Opening Prayer: Father, help me to discover Your plan and purpose for my life.
Previous Knowledge: The teacher should allow one of the students to review the lesson for the previous week.
Bible Passage: Judges 13:1-5.
Lesson Introduction
Samson is one of the few in the Scripture whose birth was divinely pre-announced to his parents (Judges 13:3). He shares this honour with Isaac, John the Baptist, and Jesus. Samson whose name means “sunshine” was born sometime between 1045BC and 1000BC, during a dark period of Israel’s history. His father was Manoah of the family of Danites (Judges 12:2). Samson was born a Nazirite, meaning he was ‘separated’ or ‘set aside’ for God. This means that he was not to drink wine or fruit of the Vine. He could not do near or touch a dead body, human or animal, nor could he cut his hair. (Numbers 6:2-6). After his death, he was buried between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father.
Lesson Aim: To teach young people memorable lessons from the life of Samson.
Teaching Objectives: Through this study, youths are expected to have: a. Discover the character and achievements of Samson.
b. Learned Lessons from Samson’s life.
Teaching Plan: To achieve the above-stated objectives, teachers should: a. Allow the students to recite the memory verse, read the Bible passage, contribute to discussions, and do class activities and assignments.
b. Allow the Assistant Teacher to see to the well-being of the class, and mark attendance and assignment.
c. Teach the lesson outlines, summarise, conclude, evaluate the lesson and give assignments to the students.
TEXT REVIEW: Judges 13:1-5.
In this passage:
A. The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. God allowed the Philistines to rule them for forty years. v1.
B. The name of Samson’s father is Manoah from the family of Dan. v2a.
C. Samson’s mother was unable to…………………………………………..v2b.
D. The angel of the Lord appeared to Samson’s mother and told her the following things:
i..…………………………………………………….v3a.
ii.…………………………………………………..v3b.
iii……………………………………………….v4a
iv.………………………………………………….v4b.
v…………………………………………………v5a.
vi.………………………………………………..v5b.
vii..………………………………………………….v5c.
viii…………………………………………………..v5d.
Teaching Method: Discussion method.
Time Management: Teachers should apply two-lesson outlines teaching time.
LESSON OUTLINE 1: ACHIEVEMENTS AND FLAWS
A. Samson’s Achievements
i. Samson was a Judge in Isreal. He judged Israel for twenty years with landmark achievements, though with flaws worthy of note.
ii. God’s purpose for Samson’s life was to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13:5) and this he achieved.
iii. Samson was a powerful man with Supernatural strength. With the Spirit of God Upon Him:
a. He killed Lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:15-16).
b. He killed thirty men (Philistines) and took their belongings (Judges 14:19).
c. He killed a thousand men (Philistines) with the jaw bone of an ass (Judges 15:14-16).
d. He lifted the gates of the city and took them up on a mountain (Judges 16:3).
e. He was also very intelligent with an unusual sense of humour (Judges 14:12-14).
iv. Samson enjoyed answers to prayers in fulfilment of God’s purpose (Judges 15:18; 16:28).
v. He repented towards the end of his life and called upon the Lord and His strength returned, he slew more philistines at his death than he slew during his lifetime (Judges 16:30).
B. Samson flaws
Though he was set apart for special service to God (Judges 13:5), Samson:
i. Ignored and violate the Nazirite vow of Godly devotion.
ii. Relied upon his own strength and abilities rather than God’s (Prov. 5:3).
iii. He was courageous before men but weak when it comes to women (Prov. 6:32; Matt. 5:28).
iv. His weakness for the Philistine women culminated in his fall (Judges 14; 1-3; Judges 16:1-22).
v. His passion for women was more important to him than God’s expressed will (Deut. 7:3).
vi. While he had almost unlimited potential to deliver his people from the Philistines, his story ended in needless tragedy.
vii. He died with the enemies (Dan. 16:30).
viii. Samson was shallow and vengeful like the Philistines (Judges 15:10) which is the world’s mindset today and contrary to the teachings of Christ (Heb. 5:38).
ix. Samson’s disobedience and love for strange women led to his defeat, disgrace and destruction.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should discuss practical ways youths can avoid the flaws of Samson.
LESSON OUTLINE 2: LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE
Teachers should ask the class to discuss the remarkable lessons youths should learn from the life of Samson.
There are several lessons to learn from Samson’s life.
1. though we may not be given great physical strength like Samson, God will give us great spiritual strength when we need it (Phil. 4:13).
2. Believers should watch out for things and people that can entice them to sin. We must not allow the yearnings of the flesh to control our lives (1 John 2: 15-17; 2 Cor. 6:17).
3. The seemingly harmless sins some believers are committing and getting away with are simply baits from the devil to encourage them to go deeper. The devil is not stupid; he has planned a big downfall along the line.
4..When you ain, no matter how grievous, repent and call upon God. He will always hear your cry of repentance and forgive you (Is. 1:18; Acts 2:21; Acts 3:19).
5. Spiritual gifts are not pointers to spiritual maturity. Believers should strive to bear the fruit of the Spirit to remain in tune with God (Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 5:9).
6. Perhaps the greatest lesson we learn is that God would rather forgive than judge. In the final analysis, God saw Samson as a man of faith. This is evidenced by the fact that he is listed among those in the hall of faith (HEB. 11:32).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should discuss how the lesson learnt from Samson’s life can help youth.
SUMMARY: Samson was a man destined by God for greatness but due to his many flaws, his life was cut short. Youths should learn great lessons from Samson’s life.
CONCLUSION: Samson’s story is a strong warning to every Christian never to toy with Sin.
EVALUATION: The teacher should ask students to mention some of their flaws of Samson.
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, please help me to fulfil your plans and purpose for my life.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) life achievements of Samson (2×5=10Marks).
Action Point
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