Embedded Files
Introduction
Introduction
Has anyone ever heard of a man named Samson?
Ask the children, have you ever gotten angry at your brother or sister or friend and done something to them to get back at them or get even?
Today, we are going to learn about a man in the Bible named Samson who had that same problem.
Background Scripture (read 2-3 times during the week)
Background Scripture (read 2-3 times during the week)
Story Summary
Story Summary
The story of Samson is set within the period of the Judges when the Israelites were in their all-to-familiar pattern of disobedience, then oppression by an enemy, Israel crying out to God, God sending someone to deliver them, and then starting the cycle again. This time, the Israelites were being oppressed by the Philistines, and God sent Samson to deliver Israel.
An angel told Samson's mother and father that they would have a son who would deliver Israel from the Philistines. The angel gave his parents special instructions. Samson was to never drink wine and they were to never cut his hair. This would be a sign to others that Samson belonged to God. Samson grew and became very strong.
Samson's First Battle With the Philistines
Samson became very angry with the Philistines (you can read the backstory on that in Judges 14), and decided to take it out on them by burning their fields. He did this in a most creative way, by tying 300 foxes together two-by-two by the tail, and then tying a lit torch to their tails and setting the very angry foxes free in the grain fields of the Philistines. The Philistines didn't like that a bit, so they killed Samson's wife and her father in retaliation. Then they came after Samson and captured him. God gave Samson strength to escape from the Philistines and kill over 1,000 of them in battle with the jawbone of a donkey.
Samson and Delilah
Samson then fell in love with a woman named Delilah. The Philistines found out about this, and were desperate to get even with Samson. So, they convinced Delilah to try and figure out what made Samson so strong. She asked Samson, "What is the secret of your strength?" Samson tricked her 3 times with false answers: 1) if you tie me up with leather straps, I can be controlled 2) if you tie me up with new ropes that have never been used 3) if you braid my hair into cloth on a loom. None of those worked, of course, because Samson was lying to her.
But Delilah kept pestering him and giving him a guilt trip ("If you really loved me, you would tell me..."). Finally, Samson told her that the secret to his strength was that he had never used a razor on his hair. So, this time when the Philistines came to attack Samson, he was unable to fight them off. They gouged out his eyes, put him in bronze chains and carried him away.
The Philistines were so angry with Samson because of all the battles he had won against them, they had a big party to celebrate the capture of Samson. They paraded him in front of 3,000 Philistines who were partying. Samson asked the guard who was watching him to put him against the pillars of the temple. When he did, Samson asked God for strength one last time, and he pulled the pillars of the temple down on himself and everyone at the party. Samson had won one last final victory.
For you the teacher to think about:
There are elements in this story that are very difficult to understand, even for adults. We read the narrative of the Samson story, but there isn't much in there to tell us whether God condoned all of Samson's actions. He seems to break a lot of the Law of Moses in this story, but then at times it says he was filled with the Spirit of God before he attacked the Philistines.
There seems to be two things that we can take from this story:
God used Samson to punish the Philistines.
Samson did not have control over his temper or his love life.
So, be sensitive to the age of your children as you are teaching the lesson. You can leave out certain details if you think it is too much for them (e.g. the Philistines gouging out Samson's eyes). But above all, we have to honor the fact that God decided to dedicate 4 chapters of his Bible to this story, so it is there for a reason.
Activities
Activities
Activity 1 "Strong Man/Woman Competition"
Activity 1 "Strong Man/Woman Competition"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart (varies based on the game you choose):
Weights of various sizes
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions
Let the kids see how long they can hold each set of weights out by their side. They can't bend their elbow or they are out! They can take turns timing each other and see how long they can hold each set of weights. They can start of with small weights and then work their way up!
Activity 2 "Samson puppet"
Activity 2 "Samson puppet"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart (varies based on the game you choose):
brown paper bags
glue
yarn
googley eyes
markers
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions
Give each child a paper bag, some glue, and yarn.
Let them glue long strips of yarn on the top of the paper bag to make Samsons long hair.
Let them glue on the Googley eyes
Let them draw/decorate clothes and other parts of the puppet with markers.
They can also draw muscles and cut them out and glue them to the puppet like in the picture.
Activity 3 "Samson head band"
Activity 3 "Samson head band"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart (varies based on the game you choose):
brown paper bags
glue
yarn
googley eyes
markers
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions
Give each student a piece of white paper (or two depending on how many they need to go around their head).
Let them pick construction paper for their hair color and cut long strips to tape to the headband to make long hair like samson.
Activity 4 "Off-Lesson Fun Games"
Activity 4 "Off-Lesson Fun Games"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Varies depending on the game
Get the details by clicking here!
Musical Chairs
Grab the black chairs out of the closet (so that they are lighter to move around) and have the kids play musical chairs!
The 60 second game
This is a great game for settling a group down. Ask everyone to stand up and put their hands behind their back. Tell them they need to silently guess how long one minute is and sit down when they think it’s up. You do need a clock or watch so you can tell when the time is up. This game can be adjusted to a shorter period for younger children, but I’ve been surprised how well it works even with a Kindergarten group.
Cup stack races
Keep a stack of cheap plastic cups in your bag to pull out for a quick game. Two children can race each other in making the highest or biggest pyramid of upside-down cups in one minute.
Heads or tails
If you’ve got a coin handy, this is a quick and easy game that involves no skill. Children need to make their choice before the coin is flipped. They either put their hands on their head or hands on their ‘tails’ to indicate their choice. Those who guessed correctly stay standing, the rest sit down. Play a few rounds until there is a final winner.
Activity 5 "Dance it out"
Activity 5 "Dance it out"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart (varies based on the game you choose):
christian just dance videos below
If they don't want to play the Christian Just Dance game they can play follow the leader.
Wrap It Up!
Wrap It Up!
**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**
**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**
-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).
-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).
-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.
-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.
-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).
-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).
Worship
Worship
Energy Release!
Energy Release!
Last Minute Filler Ideas
Last Minute Filler Ideas
-Have them gather around the table and draw a picture or write a letter to their families about what they learned today.
-Play a game of some sort. (If you have the hula hoops, have them join hands in a circle and pass the hula hoop around the circle without breaking their hands)
Page updated
Report abuse