When the Deliverer Needs Deliverance

Transcription

1 SESSION 10 When the Deliverer Needs Deliverance Summary and Goal God sent Samson to rescue the people of Israel from the Philistines, even when they didn t cry out for deliverance. God, in His extravagant mercy, chose a deliverer for them. In the life of Samson, we see God working through a flawed and sinful man for the good of His people and the glory of His name. Main Passages Judges 14:1-9 Judges 16:4-5,15-30 Session Outline 1. Samson s impulses led him to break his vows (Judg. 14:1-9). 2. Samson s success led him to behave irresponsibly (Judg. 16:4-5,15-20). 3. Samson s defeat led him to turn back to God (Judg. 16:21-30). Theological Theme God works even through the defeats of sinful leaders to bring about His plan. Christ Connection Samson s downfall was the result of his own disobedience, and yet God used his death to begin the deliverance of His people. Jesus death was the result of His perfect obedience and our disobedience. God used His death to bring deliverance once for all for His people. Missional Application We are to call people who feel defeated by sin and evil to put away their sins by turning back to God for deliverance. Date of My Bible Study: LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

2 Session Plan When the Deliverer Needs Deliverance Pack Item 8: The Judges Map For this session, highlight: Samson s location Timnah Gaza Point 1 Option Before the group meeting, enlist a volunteer to research and share a summary of the Nazirite vow and its obligations (see Num. 6:1-21). For Further Discussion Why is the concept of guilt a good thing? Why does removing a sense of shame not also remove the reality of guilt? Introduction Start by asking group members about the types of people we usually pick when putting together a team. Contrast these types with the team of unlikely sinners that God uses in the unfolding of His plan (leader p. 118; PSG p. 92). Why do you think the Bible s storyline consistently highlights the flaws and failures of its heroes? What significance does this theme have for us today? Connect the unlikely people of the Bible with ourselves. Show how Israel s story and the judges in these stories are but a shadow pointing to the final Judge Jesus Christ (refer again to Pack Item 7: The Judges). Introduce the judge Samson and summarize this session on God s sending Samson to rescue the people of Israel from the Philistines (leader pp ; PSG pp ). 1. Samson s impulses led him to break his vows (Judg. 14:1-9). Recount the angel s telling Samson s mother that her child should observe the Nazirite vow from birth (leader p. 119). List the three specific vows. Then read Judges 14:1-9. Explain that Samson s pursuit of the Philistine woman was wrong not because of racial or ethnic differences but because of the difference in their faith. Samson determined to pursue the woman because it was right in his own eyes (leader pp ; PSG pp ). What are some desires that we appeal to in order to justify our disobedience to God s commands? Note that Samson s encounter with the lion revealed the level of his strength that came from his obedience to the Nazirite vow. Highlight Samson s compromise and how it showed Israel s heart at the time (leader pp ; PSG pp ). Why is it not right just to do what comes naturally in every situation? What are some consequences of living this way? 116 Leader Guide Spring 2016

3 2. Samson s success led him to behave irresponsibly (Judg. 16:4-5,15-20). Set the context for this passage (leader p. 121), and then read Judges 16:4-5. Point out that both Samson and Delilah wanted the same thing out of their relationship their own glory (leader pp ; PSG pp ). Briefly review their cat-and-mouse game (leader p. 122). Samson s sin in this story is irrational. In what ways do our own sinful choices fail to make sense rationally? Ask a volunteer to read Judges 16: Explain that Samson s trust in his own personal strength became a weakness. Use this to show why we need to remember that there are no self-reliant Christians (leader pp ; PSG pp ). Point 2 Option Ask groups of 3-4 to read Romans 1:18-32 together. In view of Samson s irrational sin, ask them to identify places in the passage that connect sin with a person s mind. After a few moments, reconvene and call for some responses. Conclude this option by reading Romans 12:1-2. What successes in our lives might we put our trust in rather than in God? How can we maintain a strong sense of our dependence on God? 3. Samson s defeat led him to turn back to God (Judg. 16:21-30). Read Judges 16: Acknowledge the tragic aspects of Samson s story, but also affirm the aspects of redemption we can observe in the prayer he offered at the end of his life here we find strength in his weakness (leader pp ; PSG pp ). It took humiliation and weakness to finally get Samson s attention. What are some circumstances God can use to get our attention and draw us back to Him? Stress that while we might wonder if Samson actually believed in the Lord, he shows up in Hebrews 11, along with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. Say that this prideful giant of a man was finally clothed in God s mercy (leader p. 125; PSG p. 99). What hope does it give us to see Samson mentioned as a man of faith in Hebrews 11? Conclusion Make it clear why Jesus is greater than Samson He is the Deliverer who needs no deliverer. Emphasize how the story of Samson speaks to both Christians and non-christians (leader p. 125; PSG p. 99). Apply the truths of this session with His Mission, Your Mission (PSG p. 100). Christ Connection: Samson s downfall was the result of his own disobedience, and yet God used his death to begin the deliverance of His people. Jesus death was the result of His perfect obedience and our disobedience. God used His death to bring deliverance once for all for His people.... Missional Application: We are to call people who feel defeated by sin and evil to put away their sins by turning back to God for deliverance. 117

