Samson 2

Preparation
Read Judges 15:1-16:3

(15:1-8) Planned chaos?
-            Why are the Philistines unable to deal with Samson?
-            How is God fulfilling Judges 14:4?

(15:9-13) Wanting a quiet life
-            Why do Judah hand Samson over to their enemies?
-            Why is this a failure? (Remember Judges 1:1-2)

(15:14-16:3) God’s anointed
-            How does this passage show that Samson is God’s anointed saviour? (Judges 15:14-15,18-20, 16:3 fulfilling Genesis 22:17, 24:60)
-            If you had been Judah, would you have recognised what God was doing and joined in the attack on the Philistines?

Group Study
Introduction: do you feel like you know God’s purpose for your life?
Read Judges 16:4-31

(16:4-20) What is tragic about Delilah betraying Samson?
-            How do we see Samson’s weakness?
-            When he tells Delilah the truth, what does he think will happen?

(16:21-31) How should we think about Samson’s death? (Try and answer from Judges!)
-            Why does God give Samson his strength back? (Think about Judges 16:23-24,28,30 and Judges 13:5,14:4)
-            Why are eyes important in Samson’s story? (Think about Judges 16:21, with Judges 14:1,16;1 and how Israel does what it is right ‘in their own eyes’).
-            What have we seen about legacy and kingdom from Gideon and Jephthah and how does Samson fit with this? How does this show that the true saviour king must die before establishing his kingdom?

Have you made peace with God’s purpose for your life?

12/08/2026

Planning your Visit

Welcome to St John's Church!

We are so delighted that you have found our website. We are a Church family in Wimborne for anyone living, working or studying around this area. Whoever you are, whatever your age, whether you’re an experienced Christian or not, we would love you to join us.

From an intrigued onlooker to the committed follower we are keen that everyone should grow in relationship with God through knowing Jesus. To help us do that our emphasis is on hearing God speak to us by his Holy Spirit through his word, the Bible. Each of us knows that we only grow in a relationship with someone and get to know them when we spend time listening to them and responding and reacting to what they say. So the focus of St John’s is on listening to God’s word, talking to him in prayer and taking up all that he says.

The Church family here at St John’s longs to help anyone who wants to investigate the life of Jesus. On this site you will find people, meetings, talks and events shaped to help you take another step forward in finding out more about God and his love for us in Jesus, and to help you get linked into the church family life.

We hope to have the opportunity to meet you personally in the very near future and that you will quickly feel at home at St John’s.

Stuart Hull and Nigel Day (Churchwardens)
Please note that we are currently seeking a new Vicar, following the retirement of Revd Peter Breckwoldt in July 2025