Somebody Is Calling Your Name

Scripture Invitation

As we prepare our hearts for God's Word, I summon your senses and invite your intellect to the book of 1 Samuel 3:1-4, where the Holy Spirit has illuminated our focus for today.

Bible Passage

1 Samuel 3:1–4 CSB

The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread. One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place. Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”

Prayer

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,

 By the pow’r of grace divine;

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,

 And my will be lost in Thine.

Introduction

Come with me on a journey, to the days of the judges in Israel.

It was a turbulent time, marked by spiritual darkness and moral decay.

The priesthood had become corrupt, and the word of the Lord was rare.

But in the midst of this bleak landscape, we find a glimmer of hope - a woman named Hannah and her young son, Samuel.

Hannah's story is one that many can relate to.

She was a woman who desperately longed for a child, but year after year, her prayers seemed to go unanswered.

In her anguish, she made a vow to the Lord, promising that if He would grant her a son, she would dedicate him to God's service all the days of his life.

And God heard Hannah's prayer.

He blessed her with a son, whom she named Samuel, which means "heard by God."

True to her word, Hannah brought Samuel to the temple as soon as he was weaned, entrusting him to the care of the high priest, Eli.

It was in this sacred space, surrounded by the presence of God, that young Samuel began to grow and mature.

He ministered before the Lord, learning the ways of the temple and the heart of God.

And it was here, in the stillness of the night, that Samuel first heard the voice of the Lord calling his name.

The reality my brothers and sisters is, even in 2025 “Somebody is calling your name!” 

I’m talking about that still, small voice in the night, the voice that beckoned the young boy Samuel.

It wasn’t his mama calling; it wasn’t his teacher or next-door neighbor.

No—this is a divine call.

And, my dear friends, that same call is echoing across the ages, reaching out to our children right here and right now!

But the question is, are we positioning our children to hear that call? 

Are we investing in their spiritual ears so that when the Lord calls, they can say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”?

Hannah’s Struggle and Surrender

Lets review the story real quick.

Sister Hannah had a struggle—she was barren, longing for a child.

Year after year she cried, prayed, and believed that God could open her womb.

She was teased, ridiculed, looked down upon, but her faith never wavered.

And one day, God said, “Yes, to her prayers,” and He gave her a son named Samuel.

But here’s the key: Hannah made a promise that if God blessed her with a child, she would give him right back to the Lord.

And guess what she did?

She fulfilled that vow!

She brought her precious boy to the temple, laid him in the hands of Eli the priest, and said, “This is the child I prayed for, and I promised him to the Lord.”

Sometimes we pray so hard for something—and when we finally get it, we forget all about God. 

But not Hannah. 

She kept her word.

The First Time Samuel Heard the Call

Now let’s shift from Hannah and talk about young Samuel.

Growing up in the house of the Lord, serving under Eli, life was simple and devoted to God.

One night, while Samuel was sleeping, he heard a voice calling his name: “Samuel! Samuel!”

Like any child, he thought it was Eli calling.

So he ran to the priest.

But Eli said, “No, son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”

It happened again... and again!

Finally, Eli realized that it was the Lord Himself reaching out to Samuel.

Eli gave Samuel some wisdom: “Next time you hear that voice, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

And that’s the moment everything changed. 

Samuel learned to recognize God’s voice, and the course of his life was set.

Church, I need you to understand something: God is still calling children today, but what are we doing to help them hear his voice?

Investing in Our Children’s Future

Let me tell you why Christian education is so vital.

Just as Hannah placed Samuel in the temple—where he could be guided, mentored, and prepared to hear God—we have a responsibility to ensure our children are put in an environment where faith is nourished and truth is upheld. 

Children are a heritage from the Lord, as the Word says, and that means they are precious gifts entrusted to us.

But gifts must be cared for, nurtured, and taught the ways of God.

Now, let’s keep it real: Christian education can come with a price tag—private schooling, textbooks, and resources.

But ask yourself this: Was salvation free for Jesus?

He paid the ultimate price at Calvary for each and every one of us. 

If He could lay down His life, surely we can sacrifice for our children’s spiritual success.

The real question isn’t “Is it too expensive?”

but the question is asked “How can we afford not to give our children our very best?”

The Real Cost vs. The Real Reward

Yes, it can seem expensive to pay tuition or spend precious time and resources supporting Adventist Christian Education.

But let me tell you what’s truly expensive:

Sleepless nights, wondering where your child is at 2 AM.

That phone call from the police station, telling you they’re in trouble.

Falling prey to negative influences that twist and distort your child’s identity.

The slow drip of social media messages and toxic environments that snuff out their light.

Picking up that frantic call from the hospital because of substance abuse or reckless behavior.

Watching anxiety and depression take root as social pressures and ungodly standards wear them down.

Seeing your child’s dreams wilt because they never discovered their God-given potential.

The heartbreak of alienation, when your once-close bond with your children dissolves under unhealthy influences.

Standing by helplessly as the world strips them of hope and identity, leaving them empty and lost.

& Carrying the weight of regret, wondering if you could have done more to ground them in the Word.

That is a cost nobody wants to pay! 

And the enemy—oh, he is craftier than ever.

He preys on our young people like a roaring lion, whispering falsehoods, telling them they are not who God made them to be.

If we don’t act, if we don’t invest in an environment that helps them stand firm in their God-given identity, we’re leaving them vulnerable to every deceit the world can muster.

But here’s the good news: when we invest in our children’s Christian education, we’re helping them develop a built-in “wait a minute—what does God say about me?” response.

It’s like giving them a personal shield, something that keeps them grounded in truth no matter how many mixed messages come their way.

And that’s worth every resource, every sacrifice, every penny—because we’re talking about eternity, my brothers & sisters!

Accepting our Limitations as Parents

Another vital truth I want you to understand: 

It’s okay to admit we as parents don’t have all the answers.

Sometimes, we want to be the superhero who solves every problem.

But God designed us to operate in community.

He gave us educators, pastors, mentors, and a faith-based family to help us!

And so, sending your child to a adventist school or supporting a church school doesn’t mean you’re abdicating your role.

It means you’re partnering with dedicated people who share your values, who will reinforce the biblical truths you instill at home.

Conclusion: Answer the Call

As I Close, I came here today to remind you: “Somebody is calling your name!” 

But it’s not just your name—He’s calling your children’s names too.

Like Hannah, we may carry burdens, insecurities, or hardships, but when God blesses us, we respond by giving back the very best to Him.

We place our little ones in a context where they can hear that voice, discover who they are in the Lord, and say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

My brothers and sisters, let us invest in our children’s future with everything we’ve got—our prayers, our resources, our energy, and our support for Adventist Christian Education.

Let’s be modern-day ‘Hannahs,’ willing to trust God with the precious lives He’s loaned to us.

For when our children hear that divine call, they rise up like Samuel, strong in faith, ready to serve, and bold enough to impact the world for Jesus!