Unit 9 Session 4 SG K-2 - Life Bible Kids

Big Picture Question:
What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness.
Samson
May 5th
Bible Passage: Judges 13–16
Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people
from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy,
Satan.
Kinder-2nd
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 Judg. 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 Judg. 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. (Judg. 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.

THE BIBLE STORY
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 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 through His life and His death those who
would trust in Him.
Our Prayer for You:
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! We pray that you will know the complete
forgiveness of Jesus Christ our Lord!

WELCOME TIME
As the kids arrive, ask them questions that might help you get to know them better. This is the time
that makes or breaks how welcome a child feels and whether they will come back or not! Be
friendly! :)
EARLY ARRIVER ACTIVITY [9:45-10:00] (begin as soon as children enter; this activity is not
neccessary for ALL children, it just gives the early arrivers something to get started on)
Just Ask
Place a bowl filled with prizes 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.”
ENGAGE ACTIVITY [10:00-10:10] (begin @ 10:00; even if children haven’t finished the Early Arriver Activity;
this sets up the Bible Story for the day)
Too Heavy
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 big book. Follow the same rules as before. Repeat the
game if time allows using a heavier item each time. (example, several books, chair, etc)
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.”
TRANSITION TO LARGE GROUP [10:10]
Note: Please be sure to stay with your class to help children stay focused and listen to the
lesson. Be sure to actively participate with your class. They are looking to you as the
example to follow!
LARGE GROUP BIBLE STORY & WORSHIP [10:10-10:40]
Big Picture Question:
What should I do when I sin? I should ask God for forgiveness.

Note: As students come back to the classroom, it is a good time to distribute snack as you
take prayer requests and praises.
PRAYER TIME [10:45-10:55]
Use the class Prayer Journal to write down any prayer requests that the kids might have, as well as any
prayer requests that have been answered! Take time for the kids to praise God in prayer and lift up the
prayer requests mentioned. Allow 1 or 2 students to pray and then pray to close out the time of prayer.
Remember, kids are learning to pray by your example. The importance and energy you put
into prayer will be directly reflected in your class!
BIBLE STORY REVIEW [10:55-11:05]
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 Timeline to show kids today’s Bible story. 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, Judg.
16:17)
Samson killed 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a cow. (Samson used the jawbone of a donkey, Judg.
15:15)
Samson scooped milk out of a dead lion’s body. (He took honey from the dead lion’s body, Judg. 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, Judg. 15:3-5)
Samson was a judge for 15 years. (He judged for 20 years, Judg. 15:20)
Show the Big Picture Question.
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.”
Key Passage: “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

KEY PASSAGE ACTIVITY [11:05-11:10]
Make sure the Key Passage, Judges 2:18, is visible for each child, 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. Recite the verse together
several times. 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.
SINK IN ACTIVITY [11:10-11:20]
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.”
EXTRA ACTIVITY (can be sent home as a fun activity for families to work together if you do not get around to
doing it) There is a Coloring Sheet if you need it, depending on the length of the service.
***THE HANDOFF***
As children are picked up, briefly state one of the things that were talked about in
class today. You can do this by asking the child a question in front of their parent, or
remind them of something they learned. Also, direct parents and kids to the website
for the Family Journal page- a way for parents to lead their kids to know
Christ at home!
Supplies Needed: bowl of stickers, 2 straws, 2 large books