Free Bible lesson for kids · The Judges
Samson’s Strength
Before Samson was born, the angel of the LORD said he would be a Nazarite unto God: no razor would come on his head, and he would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. God made Samson very strong, but he told Delilah his secret, his hair was shaved, and his strength went from him. In prison his hair began to grow again, and Samson prayed, “O Lord GOD, remember me,” and God gave him strength one last time to bring down the great house of the Philistines’ god.
- Bible passage
- Judges 13:1–5 · 16:4–30
- Big idea
- Our strength comes from the LORD, and He hears us when we turn back to Him.
- Memory verse
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Israel did evil, and the LORD let the Philistines rule over them for forty years (Judges 13:1). The angel of the LORD told Manoah’s wife she would have a son, and no razor would come on his head, for he would be a Nazarite unto God (Judges 13:2–5). When the Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson, he tore apart a young lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:5–6).
Later Samson told Delilah the secret of his strength, and when his hair was shaved, his strength went from him (Judges 16:17, 19). The Philistines captured him and blinded him, but his hair began to grow again (Judges 16:21–22). Samson prayed, “remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me” (Judges 16:28). He bowed with all his might against the two middle pillars, and the house fell, and Samson died with the Philistines (Judges 16:29–30).
Read it in the Bible: Judges 13:1–5 (KJV)
1And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 2And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 3And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 4Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 5For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
Questions to ask
What did the angel say must never come on Samson’s head?
A razor, because he was a Nazarite unto God (Judges 13:5).
What happened when Samson’s seven locks were shaved?
His strength went from him (Judges 16:19).
What did Samson pray at the end?
“O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me” (Judges 16:28).
What this story teaches
- God sets His people apart for His good purposes (Judges 13:5).
- Our strength comes from the LORD, not from ourselves (Judges 16:20).
- Giving in to temptation leads us into trouble (Judges 16:17, 21).
- God hears us when we turn back and pray (Judges 16:28–30).
- Through faith, God makes weak people strong (Hebrews 11:32, 34).
Jesus Sets Us Free
Samson’s greatest victory came through his death. By His death, Jesus defeated the devil and set His people free from the fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14–15
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to make us strong in Him, and to help us turn back to Him when we fail. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Our strength comes from the LORD, and He hears us when we turn back to Him.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Psalm 46:1 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
Topple the Pillars
You need: Boxes stacked into two pillars with a board on top, soft balls
- Stack the boxes into two pillars holding up a cardboard “roof”.
- Kids take turns tossing soft balls to knock the pillars down.
- When they fall, everyone shouts, “Strength comes from the LORD!”
Samson’s strength came from God, not his muscles or his hair. When he prayed, God gave him strength one last time.
For youth group · game · indoors · about 15 minutes
Strength Test
You need: A timer, mats
- Hold friendly contests: the longest plank, the longest wall sit, the most push-ups in thirty seconds.
- Cheer everyone on.
- Talk: where did Samson’s real strength come from? Where does yours?
God gave Samson strength, but Samson gave away his secret. Real strength is staying close to God.
Pray
Ask God to make us strong in Him, and to help us turn back to Him when we fail.