Read: Luke 4:1-11
1. What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?
2. Do you agree that our culture tends to trivialize the concepts of “tempt” or “temptation” How have you seen this? What effect does it have on us?
3. “Temptation is humanity’s most serious threat to being who we are meant to be and doing what we are meant to do.” This temptation reminds us of the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve were tempted by the devil and as a result, humanity lost what we were meant to be as God’s image bearers. In contrast, Jesus came out of these forty days in the desert more firm, more stable and more convinced of his ministry and purpose.
a. What was the effect on humanity as the result of Adam and Eve succumbing to the threat of temptation in the Garden of Eden?
b. What do you think Jesus experienced for those 40 days? What did this prepare him for?
4. Based on John Owen’s definition, temptation is “any circumstance or influence that draws us away from trusting obedience to God.” This is a much broader concept than we often think, involving not just obvious sins but good things (bread) at the wrong time; good ends (Jesus’ reigning) using the wrong means; good ideas (quote from Scripture) wrongly applied.
a. How do you think this deeper understanding of temptation impacts your daily life? In what areas of your life are you being tempted?
5. In the original language, the word “tempt” can also be translated as “test.” While the devil tempts to cause us to fail, God uses testing for a different purpose – to strengthen and prepare us.
a. What kind of Christ followers would we be if our faith were never tested? Have you experienced a season of testing? How did God use it to shape you into who you are meant to be and equip you for doing what you are meant to do?
6. Jesus was tempted by the devil – diabolos, which comes from the verb that means “falsely accuse.” In other words, the devil is the "misrepresenter" or "slanderer" of God.
a. How do you think the devil misrepresents God’s character or His plans in our culture today?
b. How are you being tempted to misrepresent God?
7. In Jesus’ baptism, we saw His full humanity and that he has joined Team Humanity as our Captain and Champion. Adam, humanity’s first captain, failed. The Israelites in the wilderness wandered for 40 years and also failed to create a new humanity in a new land. But Jesus –the Son of God, the son of Adam, in the wilderness for 40 days – was tempted by the devil and won! We can be on Jesus’ team by believing in faith; by trusting him; entrusting our life to him.
a. Do you struggle to believe that our Captain has already won for us by having faced the greatest threat and making a way for us?
b. How does knowing that Jesus is our champion, who has already won victory over temptation, give you strength in your own weaknesses and temptations?
8. As Jesus countered each temptation with Scripture, one place to start for us practically is to meditate and memorize Scripture. To move through temptation to stronger faith, we need to know “what is written” – the full authority of God and there is no hope without it.
a. Read and meditate on Psalm 119: 9-11.
i. 9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
b. What does this passage say about the way through temptation? What specific steps can you take this week to “store up” God’s word in your heart?