What You Want and What You Get

Scripture: 1 Samuel 8-11

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will learn God has a plan and it is in our best interest to follow it.
  • Students will learn God will sometimes allow us to have what we want (even when it is not in our best interest) in order for us to learn important lessons.
  • Students will learn God chooses people to lead for reasons people may not understand.
  • Students will practice comparative writing.

Guiding Question: Why should we go to God for guidance?

Materials: Paper, pencils

Procedure: Review the story of God allowing the people to have a king even though he warned them that a King would make them do things that they did not like. God knew what was best for them, but gave them what they wanted, which they would later regret. Kings had the power to get what they wanted. That included making people do things. Sometimes it seems easier to ask a person for instructions. However, God is the best one to go to then we need to know what to do. Always ask for God’s guidance. Explain that there are going to be times in our lives when we really want something but it is not part of God’s plan. We have to be open to what God has in store for us that is part of His perfect plan because He desires to work out all things for good in our lives.

Introduce the activity. Reminds students that the people wanted their King to be a certain way but God knew what was best for them .God told them about the King they would actually have and this was King Saul. Have the students create a comparative writing piece that compares the King the people thought they wanted and the king God told them they would actually have. All students to share if time allows.

Additional Questions: How can students practice comparing drawings?

Supplemental Activity: Have students draw a picture of a castle or large building that King Saul may have lived in. When students are finished, have them sit with a friend and write a comparative piece describing the similarities and differences in the pictures they drew.

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