Dear Church Family, Samson is one of the most famous of the judges in the Bible and one of the most famous aspects of his life are his relationship with Delilah. It’s a shocking account on many levels. As I was reading Judges 16, I was stunned that she was able to finally make him reveal how to cause him to lose his strength. It was hard for me to fathom why he would stay with her after this: Judges 16:6–8
So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.” 7 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
Not only this, but after she begs him a second and even third time, he still doesn’t catch on that she is his enemy, not his friend. In fact, this isn’t the first time a woman has begged him for information and then that information has been used against him. In chapter 14 he tries to marry a Philistine woman. During the seven day feast he offers a riddle and challenge that no one can solve. At the townspeople’s request, she weeps and begs him throughout the feast and he finally caves in on the last day of the challenge. This costs him the challenge, as she shares with them exactly what he told her. So by chapter 16, he has no excuse that he couldn’t see this coming. It’s easy to give Samson a hard time for falling for the same trap over and over again. The sad reality is that each of us do the same thing. We are faced with temptations each day which promise us life, but instead bring us death. We play with fire, thinking we won’t get burned. Remember, it wasn’t until the third time with Delilah that Samson finally paid for his foolishness. What temptation have you been falling for? What sin have you been flirting with? Proverbs 6:27-28 (ESV)
Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? 28 Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?
What’s Happening at Gospel Life:Youth Group: Join us for youth group this Sunday, October 15th from 5-7 pm. We’ll have dinner, games, worship, and continue our Bible study through the Book of Joshua. Communion: We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper as part of our Sunday morning service on Sunday, October 22nd. Through the ordinance of communion, we remember the sacrifice Jesus made to save us from our sins. Elder Training: The next elder training will be October 24th at 7 pm at the Bronleewes’ house. We’ll pick up at 1 Timothy 2:9-15. New Men’s Life Group: We’re starting a new men’s life group that will meet on Wednesday mornings. We’ll enjoy breakfast together and go back more in depth over the previous sermon, including the “for further study” section in the bulletin. Our first meeting will be October 25th at 7:30 am at Bob’s Restaurant and Lounge. Church Potluck: Join us after the morning worship service for a potluck meal on Sunday, November 5th. Please bring one of your favorite dishes to share with the group. Life Groups: If you would like to grow in your relationship with the Lord and other believers, please consider joining a Life Group. We have groups for men, women, and youth. You can check them out here:
https://gospellifebiblechurch.churchcenter.com/groups/small-groups?enrollment=open_signup%2Crequest_to_join&filter=enrollment Request Prayer: It’s important for us to be praying for each other as a church! If you ever need prayer, we would love to come alongside you. You can always turn in a prayer request on Sundays using the Connection Card, but you can also submit a prayer request online at any time:
https://gospellifebiblechurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/368653 This Coming Sunday:
Pressing On – I’m excited to have Will Sprunt from Grace Bible Church preaching for us this Sunday. He’ll be speaking from Philippians 3:12-16 and Paul’s encouragement to forget what lies behind and strain towards what lies ahead. Watch Previous Worship Services
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW5IMNeRoI99I-QNoGMnuWDy6Y5svTt_c | 
