Saturday, June 29, 2024

Speaker: Your Campus Pastor

Title: Samson - Lost Purpose, Wasted Potential

Judges 13:1-5 (NLT) Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years. In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, "Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines."

Judges 14:1-3 (NLT) One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. When he returned home, he told his father and mother, "A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me."His father and mother objected. "Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?" they asked. "Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?"But Samson told his father, "Get her for me! She looks good to me."

Bottom Line: Lost purpose leads to wasted potential.

Misstep 1: He ignored Wise advice.

How are you ignoring Wise advice?

Proverbs 18:2 (NLT) Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.

Judges 14:8-9 (NLT) Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass. He scooped some of the honey into his hands and ate it along the way. He also gave some to his father and mother, and they ate it. But he didn’t tell them he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion.

Misstep 2: He broke the rules. 

Judges 16:4-5 (NLT) Some time later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, "Entice Samson to tell you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver."

Misstep 3: He failed to learn from his past.

Judges 16:17 (NLT) Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. "My hair has never been cut," he confessed, "for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else."

Judges 16:21-22 (NLT) So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.But before long, his hair began to grow back.

Judges 16:26-30 (NLT) Samson said to the young servant who was leading him by the hand, "Place my hands against the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to rest against them." Now the temple was completely filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them.Then Samson prayed to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes." Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, he prayed, "Let me die with the Philistines." And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.

Next steps: 

• Discover your purpose in GrowthTrack
• Lead a Group
• Join a DreamTeam

Song Links:

I Thank God - YouTube // Spotify

The Lord Will Provide - YouTube // Spotify

Discussion Questions:

Icebreaker: What does "living up to your potential" mean to you?

What types of things can prevent us from living up to our potential?

Read Judges 14:1-3 and 8-9. What do you observe Samson doing? Share a time you ignored wise advice.

How have you allowed your hunger for things to distract you from God’s purpose in your life?

How are you encouraged when you read Hebrews 11:32-33? What do you learn about God and his grace?

Where is God inviting you to take a step in knowing your purpose, surrounding yourself with good people, or using your gift for others?