LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE - PDF Free Download

TEACHER BIBLE STUDY Samson was the last of the major judges of Israel. He was born to parents who dedicated him to the Lord as a Nazirite after an Angel of the LORD announced that Samson would be born to save the Israelites from the power of the Philistines. Samson grew up, and God blessed him with great strength. But when Samson requested to marry a Philistine woman, his parents were confused. Samson was supposed to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. Why would he want to marry one of them? But God had a plan in all of this. (See Judges 14:4.) As Samson prepared for the wedding, he gave a riddle to the men with him about an event that occurred on his way to Timnah. (See Judges 14:9-14.) Days passed, and the men convinced Samson s wife to tell them the answer to the riddle. This action sparked a series of events that would lead to the death of Samson. In his anger, Samson torched the fields of the Philistines. He used the jawbone of a donkey to kill 1,000 men. The Philistine leaders determined to kill Samson. When he fell in love with a woman named Delilah, they bribed her into telling them where Samson s strength came from. A man came and shaved the braids from Samson s head. He lost his strength and became helpless. The Philistines gouged out his eyes and took him prisoner. They had him stand between the pillars of the temple. In a final plea to God, Samson asked for his strength back. God gave him strength, and Samson knocked over the pillars, collapsing the temple. In his death, Samson killed more Philistines than he had killed in his life. (Judges 16:30) Though Samson disobeyed God, God used him to accomplish His purpose of delivering the Israelites from the Philistines. Jesus would come as the last Deliverer, saving through His life and His death those who would trust in Him. LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: Samson Bible Passage: Judges 13 16 Big Picture Question: What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. 1

Transition Time Welcome time Activity sheet/table Centers Session starter (10 minutes) Lesson Countdown Introduce the session (1 minute) Timeline Map (1 minute) Big picture question (1 minute) Sing (5 minutes) Key passage (4 minutes) Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Discussion starter video (3 minutes) The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Prayer (5 minutes) Table Time Timeline map (1 minute) Bible story review (10 minutes) Large Group Review / Activities Key passage activity (5 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY/OVERVIEW Samson Judges 13 16 The Israelites disobeyed God, so God handed them over to their enemies, the Philistines, for 40 years. But not all of the Israelites disobeyed God. Some of them still worshiped Him. Two of those people were Manoah and his wife. One day the Angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah s wife and told her she would have a son. Her son would belong to God. God had special instructions for the baby s life: he should never cut his hair. God said, Your son will be a Nazirite. He is going to save the Israelites from the Philistines. Manoah s wife had a baby, and she named him Samson. As Samson grew, God blessed him. God gave Samson great strength. When Samson grew up, he saw a Philistine woman he wanted to marry. He went to her town to talk to her. As he traveled with his father and mother, a young lion jumped out at him. Samson killed the lion with his bare hands. Samson did not tell his parents what he had done. After some time, Samson traveled again to marry the woman. Samson found the lion s carcass. A swarm of 2

bees had made honey in the carcass. Samson scooped some honey into his hands and gave some to his parents. The Philistines sent 30 men to help Samson prepare the wedding feast. He told the men a riddle: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. Samson was talking about the lion and the honey, but none of the men could solve the riddle. They asked Samson s new wife to help them. Samson s wife cried until Samson told her the answer to the riddle. Then Samson s wife told the men the answer. Samson had been tricked! He was angry, and he left his wife. Later on, Samson went back to get his wife. But her father had given her to another man. I thought you hated her, he said. Samson was so mad that he went out and caught 300 foxes. He tied their tails together with a torch and sent them out into the Philistines fields. The foxes burned up the fields. The Philistines went to find Samson to punish him. The men of Judah had tied him up with ropes, but Samson was so strong that he broke through the ropes. He took the jawbone of a donkey and killed 1,000 men with it. Samson escaped to the capital city of Gaza. The Philistines found him there and planned to kill him. Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah. The Philistines talked to Delilah. Get Samson to tell you why he is so strong, they said. We will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver. Delilah asked Samson why he was so strong. She tested him with seven fresh bowstrings and with new ropes. She tried weaving the braids on his head, but nothing took away Samson s strength. Delilah begged Samson to tell her the truth, so Samson did. If you cut my hair, I will not have my strength. Delilah sent for the Philistine leaders. They waited until Samson was sleeping, then a man cut his hair. Delilah woke him up. Samson! Wake up! The Philistines are here to kill you! But Samson s strength had left him. The Philistines seized him and made him blind. They took him away in shackles and made fun of him. Samson s hair began to grow back. One day, the Philistines made Samson stand between two pillars in the temple of Dagon, the Philistines god. Samson cried out to God, Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me once more. So God strengthened Samson. Samson pushed on the pillars and collapsed the temple. Samson and all of the Philistines in it died. Christ Connection: God raised up Samson as the last judge to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. Samson killed more Philistines in his death than he did in his life. Jesus came as the last Deliverer, saving in His life and in His death all those who would trust in Him. 3

