Scripture: I Samuel 28
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn it is wrong to use witchcraft as it gives power to someone other than God.
- Students will learn Saul had stopped trusting in God and was desperate for anyone to tell him what he wanted to hear.
- Students will learn God’s will does happen eventually, even if we don’t like it.
- Students will learn how to rely on God when they are tempted.
Guiding Question: How can students learn not to be tempted by witchcraft?
Materials: None needed
Procedure:
Review the story of King Saul and the Witch of Endor, being careful not to make it sound too scary. Explain that the fact that she could call up Samuel seemed to surprise even the “witch”. Tell students that today many people have carefully watched people who pretend to talk to dead people and/or tell the future and have realized that they use tricks and not real magic. God wants us to trust Him, not magic spells, horoscopes, psychics or people who claim to talk to spirits. Have students talk about some of the reasons people would rather trust these other things instead of God. Point out that these people are often faking things in order to get money from other people. Even if they were able to actually do those things though, God says it is wrong. We need to learn to trust Him and wait for his wisdom, plans and timing.
Introduce the activity. As a class, take various situations when someone might be tempted to use a spell, or trust a horoscope, psychic or person who talks to spirits. For each situation, encourage students to brainstorm the ways God would want the situation to be handled. Make sure their solutions show an obvious trust and reliance upon God.
Additional Questions: How can students learn to follow God in difficult situations?
Supplemental Activity: Have the students research Bible stories and verses that mention people talking to spirits and talk about what people in those situations did to follow God.