LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Judges 16:21-31, we find Samson at the lowest point of his life. After breaking his vow to God and losing his strength when Delilah cut his hair, the Philistines captured him, gouged out his eyes, and forced him into slave labor grinding grain in Gaza, a job usually reserved for women, meant to humiliate a man once known for his incredible strength. While Samson worked in the darkness of his blindness, something quietly began happening: his hair started to grow back. The Philistines, celebrating a festival to their false god Dagon, decided to bring Samson out as entertainment, mocking him in front of thousands of people who had gathered to praise an idol for supposedly defeating Israel’s strongest man.
What happened next reveals the real point of the story. Samson asked a servant to place his hands on the two central pillars holding up the temple, and instead of relying on his own returning strength like he had done for most of his life, he prayed and asked God for the power to push them down. This time was different. Samson wasn’t boasting about his own ability, he was humbly admitting that any strength he had ever had came from the Lord. When he pushed the pillars, the entire building collapsed, defeating the Philistines and ending Samson’s twenty years of leadership as a judge over Israel. The story teaches a powerful lesson about pride and humility. God can use anyone, even someone who has made many mistakes, once that person stops trusting in their own strength and starts trusting fully in Him.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Samson’s Shackles
Items Needed:
- Construction paper strips (1″ x 9″)
- Small paper clips (8 per child)
- Tape
- Stickers or Crayons
Punch two holes, half an inch apart, in the center of each paper strip. Give each child two strips and eight paper clips. Have them link the paper clips together to form a chain. Tape each strip into a ring, then slide one end of the paper clip chain through the holes of each ring to connect the two “cuffs” together. As kids build their shackles, remind them that Samson had no power left because his hair had been cut off, and he was bound and blind in prison. Explain that even though Samson had made bad choices, God was still merciful and answered his prayer, giving him strength one more time. Help kids see that just like Samson, we can call out to God for help too, no matter what we have done.
BIBLE STORY 6:15-6:25
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Judges
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or the New Testament? Old Testament
Today we are going to hear about the strongest man in the whole Bible. His name was Samson! Can you say Samson? [Wait for response] Let’s say it louder, Samson! [Let kids respond]
God had given Samson super strength, way more than anyone else. But Samson made some bad choices, and he lost his strength. Then the Philistines caught him and he could not see anymore. [Cover your eyes with your hands] Can you cover your eyes like Samson? [Wait for response] How does that feel? Does it feel a little scary? [Let kids respond]
The Philistines made Samson work very hard. They made him grind grain to make flour, kind of like when we crush up cereal into little pieces. [Make a grinding motion with your hands] Let’s pretend to grind some grain! Grind, grind, grind! [Let kids do the motion]
While Samson worked, something amazing was happening. His hair started growing again, and his hair was where his strength came from!
One day, the Philistines had a huge party for their pretend god named Dagon. They brought Samson out to make fun of him in front of thousands of people. That was not very kind, was it?
Samson stood between two big pillars, the tall stone poles holding up the roof. [Stand up and stretch both arms up high like pillars] Can you stand up and be a pillar with me? [Wait for kids to stand]
Samson used to think he was strong all by himself, but now Samson knew the truth. He knew his strength only ever came from God. So Samson closed his eyes and prayed. Let’s fold our hands and pray quietly with Samson. [Fold hands, pause]
Then, with God’s power, Samson pushed on the pillars with all his might. [Push both hands forward like pushing something heavy] Push! Push! Push! Can you push with me? [Let kids push the air]
The whole building came crashing down! [Clap hands loudly once] Can we make a big crashing sound? Ready, CRASH! [Let kids shout]
God used Samson’s prayer to show everyone that real strength comes from Him, not from us. Should we remember that God is the one who is strong, even when we feel weak? [Wait for response] Let’s whisper it together, God is strong. [Whisper it together]
Object Lesson: Hold up two empty toilet paper tubes standing on their ends like tiny pillars. Ask a child to gently push them down while everyone counts to three. Explain that just like those little pillars fell down, God gave Samson the power to knock down the big pillars, not because Samson was so great, but because he asked God for help.
Theological Questions:
- Where did Samson’s strength really come from? (From God)
- Why do you think Samson prayed before he pushed the pillars? (He needed God’s help, not his own strength)
Life Application Questions:
- Can you think of a time you needed to ask God for help instead of doing something all by yourself?
- How can we be humble like Samson instead of thinking we can do everything on our own?
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for being our strength when we feel weak, just like You were Samson’s strength. Help us remember Philippians 2:3, to be humble and put others before ourselves. Amen!
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35
PRAYER 6:35-6:45 p.m.
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Pray for children to trust that their strength and help come from God, not from themselves, and that they would feel safe asking God for help when they feel weak or scared.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 6:45-6:55 | God Made Me Strong Workout
Lead the kids through a fun “workout” to show off the strength God gave their bodies. Have them touch their toes, reach high to the sky, jump up and down, and run in place. Challenge them to try jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, and holding a plank, offering an easier alternative for anyone who struggles. Finish by having everyone flex their muscles together and shout, “Strong!”
Say: Wow! God gave you muscles! Today’s Bible story is about a man who was very strong. His name was Samson, and Samson was strong because God made him strong. Let’s find out how God used Samson’s strength.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks while they watch the Bible story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Grain Smashing STEM Lab
Items Needed:
- Flake cereal
- Rolling pins or wooden dowels
- Resealable plastic bags
- Paper plates
Give each child a small bag with a handful of cereal sealed inside. Let them use a rolling pin or dowel to gently press and roll over the bag, “grinding” the grain into smaller pieces, just like Samson had to do every day in prison. Afterward, pour the crushed grain onto a paper plate and compare the whole grains to the crushed pieces, talking about how the texture and size changed. Ask the kids to think about how hard and tiring this work would have been for Samson to do all day, every day, and remind them that even though Samson was doing something so difficult, God had not forgotten him.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE | Judges 16:21-31 (ESV)
And they seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.
Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: God gives true strength
What I learned today: Today we learned about a man named Samson who used to think he was strong all by himself. After Samson made some bad choices and lost his strength, he realized that his power had always come from God. When Samson prayed and asked God for help, God gave him strength one more time, and we learned that we can be humble and ask God for help too.
Questions to ask me:
Theological Questions:
- Where did Samson’s strength really come from? (From God)
- Why did Samson pray before he pushed the pillars? (He needed God’s help, not his own strength)
- What did the Philistines do to make fun of Samson? (They brought him out to laugh at him and mock him)
- What happened to Samson’s hair while he was in prison? (It grew long again)
- Did God still help Samson even though Samson had made bad choices? (Yes, God was merciful and still helped him)
Life Application Questions:
- Can you think of a time you needed to ask God for help instead of doing something all by yourself? (Answers will vary)
- How can we be humble like Samson instead of thinking we can do everything on our own? (Answers will vary, such as asking God for help or saying thank You to God)
- What is something you are good at that God helped you learn to do? (Answers will vary)
- Why is it important to say sorry to God when we make bad choices? (So we can be forgiven and grow closer to God)
- What can you pray to God about this week? (Answers will vary)