Welly Church Kids Lessons

Kids · 4-8 · Lesson 13

God Looks at the Heart

1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 51:10

God sees the heart rather than judging only by outward appearance.

Teach the lesson

Goal: Children explain that God corrected Samuel's appearance-based judgment and chose David.

Pick how long you want to teach. The plan updates to fit.

Short · 25 minutes
  1. 3 min
    Connect

    Use the opening prompt from the Teach Now card.

  2. 8 min
    Read

    Read 1 Samuel 16:6-13, pausing at Samuel's assumption, God's correction, and David's arrival.

    Ask: Why did Samuel first notice Eliab?

  3. 5 min
    Understand

    Create two columns: What Samuel Could See and What God Knew, then discuss the limits of human judgment.

    Ask: What contrast does God make in verse 7? · Where was David when Samuel arrived?

  4. 6 min
    Do

    Complete the Outside and Inside Character Cards activity.

    Activity: Outside and Inside Character Cards

    Printable: K1-L13-P01-outside-inside-character-cards

  5. 3 min
    Respond

    Repeat the take-home line and close in prayer.

    Ask: What can humans judge responsibly?

Standard · 35 minutes

  1. 4 min
    Connect

    Use the opening prompt and invite two or three brief responses.

  2. 4 min
    Context

    Introduce the passage setting, speaker or main characters, and genre in age-appropriate language.

  3. 8 min
    Read and observe

    Read 1 Samuel 16:6-13, pausing at Samuel's assumption, God's correction, and David's arrival.

    Ask: Why did Samuel first notice Eliab? · What contrast does God make in verse 7?

  4. 7 min
    Discuss

    Create two columns: What Samuel Could See and What God Knew, then discuss the limits of human judgment.

    Ask: Where was David when Samuel arrived? · What can humans judge responsibly?

  5. 8 min
    Activity

    Complete the Outside and Inside Character Cards activity and review what it demonstrates.

    Activity: Outside and Inside Character Cards

    Printable: K1-L13-P01-outside-inside-character-cards

  6. 4 min
    Respond

    Review the objective, repeat the take-home line, and pray.

Extended · 45 minutes
  1. 4 min
    Connect

    Use the opening prompt and identify the question the lesson will answer.

  2. 6 min
    Context

    Locate the passage in the whole-Bible story and explain its literary setting.

  3. 9 min
    Read closely

    Read 1 Samuel 16:6-13, pausing at Samuel's assumption, God's correction, and David's arrival.

    Ask: Why did Samuel first notice Eliab? · What contrast does God make in verse 7?

  4. 8 min
    Interpret

    Create two columns: What Samuel Could See and What God Knew, then discuss the limits of human judgment.

    Ask: Where was David when Samuel arrived? · What can humans judge responsibly?

  5. 7 min
    Activity one

    Complete the Outside and Inside Character Cards activity.

    Activity: Outside and Inside Character Cards

    Printable: K1-L13-P01-outside-inside-character-cards

  6. 7 min
    Activity two

    Complete the Include the Overlooked activity and compare the results.

    Activity: Include the Overlooked

  7. 4 min
    Respond and assess

    Use one quiz item orally, repeat the take-home line, and pray.

Close the class

Memory verse: 1 Samuel 16:7

Prayer: Ask God to shape truthful, humble hearts and help the group treat people with dignity.

Take-home line: People see the outside, but God knows the heart.

More help: full script, questions, and printables

A word-for-word way to run the lesson, plus every question, activity, and printable.

Teach now

Children explain that God corrected Samuel's appearance-based judgment and chose David.

Read
1 Samuel 16:6-13
Opening
Show two closed bags or boxes and ask: Can you know everything inside by looking at the outside?
Say
  • Samuel saw Eliab and thought he looked like a king.
  • God told Samuel not to judge only by appearance or height.
  • People see what is outside, but God knows the heart.
  • God chose David, who had not been the first person Samuel expected.
Ask
  • What did Samuel notice first?
  • What did God tell him?
  • Who was chosen?
  • How can we avoid judging people by appearance?
Do
Use the Outside and Inside Character Cards to separate visible details from character actions.
Close
Pray: God, shape our hearts and help us treat every person with dignity.
Materials
  • Bible
  • Two bags or boxes
  • Outside and Inside Character Cards

Discussion questions

  • Why did Samuel first notice Eliab?
    Simple answer: Because of his appearance.
    Going deeper: Identify the assumption Samuel made from appearance.
  • What contrast does God make in verse 7?
    Simple answer: People see outside; God sees the heart.
    Going deeper: Define heart as the inner person rather than a physical organ in this sentence.
  • Where was David when Samuel arrived?
    Simple answer: He was tending sheep.
    Going deeper: Explain how his absence reinforces the unexpected choice.
  • What can humans judge responsibly?
    Simple answer: We can notice actions, words, and fairness.
    Going deeper: Distinguish evaluating behaviour from claiming perfect knowledge of motives.

Activities

Outside and Inside Character Cards · 9 min

Materials: Attribute cards; Two headings

  1. Place Visible Detail and Character Action headings.
  2. Sort height, clothes, kindness, truthfulness, and keeping a promise.
  3. Discuss which details reveal worth and which actions can be evaluated.
  4. Repeat that only God knows the heart fully.

Low-resource option: Write examples in two columns.

Include the Overlooked · 8 min

Materials: Fictional group scenarios

  1. Read a scenario in which one child is overlooked.
  2. Identify the appearance-based or popularity assumption.
  3. Choose one inclusive action.
  4. Explain that inclusion does not require ignoring unsafe behaviour.

Low-resource option: Discuss one scenario as a class.

Printables

Prepare before class (optional, about 25 minutes)

Passage context

After Sauls rejection as king, Samuel is sent to Jesse in Bethlehem. The narrative repeatedly overturns Samuel's expectations until David is brought from tending sheep. The lesson concerns divine selection and the limits of human appearance-based judgment.

  • Samuel responds to Eliabs appearance before God corrects him.
  • The contrast is between human sight and divine knowledge.
  • Seven sons pass before Samuel before David is called from the sheep.
  • David is anointed, and the Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully upon him from that day.
  • Use heart as the inner person, motives, loyalties, and character, not merely feelings.
  • Do not describe David as already morally perfect; later biblical narratives show serious failure.
  • Do not replace one appearance hierarchy with another by praising attractiveness in the same lesson.

Keep it faithful

  • Do not claim that teachers or children can see another persons heart the way God does.
  • Do not use this passage to dismiss observable harmful behaviour with the phrase good heart.
  • Do not make comments about childrens bodies, height, skin, disability, clothing cost, or attractiveness.
  • Do not overstate: Do not use the verse to claim certainty about another persons hidden motives or character.

Questions children may ask

Was David chosen because he was better than everyone?
Can a person look nice and still do something wrong?

Every child can join in

  • Show the sequence visually.
  • Allow pointing, drawing, or one-word responses.
  • Give one direction at a time.
  • Participation must not require loud noise, touch, or public performance.
  • Read all Scripture aloud.
  • Use pictures, objects, or gesture-supported retelling.
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