Small Group Guide for Families with Young Children
“Revenge Is Not So Sweet”
Judges 15
Big Idea
When someone hurts us or makes us angry, God does not want us to get revenge. God wants us to do what is right, ask Him for help, and choose forgiveness, kindness, and peace.
Key Takeaways for Kids
- I am responsible for my own choices.
- Blaming others does not make wrong choices okay.
- Revenge means trying to “get back” at someone who hurt us.
- Revenge usually makes problems bigger, not better.
- My words and actions can hurt or help people around me.
- God wants me to do good, even when I feel angry.
- God is merciful to me, so I should show mercy to others.
- Jesus helps me forgive when I cannot do it on my own.
Opening Question
Have you ever had someone take your toy, say something mean, or hurt your feelings?
What did you want to do next?
- Hit back?
- Say something mean?
- Tell on them?
- Walk away?
- Pray?
- Forgive them?
Sometimes when someone hurts us, we want to hurt them back. That is called revenge. But God has a better way.
Bible Story: Judges 15
In Judges 15, Samson was very angry.
Samson had been treated badly, and instead of stopping to ask God what to do, he decided to get even. He made some bad choices because he wanted revenge.
But then the problem got bigger and bigger.
One angry choice led to another angry choice. More people got hurt. The fighting did not stop.
Samson was strong, but he did not always make wise choices. He often acted out of anger instead of obeying God.
Later, Samson became very thirsty and finally prayed to God for help. God showed mercy and gave him water.
This story teaches us that revenge is not sweet. It may feel good for a moment, but it leads to more hurt.
Discussion Questions for Kids
1. What is revenge?
Revenge means trying to hurt someone because they hurt you first.
Ask:
Have you ever wanted to “get back” at someone?
2. Was Samson responsible for his own choices?
Yes. Even if other people did wrong things, Samson was still responsible for what he did.
Ask:
If someone is mean to you, does that mean it is okay for you to be mean back?
3. What happened when Samson tried to get revenge?
The problem got worse. More people were hurt.
Ask:
Have you ever seen a small argument turn into a big argument?
4. What should Samson have done instead?
He should have asked God for help. He could have stopped, prayed, and chosen peace instead of revenge.
Ask:
What can you do when you feel very angry?
Possible answers:
- Stop and take a breath.
- Walk away.
- Tell a trusted adult.
- Pray.
- Use kind words.
- Ask God to help you forgive.
5. Does God want us to hurt people who hurt us?
No. God wants us to love others, forgive, and let Him handle what is fair.
Ask:
Is it easy to forgive someone who hurt you?
No, it is not always easy. That is why we need Jesus to help us.
Going Deeper for Older Kids
Read Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Ask:
- What does it mean to overcome evil with good?
- If someone says something mean, what would “good” look like?
- If someone leaves you out, what would “good” look like?
- If someone takes something from you, what would “good” look like?
God does not want us to copy wrong behavior. He wants us to respond in a way that honors Him.
Object Lesson: Toothpaste Words
Supplies:
- A tube of toothpaste
- A plate or napkin
Lesson:
Squeeze some toothpaste out onto the plate.
Say:
“This toothpaste is like our angry words and actions. Once they come out, it is very hard to put them back.”
Ask a child to try to put the toothpaste back into the tube.
Say:
“When we try to get revenge, we may say or do things that hurt people. Even if we say sorry later, the hurt can still be there. That is why God wants us to stop before we act in anger.”
Practical Applications for Kids
1. Stop before you act.
When you feel angry, pause.
Say to yourself:
“God, help me make the right choice.”
2. Use kind words.
Instead of saying, “I’ll get you back,” say:
- “That hurt my feelings.”
- “Please stop.”
- “I need help.”
- “I forgive you.”
3. Pray for someone who hurt you.
This week, pray for someone who upset you.
You can pray:
“God, please help me forgive them. Please help them know You. Please help me be kind.”
4. Do something good.
If someone has been unkind, ask God to help you respond with kindness.
You could:
- Share.
- Smile.
- Say something kind.
- Invite them to play.
- Help them.
- Walk away peacefully.
5. Ask Jesus for help.
Forgiving people is hard. We need Jesus.
Say:
“Jesus, I cannot do this by myself. Please help me forgive and obey You.”