TRANSITION TIME Session Title: Samson Bible Passage: Judges 13 16 Big Picture Question: What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. Welcome time Tip: As kids arrive this is a great time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Arriving Activity: Just Ask bowl candy or fruit Place a bowl filled with candy or fruit somewhere in the middle of the room. As kids enter the room, point out the goodies. Tell them there is only one way to get a treat from the bowl. Kids must do something to receive a treat. Their challenge is to figure out what they need to do. Instruct them to whisper their guesses to a leader. The only way to get a treat is to simply ask a leader if they may have a piece. If a child whispers the right answer, give her one of the treats. Say There was only one way to get a treat. You had to ask. Today, we will learn about something very important that you can only get by asking. Activities/Table Centers (5 minutes) Table Centers (Miscellaneous Activities) Riddle Me activity sheet / Bible Story Coloring Sheet, 1 per kid markers, colored pencils, crayons Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say Do you know what each of those items have in common? Find out in today s Bible story. Session Starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Too Heavy Too Heavy instructions straws or other lightweight items, 1 per team reusable grocery bag, 1 per team (or 2/classroom) unopened water bottles (approximately 20/classroom) Form two teams. Invite each team to form a circle. Give one kid in each circle something very light, such as a straw. Explain that when you say go, each team will try to be the first to pass the item all the way around the circle and back to the kid it started with. Repeat a few times. Next, give each team a much heavier item, such as a grocery bag full of unopened water bottles. 4

Follow the same rules as before. Repeat the game if time allows. Say Which item was easier to pass? Why? Would the heavier object have been easier if you were stronger? Today, we will get to see how God used someone who was very strong. Option 2: Barbell Snack pretzel sticks fruit-flavored O-shaped cereal napkins Provide each kid with a napkin, a handful of fruit-flavored O-shaped cereal, and pretzel sticks. Invite them to push one end of a pretzel stick through the opening in the middle of a piece of cereal. Demonstrate how to turn the pretzel stick around and push the other end through another cereal piece, creating a small barbell. Allow the kids to race to see how many barbells they can make. When finished, kids may eat their snacks. Say A barbell is a pole with weights on each end. People lift barbells to make themselves stronger. Today s Bible story is about someone who didn t need barbells. He was very strong because God gave him strength. Transition to large group LESSON Session Title: Samson Bible Passage: Judges 13 16 Big Picture Question: What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. Countdown countdown video (on provided DVD with lesson videos and worship) Show the countdown video as you clean-up table centers, set up classroom chairs for lesson and set it to end as large group time begins. Introduce the session (1 minute) dumbell [Large Group Leader enters the room with a dumbbell.] Leader I see you re back. I bet you are all excited about the chance to judge a judge. I ve 5

been working out at the gym, trying to get stronger. I just don t want to look too wimpy when we see today s judge. I hear he is really strong. It looks like it s time, so let s get started. Timeline Map (1 minute) Timeline Map (small group visual pack copies provided for Table Time Review) Leader Let s take a look at what we ve learned over the past couple of weeks. Can anyone name the first judge we studied? Othniel was first. Second was Ehud, and Shamgar was third. We saw how God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. Deborah was the next judge for the Israelites. God used her and the leader of the Israelite army, Barak, to defeat the Canaanite army. We discovered that God s plan is to bring about His glory and our good. Last week, we got to meet Gideon. Gideon wasn t sure if God really wanted to use him at first, but after a few tests, he was marching into battle with only 300 men. God used Gideon to show us that we should obey God and trust Him to help us. Wow! This is an interesting picture for today. I ve never seen anyone get a haircut like that before. It looks like we are going to learn about a man named Samson. Big picture question (1 minute) Big Picture Question: What should I do when I sin? - 11x17 poster provided Leader Do you remember the pattern the Israelites followed? The people sinned. God sent an enemy nation to rule them. They cried out to God. God sent a judge to deliver them. When the judge died, they went back to their old ways. Then, it all started back over again. The problem is that sin can t be beaten by a judge. It takes a Savior, and we have one. Does anyone know who that is? That s right! It s Jesus! Where can we find out about Jesus? We can see all about Jesus in the Bible. Do you have yours today? Let s take a look at our big picture question! What should I do when I sin? Sing (5 minutes) Worship Song: My Deliverer (on provided DVD) Leader Romans 3:23 says we have all sinned. The pattern of the Israelites is a perfect example. No matter what God did, they would disobey Him. We are not that much different. We sin too. Aren t you glad that God didn t give up on the Israelites? He didn t give up on us either. That s why He sent Jesus to be our Deliverer. Sing together My Deliverer. Key passage (4 minutes) Key Passage Poster: Judges 2:18 (provided) Worship Song: As Long As the Judge Was Alive (on provided DVD) Leader Our key passage tells us that God was willing to help His people if they would ask. 6

