Freedom from the Philistines

(1 Samuel 7)

October 12th, 2025

Sunday Recap

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Sunday Recap •

Hey Fams!

First Samuel 7 reveals the Israelites’ victory over the Philistines after God’s people turned to the Lord and away from their pagan gods and idols. Samuel interceded for the people as they began to long for the Lord after having pursued the ways of the world for so long. The Lord granted His people victory over their enemies in a way that foreshadowed how He has established an eternal victory for those in Christ.

What did Samuel lead the people to do in their helpless state? How is Jesus an even better intercessor than Samuel was?

After so many chapters of disobedience and helplessness, it is refreshing to read that the Israelites finally longed for the Lord. Realizing the emptiness of idol worship, the people stood before Samuel and sought next steps from their leader. His instructions to the people were not dissimilar to the words we need to hear today: return to the Lord with all your heart, get rid of your false gods, set your heart back on the Lord, and worship only Him. In doing so, Samuel explained, they would again see God’s deliverance.

The Israelites did as Samuel instructed, and they fasted and confessed their sins. They pleaded with Samuel to continue interceding for them so that they would experience the victory of God’s promise. Samuel offered a sacrifice to the Lord on His people’s behalf, and it pleased the Lord.

Although Samuel was an upright man called to prophesy and judge God’s people, he was not the Messiah. Instead, Samuel’s life points us to the only One able to secure a permanent victory over sin and death through a once-and-for-all sacrifice for God’s people. Those who are in Christ do not need an earthly judge to mediate between God and man; instead, they can place their hope in the finished work of Jesus.

Share with the boys and girls in your care your story of how the Lord has helped you thus far (1 Samuel 7:12).Lead them to see how Christ has transformed your heart and granted you an eternal victory by faith in His name.

** Next week: The Israelites Wanted a King (1 Samuel 7-10)

Family Discipleship Plan

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Family Discipleship Plan •

• Read Scripture

  Read the 1 Samuel 7 from the Bible.

• Talk about the Scripture

  You might have heard the word repent before, but do you know what it means? The word repent means to change your mind. It means that you think one way about something but then change to think and believe the opposite.

  In the Bible, the word repent is meant to call people to change the way we think about sin. We tend to think that doing things our own way and pursuing whatever pleases us is the best way to live, but the Bible calls this sin. Because God is Creator and Ruler over all creation, He wants us to pursue what is pleasing to Him and do things His way. To repent means to turn away from sin and toward God.

  When the people continued to disobey God, they realized the consequences of their sin. They cried out to Samuel for help, and he told them to repent—turning away from sin and turning to Jesus. When the people repented and turned to God, He blessed them with victory over their enemy and restored everything they had lost because of sin. If we repent of sin and turn to Jesus, God blesses us with salvation and restores the relationship with Him that we had lost because of sin.

  Samuel called the people to turn away from false gods and to worship God, and God gave them victory over their enemies. God calls us to turn away from sin and to trust in Jesus who gives us victory over our enemies of sin and death.

  Pray:
  God, we praise You for being compassionate and gracious to us. If we turn away from sin and turn to You, You will restore the relationship we are meant to have with You. Thank You for providing everything we need for salvation in Jesus. Amen.

• Practice the Key Passage

  Preschool:

  God gives us all we need in Jesus.

  Older Kids:

  My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches. These riches come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus.

  Philippians 4:19 NIrV

• Pray

  Mornings
  Thank God for hearing us when we call on Him. Think about the love, power, and mercy God has available for you when you call on Him.

  Evenings
  Ask God to help you face the hard things you’re going through in your life. Whether it’s a fear, a struggle in school, or a relationship that needs help, God is available to help us in our need when we turn to Him.

• Family Activities

  For Fun
  Set up an obstacle course through the house. Have each family member complete the course with a small rock in each shoe. Talk about how the rock felt small but caused pain and hindered the way they walked. Similarly, sin may feel small, but it has big consequences on our ability to walk with God. The Bible calls us to repent—to turn away from sin—so that we can walk with God and follow His ways for us.

  To Serve
  Gather supplies to clean the inside and outside of windows at your church. Spend an afternoon washing and cleaning. When finished cleaning, read Psalm 51:10 and 1 John 1:9. Remind kids that the Bible calls us to repent of sin and to turn to God because He is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.