Chapel of the Cross Faith & Family

This interactive Bible time is a great way for your family to gather around God's Word and read, listen, watch, sing, and do activities together that help you learn more about God's great love for you in Jesus.

Who is the strongest person you know?

After Deborah, the Israelites continued in their cycle of idolatry, foreign oppression, repentance, and God-given deliverance by a judge. Samson was one of the most fascinating judges of Israel. Samson was an answer to prayer, born to a barren woman and announced by the angel of the

Lord. He was a Nazirite from birth, which meant that he was never to drink alcohol, eat unclean food, or cut his hair. Yes, Samson was special, and he knew it. He had little regard for his parents or God’s laws. He was physically strong, but morally weak, especially when it came to women. This weakness became his downfall when a Philistine woman named Delilah got Samson to spill the secret of his strength. Despite his sinfulness, God worked through him to deliver Israel from the Philistines.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your Holy Word, which makes us strong in faith so we can be helpers and show love for others. Amen

God is my strength.

• Open your family Bible or a Children's Bible storybook and read this account together OR
• Read this account using an online Bible (Biblegateway.com) Judges 16:4–31
  OR
• Listen to the Bible account being read using the video below.
  

• Who made Samson strong?
• What foolish things did Samson do?
• How does God give you strength when you feel weak?
  

God gave Samson his strength so that he could be a good judge and leader for the Israelites. But Samson did not put God first. Samson put his own wants first, and he had a weakness for women.

Samson loved a woman who was an unbeliever and a Philistine, the enemies of the Israelites. He ended up telling Delilah the secret of His great strength. Even when Samson made bad choices, God worked through him to help the Israelite people.

Sometimes when we are the weakest, that’s when God’s strength can come shining through us the clearest, because we know it’s not our strength but God’s. (Read 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 to read how the apostle Paul dealt with being weak.)

Not one of us is strong enough, powerful enough, or good enough to save ourselves. That's why God sent Jesus. Jesus defeated the devil and death by His suffering and death on the cross.

God, the Lord, is my strength. Habakkuk 3:19

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Dear Jesus, thank You for being our strength and for conquering death and the devil for us. Help us to use our strength from You to share Your love with others. In Your name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

A portion of these Bible lesson materials are from the Enduring Faith Bible Curriculum from Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.

Find more resources to help your family draw closer to Christ at cph.org.

Click here for free devotional materials for children, families, and adults.

Chapel of the Cross--Lutheran exists to show the love of Jesus to North County and beyond, so that all may have a living relationship with Christ.

Our Core Values:

• Empowered by the cross of Christ
• People working together
• Opening the Word to all people
• Showing the love of Jesus
• Warm and supportive environment

Email: pastorlaesch@chapelofthecross.org
Website: http://www.chapelofthecross.org/
Location: 11645 Benham Rd, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 741-3737
Facebook: facebook.com/ChapelSTL