SEARCHING OUR MEMORY:

1. What activity did you choose from last week's Searching our Lives suggestions?

2. Where was Samson when last week's lesson ended?
   Why?

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURE: Read Judges 15-16

3. Samson went back to see his wife.
   1. What time of year was it?

   2. What gift did he take?

   3. Who would not let him in?

   4. Why did the father think he would not be back?

   5. Who was offered as an alternative?

4. Samson wanted revenge. What weapon did he use this time?

5. What was destroyed?

6. What happened to his wife and her father?
   Note: She did not gain anything by telling the riddle (See Judges 14:15)

7. After the fire, Samson slaughtered more Philistines. Where did he go after killing them?

8. Where did the Philistines go?
   Why?

9. How many men of Judah went down to get Samson?

10. What did Samson ask of the men who were going to take him to the Philistines?

11. What did they use to tie him?
    How well did it work?

12. After getting loose, Samson killed 1000 men. What was his weapon this time?

13. Why did Samson cry out to the Lord in 15:18?

14. Did the Lord answer his cry?
    How?

15. How long did Samson judge (or lead) Israel?

16. In 16:1-3, how did Samson show:
    1. His moral weakness

    2. His physical strength

17. Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek. What was her name?

18. What did the Philistine leaders ask of her?
    What would they give her?

19. Samson was a good story teller but a slow learner.
    1. What three things did he tell Delilah when she asked what caused his strength?
       1.  
       2.  
       3.  
    2. What happened each time?

20. To what did she resort in verses 15 and 16?

21. What was the truth that he finally told her?

22. Verse 19 says, "his strength left him." What else left him according to verse 20?

23. What horrible punishment did the Philistines give him?

24. What humiliation did they subject him to in verse 25?

25. What did Samson pray to God?

26. "He killed many more when he ________ than while he _________."

27. Who came to get his body for burial?

SEARCHING OUR HEARTS:

28. What was different in Samson's leadership? Whom did he lead? Did he do all the work himself? Do we know?

29. We all have our weaknesses. What do you think Samson's were? What are yours?

30. Is there a difference between being patriotic and being used? Which word best describes Samson's wives?

31. Sex was used by the Philistines in a powerful way. How is it being used today by Satan to lead our nation away from God?

32. Can God use people even when they don't know it and are not doing things for the right reason?
    How?

SEARCHING OUR LIVES: (choose one to discuss next week)

1. Sit down at the TV for an hour some evening and count how many times sex is mentioned or implied. Be sure to include commercials. Is the devil doing the same thing to us that the Philistines were doing to Samson?

2. Is God making you angry enough to do something about some particular sin in our nation? This week do something. Call a congressman, write a letter, e-mail a company, etc.

3. Samson used many different weapons. Our greatest weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). This week share the Word with someone with whom you have never shared it. Tell how it went. Did you do it in person, by mail, e-mail, phone or some other way? Pray for the Spirit of God to be with you as you do this.