4 Expanded Session Content When the Deliverer Needs Deliverance Voices from the Church The ultimate deliverer, Jesus Christ, has no flaws. So his rescue of those who believe in him is complete and everlasting. 1 Michael Williams Introduction If you were to put together a team, what kind of people would you select? Perhaps you would look for the biggest, strongest, fastest people, giving you a physical advantage over your opponents. Maybe you would choose the smartest and quickest thinkers to give you the mental upper hand. But when you look through Scripture at the team of people God uses in the unfolding of His plan, His team seems a collection of unlikely people. All of the characters in Scripture are sinners in need of a Savior: Abraham the doubter, Jacob the deceiver, Moses the murderer, David the adulterer, and Rahab the prostitute. We could go person by person through the entire Bible and see this pattern throughout redemptive history. God doesn t blush at working through imperfect people. Why do you think the Bible s storyline consistently highlights the flaws and failures of its heroes? What significance does this theme have for us today? The reality is that we walk in the footsteps of our fathers. Israel s story is our story. Like them, we are prone to chase after empty, lifeless things. God tells us how to find life and freedom, but still we do what is right in our own eyes (see Judg. 21:25). None of the judges in these stories solved Israel s ultimate problem sinful, wayward hearts. The judges are but a shadow pointing to the final Judge Jesus Christ. Let s look at one of the last of the judges: Samson. Maybe you ve heard Samson portrayed as one part Jack Bauer (killing all the bad guys), one part James Bond (a woman-chasing thrill-seeker), and one part the Hulk (you don t want to see him angry). But if all we see is a womanizing, angry strong man saving the Israelites, we miss out on the heart of this story. We can t let Samson s charisma divert our focus from what God is doing. 118 Leader Guide Spring 2016

5 Session Summary In this session, we see how God sent Samson to rescue the people of Israel from the Philistines, even when they didn t cry out for deliverance. God, in His extravagant mercy, chose a deliverer for them. In the life of Samson, we see God working through a flawed and sinful man for the good of His people and the glory of His name. 1. Samson s impulses led him to break his vows (Judg. 14:1-9). Before Samson s birth, an angel came to his barren mother and told her she would conceive a son. God had chosen her child to be the one who would begin delivering His people from the Philistines. The angel also told her that the child should observe the Nazirite vow from birth (and she should observe the Nazirite diet until his birth) because of God s promise to work through her son. The Nazirite vow typically was a voluntary commitment that the people of Israel could enter into in order to pursue God. Nazirites dedicated themselves to God by keeping three vows: 1. Never defiling themselves by touching a dead body. 2. Never drinking alcohol or eating fermented foods. 3. Never cutting their hair. Unfortunately, as he grew up, Samson wavered in his commitment to worship and love the God of his ancestors. Samson was a distracted judge. From women, to power, to having a good time, he consistently demonstrated a tendency to go astray and reject his special identity. Nevertheless, God chose to work through him. In the following passage, we see how he impulsively pursued a Philistine woman as his wife and then how he allowed his impulses to lead him to break his vow to never touch a dead body. 1 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 Then he came up and told his father and mother, I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife. 3 But his father and mother said to him, Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines? But Samson said to his father, Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes. 4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel. 5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson s eyes. Further Commentary Samson s parents asked him in vain if there were no women among his relatives whom he could marry. Intermarriage with the Philistines was a denial of Samson s calling as a Nazirite, and his choice of a bride contrasts strongly with the ideal wife of Othniel, the first judge, who married Caleb s daughter. Samson said of the woman he saw (v. 1), I want her, which is literally, she is right in my eyes. In this he represented Israel, where each citizen did whatever he wanted (17:6; 21:25), literally, what was right in his eyes. Yet the Lord would use even Samson s sinful desires to accomplish His purposes. The text literally says his father and his mother did not know that she was from the Lord. This Philistine woman would be the means God would use to stir up Samson to begin a conflict with the Philistines, who were ruling Israel at this time. Again, the absence of any mention of Israel crying out to the Lord is striking. 2 Iain M. Duguid, HCSB Study Bible 119

