BEFORE THE GATHERING – PREPARE 

• If your child likes to color and do activity sheets, print off the Bible story coloring pages and activity sheet.
• Have your child find 1 Samuel 4-6. Remind them that we have been studying books in the Old Testament History division. Remind your child(ren) that like Deborah, Samson, and Gideon, Samuel was a judge over Israel. Samuel lived during a time when Israel was often fighting with the Philistines.

During the gathering – worship & Learn Together

AFTER THE GATHERING 

WATCH TOGETHER – PreS/K

TALK TOGETHER:

1. Who took the ark of the covenant? (the Philistines, 1 Samuel 4:10-11)
2. What happened to Eli and his sons? (They died; 1 Samuel 4:11,18)
3. What happened when a statue of the Philistines’ false god was near the ark? (The statue fell facedown. Its head and hands broke off; 1 Samuel 5:3-4)
4. Why did the Philistines return the ark to the Israelites? (Everywhere it went, the people got sick; 1 Samuel 5:11-12)
5. Why was the ark of God important? The ark reminded the Israelites of God’s promise to be with His people.

Christ Connection: The ark of God reminded the Israelites that God was with them. Years later, God gave His people something greater than a sign that He was with them; God gave them His Son, Jesus—God in the flesh. One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel, which means “God with us”.

PLAY TOGETHER

Hot Potato 

Supplies: device to play music, a potato (or other item that can be passed)

Instruct your family to stand in a circle. Give one player a potato. Start the music and guide players to pass the potato to the right. Players should pass the potato around the circle until you pause the music. The player holding the potato when the music stops is “out.” Resume the music and continue play. Pause the music again to eliminate another player. Continue in this way until only one player remains. 

Connect to the lesson:  Remember our Bible story today — the Philistines—enemies of God’s people— took the Ark from the Israelites but soon decided to get rid of it quickly! They learned that the God of the Israelites was not like their idols.

Body Part Musical Chairs 

Supplies: chairs, device to play music

Arrange chairs—one fewer than the number of people in your family—in a circle with chair backs toward the center. Direct kids to stand around the chairs. Begin the music and guide players to walk around the chairs. Randomly pause the music and call out a body part (foot, hand, little finger, knee, elbow). Players must touch that body part to a chair—one player per chair. The player left without a chair is out. Remove another chair from the circle before playing another round.

Connect to the lesson: In the Bible story we heard today, Eli the priest was sitting in a chair when he heard the terrible news that the Ark had been captured.  

Stand up, Fall down

Tell your child(ren) that when you say a statement that describes them, they should stand tall. When they disagree with the statement, they should fall to the ground. Use the suggested statements or create your own. 

•  I have a baby sister.
•  I like to eat peas. 
•  I am wearing shoes with buckles. 
•  I cleaned up my room today.

Connect to the lesson:  The statue of the Philistines’ false god Dagon fell to the ground in front of the ark of God. God showed the Philistines that He is the one true God. Is anything greater than God? No, God is greater than everything

MEMORIZE TOgethER: PSALM 19:1-4a & 7-9

Psalm 19:3-4a

Psalm 19:1-4a, 7-8

PRAY TOgethER

Father, You are the one true God. You are always with us. Thank You for loving and taking care of us. Thank You for sending Jesus to earth to be “God with us.” Help us to turn from our sin and follow Him. We love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

worship TOgethER

PreS/K

Listen to the Grace Kids PreS/K Spotify playlist 

K-5th

Listen to the Grace Kids spotify playlist