Youth Lesson Plan: Ruth;1 Samuel 1–7

THE OPENER (2–3 minutes) | Object lesson

Bring a phone charger (or just mime one). Hold it up and ask: “If my phone is at 1%, what do I need more, a charger in my backpack, or a charger plugged into the wall?”

Let them answer. Then ask: “In the Old Testament this week, Israel treats something holy like a lucky charm, and two women treat God like a living God. What’s the difference between owning a ‘charger’ and connecting to power?”

Transition: “Let’s watch Ruth and Hannah choose connection when life goes off-script.”

---

SCRIPTURE DEEP DIVE (12–15 minutes) | Ruth 1; 1 Samuel 1; 1 Samuel 3

Invite students to work in pairs for two minutes first: “Skim these verses and circle words that show what Ruth and Hannah do when life hurts.”

Passage 1: Ruth’s choice (Ruth 1:16)

Ask: “What do you notice about Ruth’s promises? Who is she committing to, and what does that cost her?”

Read the key line aloud:

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:” (Ruth 1:16)

Questions for the room:

• “Ruth lost a lot. What does she still control?”
• “Where do you hear covenant language, even if the word ‘covenant’ never shows up in the verse?”
• “If a friend said this to you, what would you assume they value most?”

Let a few answers come out. Keep it discovery-based: let them point to phrases in the verse.

Passage 2: Hannah’s honest prayer (1 Samuel 1:10)

Ask: “How does the scripture describe Hannah’s inner life? No church-face edits.”

Read:

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” (1 Samuel 1:10)

Then ask:

• “What does this teach you about what counts as ‘acceptable’ prayer?”
• “Have you ever avoided praying because you didn’t feel ‘positive’ enough?”

If appropriate, remind teachers to make space for quiet. Teens sometimes need ten seconds of silence to be brave.

Passage 3: Learning to recognize the Lord’s voice (1 Samuel 3:9–10)

Set the scene quickly: Samuel hears a voice, thinks it’s Eli. Eli helps him respond.

Read:

“Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” (1 Samuel 3:9) “And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

Ask:

• “Why do you think Samuel needed help from Eli to recognize the Lord’s voice?”
• “What does Samuel do that shows willingness, even before he understands everything?”
• “What might it look like for a 14-year-old to say, ‘Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth,’ without being weird at school?”

---

THE BIG IDEA (8–10 minutes) | Two principles that connect Ruth, Hannah, and Samuel

1) God meets people on detours, not just on straight paths.

Use the Come, Follow Me framing: “Life is often full of delays and detours that take us in unexpected directions.” (Come, Follow Me, For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “June 1–7. ‘My Heart Rejoiceth in the Lord’”)

Discussion questions:

• “What’s a ‘detour’ for a teenager? A family change, a move, mental health, a friendship breakup, a blessing you expected that hasn’t come?”
• “Ruth and Hannah don’t get to choose their trial. What choices do they make anyway?”

Anchor this in their words and actions: Ruth chooses loyalty and worship (Ruth 1:16). Hannah prays from real pain (1 Samuel 1:10).

2) The Lord’s help comes through trust and obedience, not spiritual objects or superstition.

Come, Follow Me points out Israel thought “simply possessing the ark of the covenant would protect them.” (Come, Follow Me, For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “June 1–7. ‘My Heart Rejoiceth in the Lord’”)

Ask:

• “What are modern ‘ark’ substitutes? Things we treat like automatic protection, without repentance or real discipleship?”
• “How do you tell the difference between a holy reminder and a lucky charm?”

Keep it non-accusatory. Teens will supply examples if they feel safe.

3) Revelation is learnable, and God wants to speak.

Use the exact quote provided:

“Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!” (May 2018, Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”)

Ask:

• “Why do people your age assume God won’t speak to them?”
• “What does Samuel do that a teen can copy this week?” (He makes space, he listens, he answers with willingness, 1 Samuel 3:9–10.)

---

MIX IT UP – ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY (5–8 minutes) | Case study: “Ark thinking” vs. “Ruth thinking”

Read this scenario aloud:

“Jordan has a big test, a messy friend situation, and a parent who’s stressed. Jordan wears a CTR ring and keeps a scripture app widget on the home screen. Jordan thinks, ‘If I have the right stuff around me, I’ll be fine,’ but doesn’t pray much and avoids fixing the friend problem.”

Discuss as a class:

• “Where do you see ‘ark of the covenant’ thinking in Jordan’s approach?” (Come, Follow Me, For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, ‘June 1–7…’)
• “What would ‘Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth’ look like for Jordan this week?” (1 Samuel 3:10)
• “What would Ruth’s kind of commitment look like in a modern friendship or family stress?” (Ruth 1:16)

Let students suggest one small next step that sounds like trust, not superstition.

---

THE LANDING (3–4 minutes)

Tie the charger back in: “Ruth, Hannah, and Samuel show connection. Ruth connects her life to God and His people (Ruth 1:16). Hannah connects her pain to prayer (1 Samuel 1:10). Samuel connects his willingness to God’s voice (1 Samuel 3:10).”

Invitation for the week: Encourage teachers to invite youth to choose one sentence to try in private prayer once this week, borrowing Samuel’s words:

“Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

Then add President Nelson’s simple assurance:

“Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!” (May 2018, Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”)

Bear testimony in a natural, teacherly way: God guides youth through detours, He hears honest prayers, and He speaks in ways they can learn to recognize, as they come to Him with trust and a willing heart.