6 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 41. Guilt and Shame Guilt refers to the objective status of someone being found guilty for a wrong committed as well as the incurring of punishment that comes with it (Matt. 5:21-22; Jas. 2:10). Shame is the emotional pain that comes from sinful actions. Scripture teaches that human beings are guilty in an objective sense and also feel the weight of shame in a subjective sense. Voices from Church History [Samson s] strength belonged to the Spirit of the Lord. In Samson was the vessel, but the fullness was in the Spirit. A vessel can be filled and emptied. 3 Caesarius of Arles (circa ) 8 After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. 9 He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion. A few miles from where Samson lived was the town of Timnah, where Samson found a Philistine woman whom he wanted to marry. By pursuing this woman, Samson abandoned the clear teaching of God (Deut. 7:3) and said, She is right in my eyes. The problem with this relationship wasn t because of racial or ethnic differences but because of the difference in their faith. Samson was not missionary dating and trying to convert this girl; he just wanted what he wanted. Isn t this exactly what sin does to us? Sin appeals to our desires and then beckons us to pursue the fulfillment of sinful desires rather than righteousness. The most dangerous lies of our time encourage us to do what seems right for us or to follow our heart or to find our own truth. It is right in my eyes, we say. But the Bible teaches that what matters isn t what we think is right but what God says is right. God s Word is final, and He determines right from wrong. So to follow your arrow (as popular culture advises) or to do what is right for you (like every humanist philosopher preaches) is not the message of the Bible. This is merely our culture striving to be god. The mantra is We decide what is right in our own eyes, and the mantra rings with pure idolatry. What are some desires that we appeal to in order to justify our disobedience to God s commands? While Samson had the Nazirite vow from birth, the vow had not made it into his heart. Perhaps as a boy he walked in the faith of his parents, but by the time he was an adult, his true colors showed. By the end of Judges 16, we see that Samson has broken the Nazarite vow. Like Israel, he has chosen to do what is right in his own eyes. Samson s flirtation with sin is a lesson for us. As Christians, we should not ask, How far can we go? or, How close can I get to the world without sinning? The real question we should ask instead is How can we be holy as an expression of love for Jesus? Samson s heart was set on finding the line and jumping over it. The story of Samson s encounter with the lion reveals the level of his strength. He was impulsive and powerful, and the strength that led him to sin was also the strength that could protect him. Samson tore this lion apart like a sheet of paper! His incredible strength came from his obedience to the Nazirite vow. His strength came from God. 120 Leader Guide Spring 2016