Show the slide or poster of the unit s key passage, Judges 2:18. Lead the boys and girls to read the verse together. Sing together As Long As the Judge Was Alive. Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Samson video (on provided DVD) Bibles, 1 per kid Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster Leader Let s open our Bibles to Judges 13. Several judges came and went after Gideon. The Israelites pattern of sin continued, and that brings us to Samson. We ll also discover the answer to our big picture question, What should I do when I sin? Choose to tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided, or show the Samson video. Note: For more details about the Nazirite vow, see Numbers 6. Leader The Philistines ruled over the Israelites for 40 years. This time we don t know if the people cried out to God, but God did send someone to rescue His people. Samson was a Nazirite. A Nazirite had different rules about how to live. A Nazirite was supposed to let his hair grow long. He was also supposed to stay away from two things: any kind of grape or juice from a grape and anything dead. Samson grew up, and God blessed him with great strength. But Samson didn t always keep his vow. He killed a lion with his bare hands and later reached into the dead lion where there were bees, and he took some honey. Samson wasn t supposed to be around anything dead. The Philistines were really angry with Samson, but they couldn t capture him because he was too strong. One time they tried to capture him, and he killed 1,000 men with a bone from a donkey something he wasn t supposed to touch. Yet Samson judged the Israelites for 20 years. The Philistines didn t give up though. They used a woman name Delilah to find out that Samson would lose his strength if his hair was cut. A Philistine came at night and cut his hair. Samson was no longer strong, so the Philistines captured him, made him blind, and took him to prison. His hair began to grow back, and the Philistines decided to make fun of him at a party for one of their false gods. Samson asked God for the strength to punish the Philistines. God granted his request, and Samson pushed over two giant posts holding up the building, killing the 3,000 people inside. We don t know if Samson ever asked forgiveness for his sins, but we know that we should. What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Ask the following review questions: What did the Angel of the LORD tell Samson s mother not to cut? (Samson s hair, Judges 13:5) What did Samson use to kill 1,000 Philistines? (a jawbone from a donkey, Judges 15:15) Who told the Philistines that Samson s strength was tied to his hair? (Delilah, Judges 16:18-19) 7

How was Samson able to push down the posts holding up the false god s temple? (He asked God to give him strength one more time, Judges 16:28-30) What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Discussion starter video (3 minutes) Unit 9, Session 4 - Discussion Starter Video (on provided DVD) Big Picture Question: What should I do when I sin? - 11x17 poster provided Leader Have you ever sinned, knowing you were doing something wrong? The answer is probably yes. Here s one example of how easy it is to sin. Show the discussion starter video. Leader Have you ever said you were sorry when you didn t mean it? Sometimes we don t even say it when we are sorry. God knew we couldn t go without sinning, so He sent someone who could. His name is Jesus. Does being a Christian mean we won t ever sin again? Of course not. What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Use Scripture and the guide provided with this session to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, small group leaders, or other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian. Prayer (5 minutes) Big Picture Question: What should I do when I sin? - 11x17 poster provided Show the big picture question slide or poster. Leader Let s see our big picture question and answer one more time. What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Invite kids with hair below their shoulders to ask the big picture question. Those with shorter hair should answer the big picture question. Before transitioning to small group, make any necessary announcements. Lead the kids in prayer. Pray that the kids will always seek forgiveness when they sin. Dismiss to small groups for Table Time The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. 8

We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. TABLE TIME LEADER Session Title: Samson Bible Passage: Judges 13 16 Big Picture Question: What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. Bible story review (10 minutes) Bibles, 1 per kid Timeline (small group visual pack extra copies provided for Table Time Review) Big Picture Question: What should I do when I sin? (11x17 poster provided in classroom) Tip: Divide children into small groups for table time. Each group should include an adult leader at the table. Encourage the kids to find Judges 13 in their Bibles. Help them as needed. Say Is Judges in the Old Testament or New Testament? (Old Testament) Which book of the Bible does Judges follow? (Joshua) Which division of the Bible is Judges part of? (History) Who are some of the judges we have learned about so far? (Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, and Samson) Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today s Bible story is on the timeline. Review the Bible story provided or summarize the story in your own words. Read the following statements. Ask the kids to tell you what is wrong with each statement. Samson was strong as long as he had short hair. (He was strong as long as he had long hair, Judges 16:17) 9

