Aric Stickfort - my grandpa often asked me “When are you going to get saved”. I never answered his question in all the years he asked me. Then he passed away. God used this to loudly speak to me. I knew for sure he was at peace, home in Heaven with his Savior. I never stopped thinking about that...
Memory Verse: Isa. 55:3 Memory Verse Text: Hear, and your soul shall live.
Attention Getter: Tell the story of a child that was playing when he/she was called by their mother to dinner. The child does not respond to her call until he/she a certain tone of voice!
Point 1: The priesthood and Eli were in a poor condition when God entered this dark night scene (1 Sam. 3:1,2). Point 2: The Lord called Samuel, a lad, rather than the priest, a great and recognized man. God's wonderful ways often included children! Application: A life that is going to count for God may very well have its roots in childhood. Point 3: Samuel did not understand that the LORD was calling him. This may possibly be due to the prevalent thinking of the day in which he lived as well as due to the fact that he did not YET know the Lord. Eli finally realized that it was the Lord who called Samuel; it must have been quite the moment for Eli when he realized that he had been passed by! Point 4: Eli gave Samuel good counsel; he told him to tell the Lord that he was listening and wanted to hear what He would say. God graciously came and called Samuel as He had before; Samuel then alone had the choice whether he would ask God to speak to him or not.
Notes: Note the emphasis on "the word" in the passage as: 1) Precious (1 Sam. 3:1); 2) Unknown (1 Sam. 3:7); and 3) The means by which the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel (1 Sam. 3:21).
This Sunday School Curriculum guide is part of a 254 Sunday School Lesson Book available at www.gospelhall.org. See the Downloads Section of the site for a complete copy.
Aric Stickfort