Memory Verse
Romans 12:21
“Revenge Is Not So Sweet”
Judges 15
Big Idea
When someone hurts us or makes us angry, God does not want us to get revenge. God wants us to do what is right, ask Him for help, and choose forgiveness, kindness, and peace.
Key Takeaways for Kids
- I am responsible for my own choices.
- Blaming others does not make wrong choices okay.
- Revenge means trying to “get back” at someone who hurt us.
- Revenge usually makes problems bigger, not better.
- My words and actions can hurt or help people around me.
- God wants me to do good, even when I feel angry.
- God is merciful to me, so I should show mercy to others.
- Jesus helps me forgive when I cannot do it on my own.
Opening Question
Have you ever had someone take your toy, say something mean, or hurt your feelings?
What did you want to do next?
- Hit back?
- Say something mean?
- Tell on them?
- Walk away?
- Pray?
- Forgive them?
Sometimes when someone hurts us, we want to hurt them back. That is called revenge. But God has a better way.
Bible Story: Judges 15
In Judges 15, Samson was very angry.
Samson had been treated badly, and instead of stopping to ask God what to do, he decided to get even. He made some bad choices because he wanted revenge.
But then the problem got bigger and bigger.
One angry choice led to another angry choice. More people got hurt. The fighting did not stop.
Samson was strong, but he did not always make wise choices. He often acted out of anger instead of obeying God.
Later, Samson became very thirsty and finally prayed to God for help. God showed mercy and gave him water.
This story teaches us that revenge is not sweet. It may feel good for a moment, but it leads to more hurt.
Discussion Questions for Kids
1. What is revenge?
Revenge means trying to hurt someone because they hurt you first.
Ask:
Have you ever wanted to “get back” at someone?
2. Was Samson responsible for his own choices?
Yes. Even if other people did wrong things, Samson was still responsible for what he did.
Ask:
If someone is mean to you, does that mean it is okay for you to be mean back?
3. What happened when Samson tried to get revenge?
The problem got worse. More people were hurt.
Ask:
Have you ever seen a small argument turn into a big argument?
4. What should Samson have done instead?
He should have asked God for help. He could have stopped, prayed, and chosen peace instead of revenge.
Ask:
What can you do when you feel very angry?
Possible answers:
- Stop and take a breath.
- Walk away.
- Tell a trusted adult.
- Pray.
- Use kind words.
- Ask God to help you forgive.
5. Does God want us to hurt people who hurt us?
No. God wants us to love others, forgive, and let Him handle what is fair.
Ask:
Is it easy to forgive someone who hurt you?
No, it is not always easy. That is why we need Jesus to help us.
Going Deeper for Older Kids
Read Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Ask:
- What does it mean to overcome evil with good?
- If someone says something mean, what would “good” look like?
- If someone leaves you out, what would “good” look like?
- If someone takes something from you, what would “good” look like?
God does not want us to copy wrong behavior. He wants us to respond in a way that honors Him.
Object Lesson: Toothpaste Words
Supplies:
- A tube of toothpaste
- A plate or napkin
Lesson:
Squeeze some toothpaste out onto the plate.
Say:
“This toothpaste is like our angry words and actions. Once they come out, it is very hard to put them back.”
Ask a child to try to put the toothpaste back into the tube.
Say:
“When we try to get revenge, we may say or do things that hurt people. Even if we say sorry later, the hurt can still be there. That is why God wants us to stop before we act in anger.”
Practical Applications for Kids
1. Stop before you act.
When you feel angry, pause.
Say to yourself:
“God, help me make the right choice.”
2. Use kind words.
Instead of saying, “I’ll get you back,” say:
- “That hurt my feelings.”
- “Please stop.”
- “I need help.”
- “I forgive you.”
3. Pray for someone who hurt you.
This week, pray for someone who upset you.
You can pray:
“God, please help me forgive them. Please help them know You. Please help me be kind.”
4. Do something good.
If someone has been unkind, ask God to help you respond with kindness.
You could:
- Share.
- Smile.
- Say something kind.
- Invite them to play.
- Help them.
- Walk away peacefully.
5. Ask Jesus for help.
Forgiving people is hard. We need Jesus.
Say:
“Jesus, I cannot do this by myself. Please help me forgive and obey You.”
Memory Verse
Romans 12:21