Samson killed 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a cow. (Samson used the jawbone of a donkey, Judges 15:15) Samson scooped milk out of a dead lion s body. (He took honey from the dead lion s body, Judges 14:8-9) Samson burned up the Philistines crops by letting go 300 cats with their tails tied and on fire. (It was foxes tails, Judges 15:3-5) Samson was a judge for 15 years. (He judged for 20 years, Judges 15:20) Show the big picture question slide or poster. Say What s the answer to the big picture question? What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Neither the Philistines nor Samson dealt with sin the way they should have. LARGE GROUP REVIEW AND ACTIVITIES Key passage activity (5 minutes) First Letter Only Instructions Key Passage Poster: Judges 2:18 (provided) dry erase board and marker Make sure the key passage, Judges 2:18, is visible for each child, either as the printed poster or written on a dry erase board. Read the verse together. Say Samson was the last major judge for the Israelites. It seemed like each judge trusted God less and struggled with sin more. This was a picture of how Israel was slowly forgetting all that God had done for them in the past. God asks one thing of us when we sin. What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Of course, God wants us to turn from sin and not do it again. The judges were a temporary way of dealing with the sin of God s people and the sin of others living in the land. The only real solution to sin is Jesus. Who remembers our key passage? Since this is the final week of this unit, cover or remove the key passage poster. Write only the first letter of each word of the key passage on the dry erase board. See if your class can recite the verse together several times, using only the first letter of each word. Invite a few kids to say the verse alone or with a friend. If you still have several kids who don t know the verse, prompt them with the next word of the key passage when they get stuck and need extra help. 10

Activity choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Strong Competition Invite the kids to compete against each other with common exercises. Consider forming two groups boys and girls. Try some of the following ideas: Who can do the most jumping jacks in one minute? Who can do the most push-ups? Who can stand on one leg the longest? Who can do the most sit-ups in one minute? Who can stand on their tiptoes the longest? Say Physical exercise makes our bodies stronger, but it won t make us perfect. Samson was very strong, but he still struggled with sin. What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Option 2: Forgiveness Folder folders, 1 per kid crayons or markers stickers (optional) paper, 1 per kid Provide each child with a folder and a sheet of paper. Allow them to decorate their folders with markers or stickers. Explain that these are their forgiveness folders. Invite each kid to draw on her sheet of paper a picture of a time that she asked for forgiveness. It could be from something she did to someone or to God. Encourage kids to keep these folders as a reminder that they sin and need forgiveness. Encourage them to ask God for forgiveness and then write a note or draw a picture of what they ve done when they sin in the future. Say You are keeping a reminder of your sin so you can later see what God has forgiven you for. However, God doesn t file it away. The Bible says God does not remember our sins. (Hebrews 8:12) All we need to do is ask. What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. Prayer and Clean-Up (5 minutes) Say Let s review our big picture question. What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness. If time remains, take prayer requests. End the session with prayer, thanking God for forgiveness. Pray for each child by name, asking God to help kids clearly see their sin and need for forgiveness. 11

Instructions: Use the scrambled pictures and riddles below it to identify each item. I am king of the jungle. I tie things up. I am an animal that talks in the Bible. L R D I am small, furry, and live in a den. F UNIT 9 Session 4 Younger Kids Activity Pages 24 Younger Kids Leader Guide 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. Unit 9, Session 4 Copyright 2012 LifeWay I make quite a buzz. B The Judges

Family Journal Page The Judges Samson was a strong man. God used Samson s muscles against the enemies of Israel. Have a family strong man competition. Try arm wrestling, thumb wrestling, push-ups, or sit-ups. Modify the requirements for preschoolers. Record the results below. Samson Judges 13 16 Preschool Key Passage: Big Picture Question: Christ Connection: God chose Samson to help save the Israelites from their enemies, the Philistines. When he died, Samson killed many Philistines. God sent Jesus to save people from sin. Jesus died on the cross and rose again to rescue us from sin. Kids Key Passage: Big Picture Question: Christ Connection: God raised up Samson as the last judge to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. Samson killed more Philistines in his death than he did in his life. Jesus came as the last Deliverer, saving through His life and His death those who would trust in Him. OK TO PRINT

Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. Judges 2:18 OK TO PRINT The Judges