The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. Again, the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

God spoke to Samuel when he was still a young boy, and Samuel listened. He didn’t fully understand at first, but with Eli’s help, he learned to recognize God’s voice. Over time, Samuel grew up to be a strong Champion for God, guiding others and sharing His message.

You can hear God too! Like Samuel, spend time in prayer and quiet, asking God to speak. He might talk to you through a Bible verse, a thought that feels right, or something kind someone says. When you listen and obey, God can use you in amazing ways to help others and share His love.

Remember, just like with Samuel, God has big plans for your life - He’s speaking to guide and prepare you to make a difference!

Fun Small Group Activity: Play ‘Chinese Whispers’ where someone whispers a short sentence to the person next to them, then it is relayed discreetly around the group.  The final person reveals what they think they have heard.

Action Point: Ask your family or friends if they’ve ever heard God’s voice. Talk about how you can listen for Him on your own or together.

Real Life Champions: In 2017, 8-year-old Jayden Perez from New Jersey felt compelled to help children affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. He organized a toy drive, collecting over 1,000 toys for those in need.