Samson: Strength Comes From God
Judges 13:1-5; Judges 16:4-30 Old Testament PrincipleStrength
Before Samson was born, God chose him to begin saving Israel from the Philistines. God made Samson very strong, as a sign of a special promise his hair was never cut. But Samson didn't take God's gift seriously. When Delilah tricked him into telling his secret, his hair was cut, the LORD left him and the Philistines captured him. But in prison, his hair began to grow again. At a great Philistine feast, Samson prayed, "Strengthen me just once more," and God answered. Real strength comes from God, and He gives it to the weak who call on Him.
Real strength comes from God. He gives power to the weak who depend on Him, and He uses our strength for His purposes, not our pride.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it (this lesson)
- RedemptionJesus fixes it
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.”
Isaiah 40:29 BSB
Christ Connection · Better than
Samson won his greatest victory through his death, but he died because of his own sins and asked for revenge. Jesus defeated sin, death and the devil through His death without any sin of His own, and He prayed for His enemies to be forgiven. He is the stronger, better Deliverer.
Hebrews 11:32-34; Hebrews 2:14-15; Colossians 2:15; Luke 23:34
The Big Story · Fall
Ever since the fall, God's people kept wandering and God kept sending deliverers. Samson was strong but sinful, and he could only begin the rescue. God would one day send a perfect Deliverer who defeats the enemy completely.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Who's the strongest?
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): Two pillars
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Snap the ropes
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God makes me strong!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Strong arms, Color strong Samson
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
God made Samson very strong. As a sign of his promise to God, Samson's hair was never cut. But Samson didn't always obey God. Delilah tricked him into telling his secret, and his hair was cut. God's strength left him, and the Philistines made him a prisoner. But his hair began to grow again. At a big party for their false god, Samson prayed, "God, make me strong just once more!" God answered. Real strength comes from God, not from muscles or hair.
Start here
Ask, "What is the heaviest thing you can lift?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today we'll meet a man who lifted a whole city gate. But his strength had a secret!"
Bible story 6 min
Long ago, the Philistines ruled over God's people. So God planned a rescue. He gave a baby boy to a mom and dad. The baby's name was Samson.
God said, "Never cut his hair. It will show that he belongs to Me." God made Samson very strong. He stopped a lion with his bare hands! He carried a city gate up a hill!
But Samson did not always obey God. He did what he wanted. One day he met a woman named Delilah. The Philistines said, "Find out why he is so strong. We will pay you lots of silver."
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
You’ll need: Yarn or string, Two paper towel tubes
- Choose Samson, Delilah, two Philistines and a servant. Everyone else is the crowd.
- Act out the skit. Samson snaps the yarn and pushes the tubes at the end.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
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3rd – 4th grade
God set Samson apart before he was born to begin rescuing Israel from the Philistines. As a Nazirite, his hair was never cut, and God's Spirit made him amazingly strong. But Samson treated God's gift carelessly. When Delilah finally learned his secret, his hair was shaved, the LORD left him and the Philistines blinded and imprisoned him. Yet his hair began to grow back. At a feast for Dagon, Samson prayed, "Strengthen me just once more," and God answered. Real strength comes from God.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Samson's strength, Snap the ropes
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Samson was set apart before birth, filled with the Spirit and given astonishing strength, yet he lived as though the gift were his own. Lured by Delilah's betrayal, he revealed his secret, lost his Nazirite hair and discovered too late that "the LORD had departed from him." Blinded and enslaved, he finally called on God, and God answered with strength once more, though Samson's prayer still asked for revenge. Samson shows that strength belongs to God, and he points ahead to a better Deliverer who won through His death without sin.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Strength and weakness, My gifts
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Strength
The same principle in other Bible stories.
