Leader Guide

Teaching

Have a child select the first Signpost card and read it aloud. Tape the card to the wall or prop it up so children can see it. Lead a discussion with the information below. Repeat for the two remaining Signpost cards. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Signpost 1 Dedicated to God

Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins. They were both born about a thousand years after Samuel lived—yet all three men have some important things in common. First, all three of their births were miracles from God. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, and John the Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth, were not able to have children. Yet after they prayed, God answered with a miracle and gave them each a son! The birth of Jesus was also a miracle. Through God’s power and the Holy Spirit, Mary became pregnant and then gave birth to God’s Son!

Second, Samuel and John the Baptist were both dedicated to serve God when they were very young. Both of them took a Nazirite vow, setting them aside for God’s service. It was very unusual for a person to take this vow for his entire life. Jesus was dedicated to God in the Temple at a young age. He came from heaven for one purpose—to do God’s will. Jesus dedicated His whole life to obeying God completely—even when it meant taking the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. When He rose again and then went up to heaven, His mission on Earth was completed.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

1 Samuel 1:20:

And in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”

Luke 1:35–36:

³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.

1 Samuel 1:11:

And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if You will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to You. He will be Yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.”

Luke 1:13–15:

¹³But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. ¹⁴ You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.”

Luke 2:27–28a:

That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there.

John 6:38:

“For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent Me, not to do My own will.”

Signpost 2 Growing and Serving

Some Bible scholars believe that Samuel was about 12 years old when He served Eli and the Lord in the Tabernacle. As God spoke to Samuel, he would speak or prophesy God’s Words to the people. They knew that Samuel could be trusted because God fulfilled all that Samuel prophesied. The Bible tells us that as Samuel grew up, he also grew in favor with the Lord and with the people. Later, God called him to anoint the first two kings of Israel—Saul and David!

Jesus was 12 years old when His parents found Him in the Temple teaching the priests! He told them He must be about His Father’s business! Whose business is that—Joseph’s? No, God’s.

The Bible says that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Neither Samuel nor Jesus waited until they were adults to start serving God!

John the Baptist was called by God to announce Jesus as Savior to the people and to prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry in the world. John grew up and became strong in the Spirit!

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

1 Samuel 2:18, 26 (nkjv):

¹⁸ But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. ²⁶ And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.

Luke 1:76, 80:

⁷⁶ “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.” ⁸⁰ John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

Luke 2:45–52 (nkjv):

⁴⁵ “So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. ⁴⁶ Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” ⁴⁹ And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. ⁵¹ Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Signpost 3 Fulfilling God’s Call

When the Israelites were in danger, they called on Samuel to pray and intercede for them. Jesus came to Earth to save us! Today, He intercedes for us in heaven!

In the ceremony of repentance for the people’s sins at Mizpah, Samuel poured out water and made a sacrifice before God. This was a symbol pointing us directly to Jesus. The Bible says Jesus poured Himself out as an offering for the forgiveness of our sins.

Samuel answered the call of God when he was a child. His life was a signpost pointing to Jesus, the coming Messiah, and King of kings! God wants to use your life to point to Christ. Are you ready to answer God’s call?

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

1 Samuel 7:5–9:

⁵ Then Samuel told them, “Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” ⁶ So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.) ⁷ When the Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they learned that the Philistines were approaching. ⁸ “Don’t stop pleading with the Lord our God to save us from the Philistines!” they begged Samuel. ⁹ So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the Lord as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the Lord to help Israel, and the Lord answered him.

Hebrews 7:25:

Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Matthew 26:28:

“For this is My blood, which confirms the covenant between God and His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.”

Now, let’s move on to the Discipleship Challenge about dedicating our lives to God everyday!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Display the sample craft from Lesson 1. Who remembered to get out of bed and step on your Footsteps Pattern first thing in the morning? Did you give your day to God? What happened when you did?

Part of our challenge was to read Proverbs 3:5–6. Lead a discussion with the following questions:

1. Have you ever trusted God with your whole heart in a difficult situation? Would you like to share what happened?
2. Why can’t we always depend on our own understanding?
3. Why is it difficult to let go of what we do understand and trust God completely?
4. What does seeking God’s will have to do with dedicating our lives to the Lord?
5. When we seek God, what will He show us?

Continue using your Footsteps Pattern, and look up the next scripture on your Dedication Card—Romans 12:1–2. Take time every day to dedicate your life to God, and ask Him to help you obey Him instead of copying what the world does.

Give a Footsteps Pattern and Dedication Card to any child who missed the previous lessons.

Optional: if you have time, have the children look up the Dedication Card verses for Lesson 3 and discuss the meaning of Romans 12:1–2.