7 Once the lion was dead, to keep his vow, Samson should have gone and washed his hands with a ceremony, but he didn t. He didn t tell his parents what happened. Instead, on his way back home, he followed his impulses yet again and chose to eat honey out of the lion s carcass. He then shared it with his mom and dad, even making them unclean with his actions! This deliverer, this mighty man of God, is not what we have come to expect. We have seen judges imperfectly obey God while seeking to be faithful, but this man seems not to fear the Lord at all. Like Samson, compromise creeps into our hearts. The story of Samson is not given to us so that we can feel more or less righteous than he was. Samson s story is showing what Israel s heart was at the time. His life was a microcosm of the people walking in rebellion and lusting after things other than God. When we read this account, God is speaking to us, warning us as we look at these compromises, challenging us not to do what is right in our own eyes. Why is it not right just to do what comes naturally in every situation? What are some consequences of living this way? 2. Samson s success led him to behave irresponsibly (Judg. 16:4-5,15-20). By the time we get to Judges 16, Samson has shown indifference to his vows, he has rejected the advice of his parents (14:3), slept with a prostitute (16:1), and continued a downward spiral of impulsiveness. He once tied 300 foxes together and lit their tails on fire in order to burn some Philistine fields (15:4). He once killed 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey in one of the greatest battle stories in the entire Bible (15:15). But he did these things not to honor God but to vindicate himself. Samson s successes led him to forget his identity. He trusted in his own strength instead of in God who supplied it to him. 4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver. Further Commentary Words are inadequate to describe the utter heartlessness of the woman who lulled her lover to sleep with his head in her lap, conscious of the fate into which she was delivering him. Was it nervousness that impelled her to call in a barber to clip Samson s seven locks? The precise meaning of she began to afflict him (19, av, rv) is obscure, since Delilah herself would hardly dare attempt any hurt to Samson until she was quite sure that his strength was gone. Perhaps the verb should have Samson as its subject, and he began to be afflicted. The warning call was given as on earlier occasions and Samson, awakened from his slumber, purposed to do as before, quite unaware of what had taken place. There is possibly no sadder verse in the Old Testament than the final sentence in verse 20. In Numbers 14:40-45 there is the sad picture of a nation temporarily forsaken by God; here there is the tragedy of a man unconscious of the fact that the Lord was no longer with him. In such a situation shame and defeat are inevitable (cf. Ex. 33:14,15). 4 Arthur Ernest Cundall Here we find God s chosen deliverer with yet another woman he should be nowhere near. Interestingly enough, Samson s name meant sunshine. As the tension builds between what Samson should do versus what he was doing, he took up with Delilah, whose name means night. In this pairing of sunshine and night, we see anything but love. 121

8 Voices from the Church There is in truth no such thing as harmonious coexistence between church and world, for where there is no conflict it is because the world has taken over. 5 Michael Wilcock Maybe you want to defend poor Samson and blame mean, old Delilah for deceiving him, but we see that both these characters wanted the same thing their own glory. Delilah wanted power and wealth. The Philistine leaders were powerful and would give her wealth and power if she helped them. Samson wanted the thrill of the chase and sexual fulfillment. So Delilah and Samson played this cat-and-mouse game. Three times she asked him where his strength came from, and he lied to her, defeating his would-be captors each time. First, he told her he would be powerless if she bound him with seven fresh strings from a bow. Delilah tried this and he broke free. (At this point, you might expect a Define the Relationship talk, including why she just tried to have Samson killed, but they just kept playing the game.) Delilah asked again and he said he would be weak like any other man if he were tied up with new ropes. She tied him up with new ropes and called the Philistines to attack, but he fended them off. Again, Delilah asked how he could be tied up, and he said if she weaved the seven braids of his head with a loom, he would be powerless. So Delilah tried that too, but with no success. Samson s sin in this story is irrational. In what ways do our own sinful choices fail to make sense rationally? At this point it s like watching a horror movie where you know if the girl opens that door, she s going to be killed. The music is creepy and getting louder, you re sweating and biting your nails, you want to say, Samson, STOP! But Samson is about to open that door 15 And she said to him, How can you say, I love you, when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies. 16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. 17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man. 18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up again, for he has told me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson! And he awoke from his sleep and said, I will go out as at other times and shake myself free. But he did not know that the Lord had left him. 122 Leader Guide Spring 2016

