Sunday School Lesson for October 6, 2002

Famous Bible Stories – Story 61

"Saul Seeks a Witch" 1 Samuel 28

Pastor Robert Lindsay Gatto

Stouffville's Lighthouse Baptist Church

Story Introduction: This week builds on the last few lessons of Saul, David and Jonathan. Today we see that Saul’s fear, envy and jealousy bring him so low that he decides to visit a witch who is able to contact dead spirits. This, of course, was a terrible sin forbidden by God. Recap what you have already taught and then search this lesson for a suitable application You will need to be familiar with the basic story line from chapters 26. Remind the students that David has an enemy in Saul but he was not Saul’s enemy, and that Jonathan was David’s very close friend! This is a beautiful contrast of a friend and an enemy.

This is an EARLY Halloween Story to tell!

Story Aim: To teach the story in an interesting and exciting way and apply its truths practically to your class. You will use the story to teach your class why we are to stay away from spiritualism, witchcraft, séances, and fortune tellers.

Story Facts:

Witchcraft and wizards were to be put to death under O.T. law.

Ex. 22:18, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

Lev. 19:31, “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”

Lev. 20:6, "And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set thy face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people."

You see God sees any kind of occult observances as spiritual adultery. It is using and promoting an evil and other power instead of relying on God to work in our lives.

Story Outline:

Saul seeks for a witch (3-14)

Saul talks to Samuel and learns of his own fate (15-19)
Saul becomes sick with fear (20-25)

Story Applications:

This story is full of teaching. Pick some aspects and illustrate the truths with personal illustrations

The idea is simply to teach that witchcraft, fortune telling, magic and the like are “abominations” to God.

You can tell some stories of people you know that have used uigee boards and other forms of occult.

You can mention Harry Potter movies and books which all introduce these subjects to children.

You can teach on the history of Halloween (all hallows eve). This was when the dead spirits would come back and haunt the living if you did not treat them. If you understand all the trappings of Halloween you can show them as occultic symbols. (witches hat, broom, superstition, the skeletons, spirits and ghosts, the jack o lantern to scare away the spirits.

For the older teens you can talk about the occult symbols in modern music, cartoons and movies.

Black Sabbath

Mega Death

The satanic pentagon symbol

“Hotel California” song

There is a “Satanic Bible”

Witchcraft is alive and well in TV shows like “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and “Buffy the dragon Slayer” In these shows they make the witch to use her powers for good. This introduces witchcraft as a good thing and promotes its power as a good power to be desired.

You could show the downward spiral into evil that sin slowly drags us down if we don’t stay right with God. It can and will destroy you.

The Bible says that the Devil is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.