Come Follow Me for Teens
FREE TEEN LESSON
THIS WEEK’S FREE TEEN LESSON
A simple, ready-to-teach Come Follow Me lesson for teens
Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16
The Lord Raised Up a Deliverer
What Gideon, Samson, and the book of Judges teach us about influence, strength, and coming back to Christ
Page 1 — Teen Lesson
The book of Judges shows a pattern that happens over and over again. The children of Israel turn away from the Lord, forget their covenants, follow the influence of the people around them, fall into bondage, cry out for help, and then the Lord raises up a deliverer.
That may sound like ancient history, but if we are honest, that pattern can still happen today.
Sometimes we drift from God little by little. We let certain influences stay too close. We tell ourselves we can handle it. We stop paying attention to the small things that weaken us spiritually. Then, before we realize it, we feel farther from the Lord than we ever meant to be.
That is what happened to Israel. They were supposed to remove the influences that would pull them away from God, but they did not fully do it. Eventually, those influences shaped them. Judges says they “forgat the Lord their God.”
That is a serious warning.
But Judges is not only a warning. It is also a message of hope. Every time Israel humbled themselves and cried to the Lord, He was willing to deliver them. He did not give up on them just because they had fallen again.
The story of Gideon teaches that the Lord can strengthen us when we feel weak. Gideon did not feel qualified to deliver Israel. His army was reduced to only 300 men against an overwhelming enemy. But the Lord wanted Israel to know that victory came from Him, not from their own strength.
The story of Samson teaches a different lesson. Samson looked strong on the outside, but his choices weakened his connection with God. He had great potential, but he treated sacred things lightly. His story reminds us that real strength is not just physical, social, or personal. Real strength comes from staying connected to Jesus Christ through our covenants.
So maybe the question this week is not just, “Am I strong?”
Maybe the better question is:
Am I staying close to the real source of strength?
Jesus Christ is the true Deliverer. He can deliver us from sin, temptation, fear, weakness, pride, and spiritual bondage. He can help us recognize harmful influences, trust Him when we feel outnumbered, and strengthen our covenant connection with Him.
No matter how many times we have drifted, He is willing to help us come back.
Scripture
Judges 2:16
“Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hands of those that spoiled them.”
Quote
Elder Ulisses Soares taught:
“Fighting against temptation takes a lifetime of diligence and faithfulness. But please know that the Lord is ready to assist us.”
Reflection Questions
What influences in your life are helping you come closer to Christ?
What influences might be pulling you away from Him?
When have you felt weak, overwhelmed, or outnumbered like Gideon?
What does Gideon’s story teach you about trusting God’s strength?
What does Samson’s story teach you about choices, temptation, and covenants?
How can you strengthen your connection with Jesus Christ this week?
This Week’s Challenge
Choose one of these three challenges:
Remove one harmful influence.
Create distance from one thing that weakens your thoughts, standards, or relationship with God.
Trust God in one hard thing.
Pray specifically for help with something that feels bigger than you.
Strengthen one covenant connection.
Take the sacrament more intentionally, repent quickly, serve someone, pray sincerely, or make one choice that helps you stay closer to Christ.
Remember This
The Lord is willing to deliver those who turn back to Him.
FOR PARENTS & LEADERS
Parent / Leader Teaching Page
Teaching Teens This Week
The book of Judges gives parents and leaders a powerful way to talk with teens about real-life discipleship. These chapters are not just about Israel’s repeated mistakes. They are about influence, spiritual drift, temptation, repentance, covenant strength, and the mercy of Jesus Christ.
Teenagers live in a world full of strong influences. Friends, media, music, social media, dating situations, group chats, and private habits can all shape the heart. Judges helps teens see that the influences we allow to stay close can either pull us away from Christ or help us come closer to Him.
This week is also a beautiful opportunity to teach hope. Israel repeatedly fell, but when they cried to the Lord, He raised up deliverers. That pattern points us to Jesus Christ, who is always willing to help, forgive, strengthen, and deliver us when we turn back to Him.
Main Teaching Truths
1. What we allow to stay close will eventually influence us.
Israel failed to remove harmful influences, and those influences gradually pulled them away from the Lord.
2. God can strengthen us when we feel weak or outnumbered.
Gideon’s 300 men teach that victory comes through the Lord’s power, not just our own ability.
3. Real strength comes through covenant connection with Christ.
Samson looked strong, but his choices weakened his connection to God. Covenants help connect us to true spiritual power.
Simple 10-Minute Teaching Flow
1. Start with a question.
Ask: “What are some things that influence teenagers the most today?”
2. Read one short scripture together.
Read Judges 2:16 and talk about what it means that the Lord “raised up judges” to deliver His people.
3. Teach one clear principle.
Explain that Judges shows both a warning and a promise: harmful influences can pull us away from God, but Jesus Christ can deliver us when we turn back to Him.
4. Discuss one story.
Choose either Gideon or Samson. Ask: “Which story feels most relevant to teenagers today, and why?”
5. Invite action.
Invite your teen to choose one small way this week to remove a harmful influence, trust God in a hard thing, or strengthen their covenant connection with Christ.
Helpful Quote
Elder Gérald Caussé taught:
“The Lord often places His servants in situations with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. In this manner He pushes us to humble ourselves and to rely solely on His strength.”
Parent / Leader Encouragement
You do not have to turn this into a long formal lesson. Sometimes the most powerful teaching happens in a short, honest conversation.
You could talk about a time when an influence affected you for good or bad. You could share a moment when you felt weak and needed the Lord’s help. You could testify of the strength that has come into your life through keeping covenants.
Teens do not always need a lecture. Many times, they need a sincere question, a real story, and a safe place to think honestly about their own discipleship.
The book of Judges can help them see that drifting is real, temptation is real, and consequences are real — but so is repentance, mercy, strength, and deliverance through Jesus Christ.
Invitation
Sometime this week, ask your teen:
“What is one influence in your life that helps you feel closer to Christ, and what is one influence that makes it harder?”
Then listen. Do not rush to correct everything. Let the conversation breathe. Follow up with love, encouragement, and your testimony that Jesus Christ can help them become stronger.
Want the full weekly lesson and more teaching support?
If this free lesson helped you teach or study this week, the full Come Follow Me for Teens Study & Teaching Guide gives you a deeper, ready-to-use lesson framework for Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16
The full guide includes:
3 complete teaching principles
Readiness and object lesson activities
Exact scripture blocks
Expanded teaching helps
Discussion and journal questions
Quotes from Church leaders
Application questions and actions
A ready-to-use structure for parents, youth leaders, and teachers
Perfect for family study, youth lessons, Sunday discussions, and helping teens connect Come Follow Me to real life.
Get the full guide and weekly teen resources here:
https://www.joshdowns.com/come-follow-me-for-teens