The Be Like Series: Which Biblical Character Are You? A Complete Guide to All Ten Archetypes

Children do not remember a lesson about a king. They remember being told they are like him.

That is the whole idea behind the Be Like series. Each pack takes one person from Scripture and draws out the identity underneath the story — the trait, the struggle, the thing that made them who they were — and hands it to a child as something they might recognise in themselves.

This guide runs through all ten archetypes: what each one means, which child in your class is probably which, and the lesson pack that teaches it.

Why archetypes work with children

Ask a class "what did Daniel do?" and you get a retelling. Ask "who here would have kept praying at the window?" and you get a conversation.

An archetype gives a child a handle for something they already sense about themselves but have no words for. The bold one who gets in trouble for speaking up learns there is a name for that and it is not naughtiness. The quiet one who notices everything learns that noticing is a gift. That is a different lesson from "be good", and it lasts considerably longer.

Each pack is a complete session — the story, discussion questions that actually get children talking, games and colouring — so ten minutes of preparation covers the hour. Every verse is checked against the Bible text.

The ten archetypes

Be Like Elijah — The Fire Starter

Boldness, faith in action, standing alone when nobody joins in. Elijah called down fire in front of 450 opponents, then collapsed under a broom tree and asked to die — which is exactly why he is useful. The child in your class: the one who speaks up before thinking, and who feels it hard afterwards. Get the pack

Be Like Daniel — The Lion Tamer

Conviction under pressure. Daniel kept his window open and prayed anyway, knowing the cost. The child: the one who will not go along with the group, and gets called difficult for it. Get the pack

Be Like David — The Head Hunter

Courage against impossible odds, and worship as a weapon. David ran towards the giant. The child: the smallest one who volunteers first. Get the pack

Be Like Hezekiah — The Game Changer

Decisive reform, and prayer that changes the outcome. He became king at 25 and started tearing down idols immediately — no permission, no perfect moment. He also cut a tunnel through solid rock from both ends in the dark, and it is still there. The child: the one who asks why things are done this way. Get the pack

Be Like Deborah — The Mission Enforcer

Leadership from conviction. A judge, a prophetess and a strategist when female leaders were almost unheard of — and she led without pretending her context was different. The child: the one everybody follows without being asked to. Get the pack

Be Like Esther — The Stealth Fighter

Courage that moves quietly and waits for the moment. Esther did not confront; she prepared, and then acted once. The child: the one who says nothing for a week and then says the exact right thing.

Be Like Samson — The Bone Crusher

Strength, and what it costs when it is not surrendered. The honest one in the set: Samson is a warning as much as an example, which older children respect. The child: the physically capable one who has not yet learned restraint.

Be Like Mary — The Knowledge Seeker

Choosing the better thing while everyone else is busy. Mary sat and listened while Martha worked, and was told she had chosen well. The child: the one reading in the corner while the others run about.

Be Like Abigail — The Peace Warrior

Wisdom that prevents a disaster nobody else saw coming. Abigail stopped a war with a well-judged conversation. The child: the peacemaker who spots the argument before it starts.

Be Like Joseph — The Dream Keeper

Holding on to something through years when nothing confirms it. Joseph waited a very long time. The child: the one with a big plan who is not put off by being told it is unlikely.

How to use them

• As a term-long series. One character a week gives you a structured curriculum with a clear arc, and children start predicting who is next.
• Matched to what a child is facing. Struggling with fear — Elijah. Being pressured by friends — Daniel. Waiting for something — Joseph. This is where the packs do their real work.
• In a homeschool unit. Each pack carries reading, comprehension, discussion and writing, so the Bible slot counts as literacy too.
• Alongside Sunday school. If church is covering a character, the pack deepens it during the week.

Which one is your class?

Most groups have several. The useful exercise is to run the series and let children recognise themselves — they almost always do, and they will tell you which one they are before you finish the second session.

If you would rather find your own first, our archetype guide for adults covers the same ten.

See all the Be Like lesson packs →

For how these fit with the rest of the church year, see our complete guide to printable Bible games and activities.