Opening Discussion

• What is something you do to unwind and fill your bucket?

Shortened Version

Read and Discuss

Judges 14:1-4

Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there. 2 He went back and told his father and his mother, “I have seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”

3 But his father and mother said to him, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines for a wife?”

But Samson told his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” 4 Now his father and mother did not know this was from the Lord, who wanted the Philistines to provide an opportunity for a confrontation. At that time, the Philistines were ruling Israel.

• What does this passage show us about Samson?
• Why don’t Samsons’ parents want him to marry a Philistine?
• How did Samson’s eyes lead him to sin?
• What are some ways we allow our eyes to lead us away from what the Lord desires for our lives?

Judges 16:18-22

18 When Delilah realized that he had told her the whole truth, she sent this message to the Philistine leaders: “Come one more time, for he has told me the whole truth.” The Philistine leaders came to her and brought the silver with them.

19 Then she let him fall asleep on her lap and called a man to shave off the seven braids on his head. In this way, she made him helpless, and his strength left him. 20 Then she cried, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When he awoke from his sleep, he said, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

21 The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles, and he was forced to grind grain in the prison. 22 But his hair began to grow back after it had been shaved.

• This was the fourth attempt for Delilah to deceive Samson. Why did he give in this time?
• How did Samson’s pride lead to his downfall?
• What are some ways pride can hurt your relationship with the Lord?

Discipleship Questions

• Who is someone you can confess your sin to in order to repent and grow closer to Jesus?
  • If you don’t have anyone that you do this with regularly, who is someone you trust that you could ask to hold you accountable?
• Is there any relationship that has been damaged because of your pride?
  • What do you need to do this week to make it right?

Extended Edition

Read and Discuss

Judges 14:1-4

Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there. 2 He went back and told his father and his mother, “I have seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”

3 But his father and mother said to him, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines for a wife?”

But Samson told his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” 4 Now his father and mother did not know this was from the Lord, who wanted the Philistines to provide an opportunity for a confrontation. At that time, the Philistines were ruling Israel.

• What does this passage show us about Samson?
• Why don’t Samsons’ parents want him to marry a Philistine?
• How did Samson’s eyes lead him to sin?
• What are some ways we allow our eyes to lead us away from what the Lord desires for our lives?
• What are some barriers that you put in place to help you protect your eyes from sin? (Lust is a big one, but often when scrolling through Instagram, or just looking at other people’s lives, we can often think we don’t have enough, aren’t as put together, or not as good as those we compare ourselves to)

Judges 16:18-22

18 When Delilah realized that he had told her the whole truth, she sent this message to the Philistine leaders: “Come one more time, for he has told me the whole truth.” The Philistine leaders came to her and brought the silver with them.

19 Then she let him fall asleep on her lap and called a man to shave off the seven braids on his head. In this way, she made him helpless, and his strength left him. 20 Then she cried, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When he awoke from his sleep, he said, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

21 The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles, and he was forced to grind grain in the prison. 22 But his hair began to grow back after it had been shaved.

• This was the fourth attempt for Delilah to deceive Samson. Why did he give in this time?
• How did Samson’s pride lead to his downfall?
• Samson most likely broke 2 of the 3 tenants of the Nazarite vow. Getting his haircut was the final vow he hadn’t broken until this point. Why did his strength leave him after breaking this vow and not the others?
• What are some ways pride can hurt your relationship with the Lord?
• Is there any sin that is unchecked in your life right now?
• Often our pride makes us think we can fix it on our own or pray enough and it’ll go away. That rarely happens. What is pride keeping you from?

Judges 16:28-30

28 He [Samson] called out to the Lord, “Lord God, please remember me. Strengthen me, God, just once more. With one act of vengeance, let me pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Samson took hold of the two middle pillars supporting the temple and leaned against them, one on his right hand and the other on his left. 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” He pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the leaders and all the people in it. And those he killed at his death were more than those he had killed in his life.

• How did Samson show repentance in his prayer?
• How did he show his pride was still there?
• What are some ways pride can lead to getting revenge on those who have wronged us?
• Is there anyone in your life who you rejoice when bad things happen to them?
  • What would it take for you to work towards forgiving them this week?

Discipleship Questions

• Who is someone you can confess your sin to in order to repent and grow closer to Jesus?
  • If you don’t have anyone that you do this with regularly, who is someone you trust that you could ask to hold you accountable?
• Is there any relationship that has been damaged because of your pride?
  • What do you need to do this week to make it right?

Memorize it!

Judges 16:28 He [Samson] called out to the Lord, “Lord God, please remember me. Strengthen me, God, just once more. With one act of vengeance, let me pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Prayer TACOS

Thanksgiving- Give thanks to the Lord for still using us to fulfill His purposes even when we mess up

Adoration- Worship the Lord for His patience

Confess your pride that keeps you from letting go of sin and getting the help you need

Others- Pray for someone who you’ve hurt because of your pride. Ask the Lord for an opportunity to apologize and seek forgiveness this week.

Self- Pray that the Lord would show you any areas of your life that are blindspots that if you don’t start paying attention, it could lead to worse things.