Samson Sunday School Lesson for Kids
A free Samson Sunday school lesson (Judges 13–16) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions, memory verse and take-home.
Preschool–Grade 6
Download
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, kindergarten to 2nd grade (PDF) · 4 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preschool ages 3–5 (PDF) · 3 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, 3rd to 5th grade (PDF) · 4 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preteens ages 11–12 (PDF) · 4 pages
- ⬇ Take-home sheet (PDF) · 1 page
Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.
- Ages
- Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
- Time
- 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
- Scripture
- Judges 13–16
- Bible story
- Samson
What you need
- A Bible (mark Judges 14:6, Judges 16:28 and Psalm 46:1)
- Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
- 1 strip of crepe paper streamer for each child, about 2 feet long (preschool and kindergarten to 2nd grade)
- 6 paper strips, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
- A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
- Paper and pencils (preteens)
- Printed take-home sheets, one per child
- Printed Samson word search and crayons for early finishers
This free Samson Sunday school lesson teaches kids that Samson's great strength came from God, that our choices matter, and that we can always pray to Him (Judges 13–16). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Pick the one that fits your class. Everything is in the order you teach it.
Choose your age level
- Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 3 pages: a strong-arms game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("God is our refuge and strength") with motions, and a strong lion drawing.
- Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 4 pages: the Pretend Strong game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Strong Strips memory verse game, and a break-the-ropes game.
- 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: a wise-or-foolish opening game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (the Nazarite vow, the riddle, the city gate, Delilah's four tries, Dagon's house), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
- Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: students read Judges 13 and 16 out loud themselves, then discuss where our gifts come from, warning signs, drifting from God and God's grace after failure. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Psalm 46:1 and Isaiah 40:31).
Lesson at a glance
- Bible passage: Judges 13–16
- Main point: Samson's strength came from God. We need God every day, we can make wise choices, and we can always pray to Him.
- Memory verse: Psalm 46:1 (KJV), with Isaiah 40:31 added for preteens
- Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions
Lesson outline (the same in every version)
- Opening game: a short game about being strong, wise choices or where our gifts come from.
- Bible story: the angel's promise and the Nazarite vow, the lion and the honey, the ropes that fell off, the water God gave, the city gate, Delilah and the lost strength, and Samson's last prayer. Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
- Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
- Memory verse: a game or motions to help kids learn Psalm 46:1.
- What this means for us: strength comes from God, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
- Activity: the Samson word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Samson craft, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
- Prayer.
Tips for teaching Samson
- Read Judges 14:6 straight from your Bible. Every great thing Samson did began with "the Spirit of the LORD came upon him." His long hair was the sign of his Nazarite vow (Judges 13:5); the strength was God's.
- Delilah is told plainly and briefly: the Philistine lords paid her to find his secret (Judges 16:5). There is no romance in any of the lessons.
- The blinding (Judges 16:21) and the end, when the house fell and Samson died (16:30), are told gently and briefly. The preschool lesson leaves them out. Every level has a short teacher note in case a child asks.
- The lessons skip Samson's marriage and the battles in Judges 14–15 and the start of Judges 16. Read them yourself before class.
- Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.
Frequently asked questions
How long does this Samson lesson take?
It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.
What is the main point of the story of Samson for kids?
Samson's great strength came from God: "the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him" (Judges 14:6, 15:14). Samson made foolish choices and lost his strength, but at the end he prayed, "strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once," and God heard him (16:28–30). We need God's strength, we can make wise choices, and we can always pray.
Was Samson's strength in his hair?
No. His strength came from the Spirit of the LORD (Judges 14:6, 15:14). His long hair was the sign of his Nazarite vow: from birth he was set apart to God, and no razor was to come on his head (13:5; Numbers 6:5). When his hair was shaved, "the LORD was departed from him" (Judges 16:20). The strength was God's all along.
How do I teach the hard parts of Samson's story to young kids?
Tell them plainly and briefly, the way each lesson does: Delilah took money to find out Samson's secret (Judges 16:5), the Philistines blinded him (16:21), and when the house fell, Samson died too (16:30). The preschool lesson leaves out the hardest parts. Every lesson has short, gentle teacher notes in case a child asks.