9 There was weakness in the strength of Samson. In the midst of his triumphs, Samson forgot that the victory belongs to the Lord (Prov. 21:31). Samson s personal strength became the basis of his trust rather than trusting in the source of that strength. It s the same way with us. We tend to forget the Lord when things are going well. We become so comfortable that we fail to remember that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of lights (Jas. 1:17). We put our trust in our bank accounts, our relational network, or our role in the church. We overestimate our importance and forget that it is God who both lifts us up and humbles us. One benefit of church small groups is knowing people and being known well enough to warn each other when we see these patterns. We call people who feel defeated by sin to turn to God in repentance. We help each other wrestle against self-sufficiency. It is in biblical community that we remember there are no self-reliant Christians. Voices from Church History So a heart that is hardened into a lump of sin is good for nothing, but when it is dissolved by repentance, it is useful. A melting heart is fit to pray. 6 Thomas Watson ( ) What successes in our lives might we put our trust in rather than in God? How can we maintain a strong sense of our dependence on God? 3. Samson s defeat led him to turn back to God (Judg. 16:21-30). Samson s story is a classic tragedy. As his life came to an end, Samson experienced true faith and repentance. He stopped trusting in his own strength and put his hope in God. 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. 23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand. 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us. 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, Call Samson, that he may entertain us. So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them. 123

10 Further Commentary Although Samson s prayer represents a last-ditch effort to secure divine aid, most readers will welcome the fact that he is finally acknowledging the role of Yahweh in his life. At last he cries for help, responding to his personal crisis like Israel as a whole should have been reacting to their national emergency. When all is lost, Samson knows to whom he must turn. In addressing Yahweh he calls for the last laugh; let the joke be on his hosts and tormentors. Indeed by beginning with Lord, he recognizes God s sovereignty over his own life In a concluding note the narrator acknowledges the significance of this act: in his death Samson killed more Philistines than he had slain in his life. In popular circles at least this statement is generally interpreted as a vindication of Samson. While he may have wasted his life, in the end he does indeed begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. But the narrator s comment should not be interpreted as a compliment. This is a tragic note. This man, with his unprecedentedly high calling and with his extraordinary divine gifts, has wasted his life. Indeed, he accomplishes more for God dead than alive. 7 Daniel I. Block 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained. 28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes. 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. Here we find strength in Samson s weakness. It is through man s brokenness that God puts His glory on display. This is the only time in Samson s life we see him praying. He has run after sexual conquests, he has walked in violence and vengeance, he has been foolish, he disobeyed his parents, and he has done everything he has known to be wrong. Now he s a different man. Samson is at the end of himself. The Philistines captured him, plucked out his eyes, and turned him into a slave that ground grain. Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Often in counseling people wrestling with sin, I ask them, Is this the end of your rope? Are you at the end of yourself and ready to surrender? And many times they have looked at me and said, No. At that point, I plead with them to repent now and make this the end rather than keep sinning and find the end. This was the end of Samson s rope. He couldn t run any farther from God. The same way that God handed the Israelites over to their enemies for reproof and correction, God handed the judge of Israel over for the same. And this was the moment Samson found true strength in his weakness. It took humiliation and weakness to finally get Samson s attention. What are some circumstances God can use to get our attention and draw us back to Him? 124 Leader Guide Spring 2016

11 At the end of his life, Samson cried out to God for enough strength to defeat the enemies of God s people who were present. God reached down into the brokenness of the judge who was chosen before his birth, and for the good of His people, He answered Samson s prayer. He rescued His people despite their total unbelief. Samson s downfall was the result of his own disobedience, and yet God used his death to begin the deliverance of His people. You might wonder if Samson actually believed in the Lord. I think if this were the only account of Samson we had in the Bible, we might have reason to wonder. But guess who shows up in Hebrews chapter 11? Samson (Heb. 11:32). Along with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David is the name of Samson, who walked by faith in God. Though it took Samson years for God to strip him of his pride, eventually this giant of a man was clothed in God s mercy. Voices from Church History Let us no longer live in this world as we have been; in fact, let us no longer live to ourselves but let Christ live in us. When he has been restored to the honor of the head, the house of the devil will fall, and all our enemies will die with our sins in eternal destruction. 8 Caesarius of Arles (circa ) What hope does it give us to see Samson mentioned as a man of faith in Hebrews 11? Conclusion Centuries later, another baby would come after the announcement of an angel. The angel told a young girl named Mary that she would carry the Deliverer of God s people in her womb. She should call the boy Jesus. This time the deliverer would not need deliverance but would bring deliverance to the whole world. Jesus death was the result of both His perfect obedience and our disobedience. And God used His death to bring deliverance once for all for His people. Jesus is greater than Samson. He is the Judge who never breaks His Word, the Judge who never operates out of impulse or for self-gratification. He only does the works of the Father, and in His death, many including us become sons and daughters of God. In the story of Samson, God says to Christians: I love you. Before you were born, I chose you. I am your rescue. The gifts I ve given you I gave because I m a good Father. So when you look at your gifts and your personality and the blessings in your life, let worship run its full course back to Me. Let s not dare trust in ourselves. To our friends who are not Christians: look at the life of Samson. Look at how God loved the womanizing, angry killer. Look at His mercy on display. There is no sin that God cannot forgive. There is no end to His mercy. But today, choose to believe in God, and trust Jesus to forgive all of your sins. CHRIST CONNECTION: Samson s downfall was the result of his own disobedience, and yet God used his death to begin the deliverance of His people. Jesus death was the result of His perfect obedience and our disobedience. God used His death to bring deliverance once for all for His people. 125

