Samson–an unlikely hero.

This past Sunday we continued our series on Heroes and tackled the life of Samson. 

As I reflected on Samson I thought to myself, "is this the kind of person I would want my children to look up to?"  I would definitely have to say "NO" and yet God still used him in incredible way despite all his flaws.

Below is the outline I used for my teaching:

I. THE FLAWS IN HIS CHARACTER

A. He Couldn’t Resist a Girl (14:1-3)

How To Protect Your Place as a Spiritual Champion With Regard to Your Moral Lifestyle:
1. Confess lust as a sin (Matt. 5:27-28; 1 John 1:9).
2. Ask God to help you walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-26).
3. Think pure thoughts (Phil. 4:8).
4. Stay away from situations that encourage immoral behavior. This includes what we watch on tv and what we listen to on the radio; where we go on the weekends; where we allow our children to go.
5. Think about consequences. Learn from the mistakes of others.

B. He Couldn’t Resist a Joke (14:12-14)

C. He Couldn’t Restrain His Temper

II. THE PLAN OF HIS CREATOR (14:4)

A. God Overruled His Mistakes

B. God Honored His Memory
God honored the memory of Samson by including him in the “Faith Hall of Fame” found in Hebrews 11.

III. CONCLUSION: LESSONS FROM SAMSON’S LIFE

A. What We Feel to Be Our Strengths May Actually Be Our Weaknesses
1 Corinthians 10:12 – “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Proverbs 16:18-19 – “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

B. God Uses Us Despite Our Flaws

C. God Forgives Our Sins When We Repent and Confess