like it to come to a complete halt?) and turn off the music. Invite students to share their responses. Feel free to add details. The objective here is not exhaustive character research but to provide a context for the lesson and identify the characters in the story. (You would be surprised how many folks do not know who they are.) Introduce lesson. Adapt the following introduction to suit your class need: Throughout the Baptist General Association of Virginia, today is celebrated as Consider Your Call Sunday. Our lesson comes from 1 Samuel 16:1-13. Many folks today have different opinions about many things: favorite sport, favorite team, favorite music, favorite Xbox game, food, politics even scripture. One specific inarguable truth, what is often called biblical truth, we find in scripture is that we are all called. God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. Listen to these words: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) In order to help us wrestle with this truth we are going to look at David s call story. Who was Saul? Who was Jesse? Who was Samuel? Who was David? (those who did research on each identified character should have plenty to contribute. Feel free to prompt other students so they can contribute to the discussion.) David played a significant role in Hebrew life, but he was not alone. Others played major roles in his calling. Divide students into groups (there are options here: (1) divide class into two groups and each group consider all verses and questions; (2) divide into three groups with groups taking verses 1-5, 6-10 and 11-13; or, (3) you can leave the group together and facilitate the study and discussion. Choose the grouping you feel will work best with your students. Have them consider the following:

5 5 Group One: Group Two: What did the Lord say to Samuel? (v1) What was Samuel s response? (v 2) How did God equip Samuel to overcome his fear? (vv 2-3) What did Samuel do next? (v 4) Have you ever sensed God was asking you to do something? How hard is it to do what God says? What if you are afraid? How do you do it anyway? What did Samuel think when he saw Eliab? Abinadab? Shammah? The rest of the seven sons? (vv 6-10) What did the Lord say about them? All seven sons pass by. None of them are the one. What does Samuel do next? (v 11) What could he have done instead? Samuel s words are these all the sons you have reveal his frustration. After exhausting all your options, do you give up or continue to search for answers? Group Three: Who is Jesse and what does Jesse say and do? (vv 11-12) What happens next? (vv 12-13) Sometimes we think it is easy to do what God asks. Was it easy for Samuel? What obstacles did Samuel overcome to complete his purpose, his call to anoint David? How comfortable are you with only knowing one piece of a plan? Is knowing the purpose essential to completing the task? Draw students together to debrief. Remind them that the story of David continues long after our focal passage. Scripture speaks of David s challenges, failures, triumphs and struggles. Throughout his life he remembered Samuel anointing him and it served as encouragement for David as he discovered his purpose. Say to students: We typically think of David as a mighty king and forget when he received his call he was only a shepherd boy, an eighth son someone they had to send for. Look with me at the verse on our focal wall/board. (Point to the phrase and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power and ask students to read the phrase with you. Then ask the following questions) What do you think this verse means? Do you think David knew from that moment on what he would be doing for God? Why/why not? How do we come to understand what our purpose is? Where might we go for answers? As you arrived this morning you wrote on the papers/poster board around the room (Direct attention to the papers/poster board and read responses. Note the difference, similarities and common ground.) We are all called. Just like David, God has a purpose just for us. As we are at the age we are. We may not know why, or how or for what, but scripture tells us unapologetically that God has a plan for us. We are called for a purpose.

6 6 Closing Activity: Hand each student the bookmarkers you made for them during the week. Invite them to consider the words as the music plays (play Beautiful by Mercy Me). As the song plays, have students reflect on what God might be calling them to do/be right now, this week or this school year. Write it down on the back of your bookmark and keep it in your Bible as a gentle reminder in the future. When the song ends read Jeremiah 29:11 as if the words were written just for your students. Then close with prayer. (Put in the supplies or getting ready area a link to download from the Internet) listed the YouTube link in supply area Follow up: During the next week send a note to each of your students. Include why they are special to you. If possible enclose a reminder of Jeremiah 29:11 (I have seen bookmarkers and small cards containing this verse in many Christian book stores. Or, you can make your own.). As I was preparing this lesson I heard a radio personality speak of a discipline one of her friends was going to begin: the discipline of calling forth possibility. I love the idea. As students mature they need mature disciples to call forth possibility. We need to serve as cartographers (map makers) and help them as they chart the plan God has for them. Look for ways to continue to call forth possibility in your students during the coming year and look for opportunities to help them explore what God might be calling them to do. Alternate/Extra Activities: Provide stations with raw materials. Have students go to the station where they like the materials and design something. Station material options can be anything. Let your imagination run wild. The purpose is to stimulate creativity. Brainstorm the word call. Introduce the idea of a larger calling for every Christian and a specific calling for each individual. Talk about individuals who are called (include your church staff, but do not limit examples to clergy or missionaries. The lesson purpose is that all are called for a purpose. That purpose may just be to be president of the United States.) Bring in a staff member and allow students to interview the minister with regard to call. Bring in another church member who feels called to a particular ministry or vocation other than vocational ministry and interview them. Discuss the differences, similarities and application in a student s life. Look on the website Consider Your Call website for other options and resources.