OT 44 Samson

Reference: Judges 13-16

Story Summary: 
     After doing evil in God's sight, the Lord handed Israel over to be conquered by the Philistines. An angel told an Israelite woman she'd have a child. who would rescue the Israelites from their enemies. But the child was to never, ever cut his hair. She had a boy and named him Samson.
     Samson was incredibly strong because God's Spirit was with him. He once defeated a lion with his bare hands. When his enemies tied him up with ropes, he ripped them apart and defeated 1000 of them with a donkey's jawbone.
     But then Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah. The Philistines asked her to help them discover the secret of Samson's strength. Samson tricked Delilah several times, but eventually told her he'd become weak if his hair was cut. When Samson was asleep, Delilah cut his hair. The Philistines grabbed hold of Samson, who was now weak because God's Spirit left him, poked out his eyes, and threw him to work in prison, where his hair started to grow again.
     The Philistines had a feast and brought out Samson. Samson prayed to God for his strength again, to defeat his enemies. God answered him. Samson pushed down the building's supporting pillars. It fell on Samson and the Philistines and all who were inside.

Big Idea and Motions: Because Jesus saved us, we can have God’s Spirit.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Saved us - do the baseball “safe” sign
We - point to yourself with two thumbs
God’s Spirit - point up

Verse and Motions: 1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV - Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Do you not - shake your finger “no”
Know - tap your brain
You - point to another person
Temple - form a “roof” over your head with your arm
Spirit - hover your palm over your heart and make a circular motion
Dwells - hug yourself

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who were the people who conquered the Israelites? // The Philistines
What were God’s rules for Samson? // No wine, special foods, no hair cuts
Why was Samson able to defeat the lion with his bare hands? // Because God’s Spirit made him super strong
What did Samson use to defeat 1000 men? // A donkey’s jawbone
Who was the girl Samson fell in love with? // Delilah
When did Samson lose God’s Spirit, and his strength? // When he let his hair be cut
What did the Philistines do to Samson? // Poked out his eyes, put him in prison
What did Samson do to the temple? // Knocked it down by pushing over the pillars
Who died to take away our sins? // Jesus, God’s Son
What does Trinity mean? // There is one God who exists in three persons.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/lM0Ohn
Resources - http://goo.gl/R5e9Tw