Come Follow Me for Teens: "The Lord Looketh on the Heart" (1Samuel 8-16)
“The Lord Looketh on the Heart”
This week’s Come Follow Me lesson from 1 Samuel 8–16 teaches a powerful message about the heart — what we want, how we see others, and what we allow to influence us. Through Israel’s desire for a king, Samuel’s search for David, and David’s music bringing peace to Saul, we see that the Lord cares deeply about what is happening inside us.
In this episode of Come Follow Me for Teens, we explore what Israel’s request to be “like all the nations” can teach youth about peer pressure, fitting in, and the courage to stand with God. We also study the Lord’s reminder to Samuel that “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart,” and discuss how teens can learn to judge righteously, look past labels and appearances, and see others more the way the Savior sees them. Finally, we look at David playing the harp for Saul and what that moment teaches about the powerful influence music can have on our thoughts, emotions, desires, and ability to feel the Spirit.
This week’s Come Follow Me for Teens Study & Teaching Guide helps teens and those who teach them explore the powerful lessons found in 1 Samuel 8–16: “The Lord Looketh on the Heart.”
In these chapters, Israel asks for a king so they can be “like all the nations,” revealing the danger of wanting to fit in more than wanting to follow God. Samuel is sent to anoint the next king of Israel and learns that while man looks on the outward appearance, the Lord looks on the heart. David is chosen, not because he seemed like the obvious choice to others, but because the Lord saw what others could not. Later, David’s music brings relief and peace to Saul, showing the powerful influence music can have on our hearts and spirits.
This guide helps youth focus on three powerful principles:
“That We Also May Be Like All the Nations”
How Israel’s desire to be like the nations around them teaches teens about peer pressure, the danger of compromising standards to fit in, and the courage it takes to stand with God even when it means being different.
“The Lord Looketh on the Heart”
How Samuel’s search for the next king teaches teens to look beyond outward appearance, popularity, mistakes, labels, and first impressions — and to learn to judge with patience, mercy, and righteous judgment.
“The Evil Spirit Departed from Him”
How David playing the harp for Saul teaches teens about the influence of music, the messages they allow into their hearts and minds, and the power music can have to invite peace, healing, worship, and the Spirit.
This guide is designed to help teens see one central truth:
The Lord cares deeply about what is happening in our hearts — what we want, how we see others, and what we allow to shape our thoughts, feelings, desires, and discipleship.
Inside this guide:
Full background for the week
3 readiness / object lesson activities
3 complete teaching principles
Exact scripture blocks from the weekly study
Discovery, discussion and journal questions
Expanded teacher-friendly teaching sections
Powerful quotes from Church leaders
Testimony prompts and personal application ideas
Practical application actions for each principle
Christ-centered connections to faith, repentance, healing, obedience, and the word of the Lord
Designed for:
Parents teaching teens at home
Youth Sunday School support
Young Men and Young Women leaders
Seminary-style family discussions
Teens studying Come Follow Me on their own
Teachers wanting a ready-to-use weekly lesson framework
Ideal for:
10–20 minute family gospel lessons
Youth class discussions
One-on-one parent/teen conversations
Personal study during the week
Leaders who want deeper teaching without starting from scratch
This week’s guide points youth to the central message of 1 Samuel 8–16:
“The Lord Looketh on the Heart.”
As teens study Israel’s desire for a king, Samuel’s search for David, and David’s music bringing peace to Saul, they will be invited to examine their own hearts. They will consider where they may feel pressure to be like the world, how they can learn to see others more the way the Lord sees them, and what music, media, and messages they are allowing to influence their thoughts and desires.
These chapters remind youth that God has called them to be different from the world, that He sees more in them than others may see, and that what they allow into their hearts can either invite light and peace or pull them away from Him.
Scroll through the images to see a sample of one of the principles and other resources.
Everything parents and youth leaders need to teach "Come Follow Me" to teens - Without hours of prep.
