Happy Father’s Day!
From our family to yours: We are so thankful for the Fathers in our lives who love us, cherish us, and support us. Thank you to all the Dads out there who sacrifice so much for their families. At the same time, we recognize how difficult days like this can be for many people in our family and community. We stand in solidarity with you and pray for God’s peace and healing to be on you today in a special way.
Hybrid Model—Westside is open for in-person gatherings on Sundays at 9am, and will continue to worship online moving forward.
Please fill out an In-touch card to let us know you’re with us online or in person!
Walking by Faith: Samson
Sermon Series: We’re looking at stories of men and women from the Bible who set us an example of trusting God when it matters the most. Not just
The Big Idea from Samson’s Story: God Gives us Powerful Gifts. It’s up to us to Use Them Well.
“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets…” —Hebrews 11:32 (NIV)
“…who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” —Hebrews 11:33-34 (NIV)
Each example in Hebrews 11 is designed to encourage the Christian church to stay
Samson’s Background: Judges 13
• Samson’s mother was barren.
• An angel visits the mother and promises a child.
“You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” —Judges 13:5 (NIV)
Samson’s mother joins a long list of barren women who were blessed by God with the miraculous gift of a child:
- Sarah (Isaac) • Gen. 21
- Rebekah (Jacob and Esau) • Gen. 25
- Rachel (Joseph) • Gen. 29
- Hannah (Samuel) • 1 Sam. 1
- Elizabeth (John the Baptist) • Luke 1
- Mary (Jesus) — Luke 2 (Although Mary was technically not barren, her pregnancy was nevertheless miraculous)
Samson’s father Manoah struggles to understand God’s plan:
“Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.” (Judges 13:8, NIV) —Judges 13:8 (NIV)
• The angel returns
• Samson’s parents worship God.
• The child is born:
“The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him…” —Judges 13:24-25 (NIV)
Samson’s Name: “The Sun.” Heat and light can bring either life or death depending on how they’re used.
Samson’s Story leaves us with some unanswered
• Samson had stayed focused?
• Had used his strength for God’s glory instead of his own?
• Had lived out his calling to be dedicated solely to the Lord?
Samson leaves a complicated
Samson’s Wife: Judges 14
Boy Meets Girl:
“I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” 3 His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife? But Samson said to his father, ‘Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.’ 4 (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord…)” —Judges 14:2-3 (NIV)
“The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. 7 Then he went down and talked with the woman, and he liked her.” —Judges 14:6-7 (NIV)
- Meets a Philistine woman.
- Kills a lion with his bare hands and then talks to the girl.
- Eats honey out of the dead lion.
- Gets married and throws a party.
- Tells a riddle and is pressured by his wife to give the answer.
- Kills the people who cheated on the riddle.
Judges 14: Gives us a glimpse into the attitude and mindset of a Spirit-filled Samson.
An Escalating Cycle of Revenge: Judges 15
- Samson destroys crops, so Philistines kill his wife and father-in-law (15:1-6)
- Samson slaughters many Philistines (15:7-8)
- Philistines surround Samson and force Israel to hand him over (15:9-13)
- Samson kills a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (15:14-17)
Where Does Samson’s Strength Come From?
• There is nothing about his hair itself that increased his strength…
• The power comes from the Spirit of God.
“18 Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, ’You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’ 19 Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.” —Judges 15:18-19 (NIV)
Samson and Delilah: Judges 16
Willie Robertson’s (Duck Dynasty) haircut: a dramatic transformation.
Samson had a dramatic haircut in Judges 16—perhaps the story he’s most remembered for.
“27 Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes. 29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.” —Judges 16:27-30 (NIV)
Samson’s death brings us back to our original
• God gave Samson an unparalleled gift. Did he use it well?
• Is Samson a positive example for us to follow or a cautionary tale who serves as a warning?
• What would Samson’s life have looked like if he had stayed focused and cared less about revenge?
Application: God Has Given You a Gift. Use it Well.
“10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” —1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)
Response
Tap here to Respond to today’s message
Let us know if you’d like to commit your life to Jesus, respond in baptism, or request prayers using the in touch card in our app.
Questions? Contact Bryan: (609) 356-3147 or bfojtasek@westsidelife.org.
Life Group / Reflection Questions
- Happy Father’s Day! Welcome everyone to your group and begin with some sharing about your recent week.
- The big idea from this morning’s sermon was that God has given us remarkable gifts, but it’s up to us to use them well. How does the story of Samson illustrate that?
- Samson’s story is in Judges 13-16. He is not mentioned again in the entire Bible except for the one time in Hebrews 11:32. Do you think there any significance to Samson not being mentioned again? Why do you think the writer of Hebrews included him in the list of examples of faith?
- Bryan mentioned that you could view Samson as a testimony to the power of God, or a cautionary tale about the danger of losing focus. Which of these perspectives seems more accurate and why? Or is the truth somewhere in the middle?
- Samson was a miracle baby, dedicated to God from the womb, chosen to deliver Israel from oppression, and stirred by the Holy Spirit as a boy. Despite all that, Samson seemed to have some worldly priorities during his life. What seemed to be Samson’s motivation throughout his story? What was he fighting for?
- Read Romans 12:17-21. Why is it so hard to resist the temptation to seek revenge when we are harmed, insulted, or mistreated?
- Samson worked to overcome evil with strength. What would it look like to follow Paul’s teaching and overcome evil with good?
- Romans 12:18 calls us to live at peace with everyone. What does that mean to you? How can we have peace with people who oppose our core ideals and values (for example, our Christian faith)?
- Read Galatians 5:13-15. Paul once again calls the church to avoid the cycle of revenge. What are some practical ways we can use the gifts and resources we’ve been give to love one another as ourselves?
- Leave some time for additional questions, comments, or decisions anyone would like to make as a result of today’s conversation.