Nabal & Abigail (1 Samuel 25:1-35) Preschool Bible Lesson

The story of Nabal and his wife, Abigail, takes us to a situation that children are very familiar with: sharing. David’s army lived peaceably beside Nabal and even helped protect his sheep. However, everything went sour whenever David asked Nabal to share some food with his army. Nabal had the resources to help David but he didn’t want to. David’s men got angry and would have attacked if Abigail hadn’t intervened and given food to the army. This is one lesson that preschoolers will definitely relate to.
Lesson Title:  Nabal Learns to Share
Bible Reference: 1 Samuel 25:1-35
Target Age Group: Preschool
Learning Context: Children’s Church
Target Time Frame: 1 ½ hour
Learning Aim:  God wants us to get along.
Materials Needed:

1. Ball
2. Basket or bucket
3. Play-doh
4. Paper plates
5. Construction paper
6. Crayons

Lesson Opener
Ask everyone to sit down and share everything that they know about David. They could talk about how he David was chosen to be king, fought Goliath, and was friends with Jonathan.
Say, What can you tell me about David?
Bible Story
Open your Bible to 1 Samuel 25:1-35
Say, There was a man named Nabal who lived with his wife Abigail and they were very wealthy. They had many sheep and plenty of food. David’s army was camping next to Nabal’s house. Sometimes Nabal’s sheep would graze near David’s army and they would help protect the sheep by keeping wild animals away. Everyone was living in peace together.
One day David sent his men to ask Nabal for some food. Nabal did not want to share and got angry at David’s men. This made David’s men angry because they needed food and had always been nice to Nabal. David’s army decided that they were going to attack Nabal.
It could have been a disaster! But then Abigail stepped up and saved the day. She quickly prepared bread, meat, grain, and raisins to give to David’s men. She apologized for his Nabal’s actions and asked David to live in peace with them.
David knew that Abigail was right and that God wanted everyone to get along. Nabal and David’s men learned that it is better to share than to fight.
After the story use these questions to help the class relate the story to their own lives.

1. How was David a good friend to Nabal?
2. How did David feel when Nabal didn’t want to share? What happened next?
3. How did Abigail save the day?
4. Why does God want us to share?
5. Do you share? Does it make you happy when other people share with you?

Working Together Ball Toss
Have all the kids stand in a line. Give the first kid in the line a ball and have them toss it down the line to the last kid in line who will throw it in a basket. Encourage the kids to work together to get the ball into the basket. Make sure everyone gets a turn to make a basket.
Say, Sometimes when we play we want to have the ball all to ourselves, but it is better to share. You all did a great job working together while playing this game!
Sharing Food
Each child will use play-doh to make food. Have them place their food creations on a paper plate and give it to another child.
Say, Abigail made sure that everyone was living in peace by sharing the extra food that she and Nabal had. It is always better to share and live at peace with everyone than to fight.  
Give A Gift
Make cards out of construction paper and crayons to give to a friend or family member.
Say, Abigail gave David and his men a gift. God wants us to be kind and share with our friends. One nice thing that we can do today is give a gift to someone. I want you to make a nice card to give to your friend or family.
Walk in Peace
Have the class hold hands and walk around the classroom. Have them take a normal walk and then skip, hop, walk backwards, dance, walk sideways, and in slow motion.
Say, While you walk around the room you have to stick together. Don’t hold your neighbors hand too hard or walk to fast. Make sure that everyone gets to the other side of the classroom together. Be kind to everyone. God doesn’t want us to fight.
Closing the Lesson
Say, Today we learned a very important lesson. God doesn’t like it when we fight, He wants everyone to get along. It can be hard to share sometimes but try to remember that this is what God wants you to do. Everyone will be happier if you agree to get along.
Close the lesson in prayer.