12 Additional Resources When the Deliverer Needs Deliverance References 1. Michael Williams, How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), Iain M. Duguid, in HCSB Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2010), 416, n. 14: Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 118.2, quoted in Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 2 Samuel, ed. John R. Franke, vol. IV in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Old Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2005), Arthur Ernest Cundall and Leon Morris, Judges and Ruth, in Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove: IVP, 2008), Michael Wilcock, The Message of Judges, in The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove: IVP, 1992), Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance [PDF], 76. Available from the Internet: 7. Daniel I. Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 1999), 467, Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 119.3, quoted in Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 2 Samuel, ed. John R. Franke, vol. IV in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Old Testament, Rick Yount, The Goal of Christian Education: Christlikeness, in The Teaching Ministry of the Church, 2 nd ed., ed. William R. Yount (Nashville: B&H, 2008), 212. Study Material Get expert insights on weekly studies through Ministry Grid at MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject. Grow with other group leaders at the Group Ministry blog at LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry. -- Samson Christ-Centered Preaching Article by Ed Stetzer; find a link to this article at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources -- Sex and Power Article by T. M. Moore; find a link to this article at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources --Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including Geography and the Story of Samson, can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project. Sermon Podcast Hayes Wicker: A Nation of Thorns and Snares Find a link to this at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources Tip of the Week The Goal of Christlikeness The goal of Christian teaching is Christlikeness in our learners. The teacher helps by provoking clear thinking, passionate valuing, skillful doing, and humble submission to the Lord day by day. We, of course, cannot produce Christlikeness in our learners, but we are instruments in the Master s hand. We can cooperate with Him in the process. In the end, when we honor Jesus as Teacher and Lord, when we teach others as He teaches us, when we love others as He loves us, we will influence them toward Christlikeness Leader Guide Spring 2016

13 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Leader Guide ESV Volume 4, Number 3 Spring 2016 Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer General Editor Trevin Wax Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Leader Guide ESV (ISSN ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unit 1: Philip Nation (sessions 1-2) is the content development director for LifeWay and the teaching pastor for The Fellowship, a multi-campus church in Nashville, Tennessee. His newest book is Habits for Our Holiness: How the Spiritual Disciplines Grow Us Up, Draw Us Together, and Send Us Out. Robert Smith (sessions 3-6) is a professor of Christian preaching and holds the Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the author of Doctrine That Dances. He is married to Dr. Wanda Taylor-Smith, and they have four adult children with one in heaven. Tanya McAvoy (assisted with unit 1 session plans) serves in the areas of evangelism and education at Neptune Baptist Church in Neptune Beach, Florida. She earned her MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Ryan, have three children. Unit 2: Afshin Ziafat resides with his wife, Meredith, and two daughters in Frisco, Texas, where he is the lead pastor of Providence Church. He serves on the board of Vertical Ministries, East-West Ministries International, the 9Marks Council, and the Leadership Council of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Matt Boswell has been leading worship and writing songs for the church for over 20 years. A graduate of Southern Seminary, he serves as the pastor of ministries and worship at Providence Church in Frisco, Texas. Additionally, he is the president of Doxology & Theology. He is married to Jamie, and they have four small children. Unit 3: Steven Smith is the vice president for Student Services and Communications and professor of preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Dying to Preach: Embracing the Cross in the Pulpit and Recapturing the Voice of God: Shaping Sermons Like Scripture. He is married to Ashley, and they have three children. WRITERS